Mental Illness

Mental Illness

The development of a mental illness such as depression or anxiety has its roots in stress and inadequate rest.

Constant worry about situations which are not within our control, or conflicting motives and desires, creates mental tension, unrest and physical ailments.

Mental rest is important as it promotes mental and emotional well-being for the individual. Jesus urges us to cast all our anxieties on Him (1 Pet 5:7)
When things are beyond our control, surely God will make a way out because He is in charge and He cares for us.

Psychological rest
Mental rest is the ability to find peace despite the busyness and stress of life.
“Put your mind at rest” stop worrying.

When we calm ourselves down, it helps us to think clearly, reason logically and problem-solve more effectively. Our thinking affects the way we feel and vice versa. This will relaxes and repairs our body from the “fight” or “flight” response to stress. Our body’s immunity is strengthened when the mind rests.

Effects of not getting enough rest
If a person was to sleep less than 8 hours, he or she would not be able to think well and perform optimally at work the following day. But what are the consequences of mental unrest? If we keep humming on our worries, allow our anger to brew, or constantly feel guilty and blame ourselves or others, we may develop a mental condition like depression or anxiety, suffer from insomnia, or adopt maladaptive behaviours (fighting, reckless driving, alcohol or drug consumption). Our performance at work or school could deteriorate, constant striving would result in burn-out, and exhaustion may lead to social withdrawal or interpersonal conflicts.

When a person cannot adapt to stressors within three months, he or she may experience adjustment disorder. Adjustment disorder differs from mental illness as the latter manifests consistent symptoms over prolonged periods of time.

Cause of mental illness
There are several reasons for an onset of mental illness:
• Genetic vulnerability (although the development of an illness is not dependent on this factor alone);
• Traumas or serious losses early in life;
• Eenvironments that are chaotic,
• Unsafe or dangerous;
• Loss of social support;
• Chronic illness;
• Side effects of medications;
• Hormonal changes;
• Biological causes (imbalance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine);
• Experiences that undermine self-confidence;
• Learned helplessness;
• Negative thought patterns; and
• Substance abuse (alcohol and drugs).

When rest, the attention of friends and family, religious faith or the passage of time- or a combination of these-does not led to healing, medications are available to control the symptoms and increase the quality of life for those who suffer from debilitating forms of mental illness. Seeking help is not a shameful thing or a sign of weakness.


Achieving mental and emotional rest

Relax your body and mind by calming your emotions and releasing the
muscle tension.

Muscle relaxation technique
As you breathe in and out, relax the muscles starting from the fingers to the arms and head and neck before moving down to the chest and finally the legs and feet. As you let go of any tightness, tension or discomfort, feel the muscles soften.

Abdominal breathing exercise
Place one hand on your abdomen and the other on the chest. Imagine a blue balloon in your stomach. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, imagine the balloon filling up with air. Exhale and allow all the air to flow out of your body. Repeat to yourself silently, “relax”

Envision beautiful scenery or happy memories to bring peace to your mind.

Substitute the words “should” and “must” with “it would be good if….”

Take a time out when you are angry; think positively about people and situations, and take responsibility instead of blaming others.

In many situations, we may deny rather than accept when things are out of control. Acceptance is the key to healing and mental rest.

Prayer
God give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.




By Pauline Leong – Counselor/ coordinator with EMCC.







REST

Rest is not only good for us humans but it is good for nature too. (lev 25:4)
We know that land can be overused as in OT “but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord”.

Computer Games though convenient is not a good tool to de-stress. Spending too much time on the computer screen will tires our eyes even more.

Going for a lengthy game of soccer will only exhaust your spent body more than revive it.

Ask yourself what are you resting from?

What kind of rest do you need?

Do you know when your body needs a break?

An over-indulgence in Rest & Recreation is dangerous too, so is an under-estimation of just how fatigued your body really is.

We must know when to slough the momentum of work off ourselves, so we can just sit back and recover.

Obey your body, and stop work when you need to.

The most effective form of rest is sleep and spiritual rest.
Spiritual rest goes beyond relieving us from the tensions of our work, but provides thorough, deep rejuvenation and recovery. Psalms 91:1 promises that “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”