Category Archives: Spirituality

Shrinking Brain – Cause or Effect of Depression

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brainNew research provides evidence that long-term depression is associated with a shrinking brain (1).  The study, published last week, suggests that shrinkage in the hippocampus is a consequence of long-term depression.

Scientists compared brain imaging of 1700 patients with clinical depression to brain images of control subjects with no history of depression.  The hippocampus, a region responsible for memory function, was smaller in patients with long-term depression.  Hippocampus shrinkage was not seen in patients who had only experienced one depressive episode.   From this finding, scientists concluded that brain shrinkage comes after, not before, the onset of clinical depression.

In Breaking Through Depression (2), my book on causes and treatments of depression, I explain how stress can lead to brain cell injury.  Being depressed is certainly a stressful experience, one that might lead to brain cell injury. Breaking Through Depression also explains how this brain cell damage appears to be reversed by successful treatment.  Whether brain cell loss is a cause or consequence of depression remains to be conclusively determined but the point is made stronger by new research: stress and depression can damage the brain.

Do what you can to un-do depression.  Find healthy ways to relax and take care of yourself.  Exercise: huff and puff and break a sweat.  Hang-out with good friends for a while.  Engage your spirituality through prayer, meditation, or reading something inspirational.  If these self-care steps don’t lift your mood, then seek professional counseling and consider talking with a physician about medication.  Depressive illness comes with brain cell injury that can be reduced and reversed.

1. Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication 30 June 2015

2. Breaking Through Depression: A Biblical and Medical Approach to Emotional Wholeness. Harvest House Books

Deliverance from the Influence of Evil

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iphone June 2014 147A middle-aged man recently told me of how he had broken a 10 year habit of sexual and drug addiction.  Medication management of his bipolar disorder had reduced his impulsivity but his miraculous change of habit-life he attributed to spiritual deliverance.   He told me of his counseling with a priest and their use of a book on breaking the power of evil influence.

The dramatic nature of his religious and psychiatric conversion compelled me to read the book: Unbound (1).   The author, an interdenominational Christian pastor, presents a practical discussion of an often sensationalized topic.  Rather than terrible stories of torment followed by head twisting images of deliverance, the author suggests that breaking free of evil influence is part of a process of “ever deepening conversion” to which every Christ-follower is called.

I will try to distill his teaching into a few short statements:

  1. Repent of specific sin – Recognize that my behavior in a specific area violates God’s will. Commit to change.
  2. Confront the lies supporting the sin – As an example, tell yourself: “It is a lie to say that heavy alcohol use hurts no one.”
  3. Renounce the spirit underlying the lie – For example, talk to the spirit: In the name of Jesus, spirit of drunkenness, get out of my life.”  This part seems a bit odd to me, but I believe there is a time and place for it.
  4. Fill the void –  When one bad habit or pattern of sinful thinking is broken, we must be deliberate about filing the empty habit space with healthier behaviors.  Meditate.  Be a friend.  Exercise.  Work.  Do something creative.
  5. Submit to ongoing conversion – Allow God to control more and more of your life.  The process of becoming the man or woman that God wants you to become may take a lifetime.

How much of life’s difficulties we attribute to evil spirits varies from person to person.  C.S. Lewis, respected scholar and author, suggests that there are two errors we can get into when considering the idea of demonic influence:  “One is to disbelieve in their existence.  The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them (2).”  For the spiritually minded person,  the principles outlined above may help in keeping the right balance.

Neal Lazano. Unbound: A practical guide to deliverance.  Grand Rapids Michigan, 2010 .

CS Lewis.  The Screwtape Letters.  New York, Bantam Books, 1982.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

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IMG_3905For many people, faith is indispensable to mental health. Religious beliefs and practices strengthen their emotional resiliency in the face of hassles and stressors.

Healthy spirituality can infuse  emotion and intellect with hope and clarity.  Awareness of the Holy Spirit lessens the sense of aloneness  and imparts wise counsel.  Reading of religious texts, with focus on scriptures that emphasize God’s love and grace, can correct cognitive distortions regarding low self-worth or helplessness.

Looking inward, prayer provides a structure in which to list problems and to facilitates a mental state of receptivity to new solutions.  Going deeper into a meditative state, while contemplating God as creator of the universe yet intimate companion,  enlightens the mind to a bigger-picture image of life that causes worries to melt.

Clearly spiritual belief can support mental health.   People tell me this, in one way or another, most days.

It is also true that spiritual belief can become emotionally unhealthy.  People also remind me of this on a regular basis.  A woman with obsessive compulsive disorder tells me of crippling obsessions over past sins.  Victims of clergy-abuse describe long-lasting wounds.

And so, healthy and unhealthy beliefs can be intimately interwoven in the mind.  Disentangling these beliefs can be hard and the process of uprooting unhealthy spiritual beliefs can be psychologically traumatic.  Often, it is better to start with cultivating spiritual wellness through the practices noted above.   In time, emotionally healthy spirituality will begin to yield fruits of improved mental fitness.

Easter Spirituality: Christ’s Views on Good and Evil

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IMG_1984Believers of Jesus Christ as the incarnate son of God view the Easter weekend as a time of tragedy and triumph.  Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches will open their doors to the curious and the devout and proclaim a message of good overcoming evil.

Like followers of Christ two thousand years ago, it is easy to get focused on the evil around us.  Early Christians watched Christ arrested, humiliated, and killed by men consumed by evil.

But Christ said, “Hey wait a minute.  Don’t be so short sighted.  Evil is coming for me but it has no power over me.  I am willing – no wait – looking forward to glorifying my father in obedient sacrifice, with the full assurance that I am headed to heaven.  It’s actually a good thing.  And, by the way, I am going back to heaven to prepare a place for you… got a room reserved for you in my father’s house.” (paraphrased from John 13).

Nowhere else in history is recorded such a story of bruising tragedy and ultimate fulfillment as in the historical events of Easter.  Whether you tend to get overwhelmed by worry or struggle with depression, may God refresh and bless you, with a new peace and perspective that surpasses human understanding.

See the Bible, John Chapter 13, for Christ’s perspective on evil, goodness, and his understanding of eternity.

Comfort in Grief – Spiritual Perspectives

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photo (57)In times of grief, a view of heaven may help.  Here are three images of God that illustrate the comfort that awaits the children of God.

The prophet Isaiah’s view of heaven included a vision of God as a kingly figure sitting on a throne, with flowing robes filling the temple and angels surrounding him with praises of his holiness (Isaiah 6:1-3).  How amazing it must be to dwell in his presence.

The apostle Mark described the presence of Jesus with children: ”And he took them in his arms and blessed them…” (Mark 10:16).  Jesus, as God among us, provided a glimpse of eternal heavenly compassion.

In my own mind, I like to imagine God as a loving father, sitting on his throne, with flowing robes billowing off of his shoulders and filing a heavenly temple.  I like to imagine all of his children sitting on his lap (it’s a big lap).  Our heavenly father looks down into the eyes of each one of us, in a way that fills our minds with amazement at his love and eternal provision for our souls.

Rick Warren’s Response to Son’s Suicide (Spiritual Perspectives)

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052One year after the loss of his son, Pastor Rick Warren said: “Obviously, I want my son back. But if you’re going to go through pain, you may as well use it for good (1).”

When something tragic like suicide happens, there are many different ways to respond. Two ways emerge from reading a recently published interview with Pastor Warren.

First, wait. Following Matthew’s death, Pastor Rick withdrew from the world for several weeks. He used the time to grieve the loss of a beloved son and draw closer to a loving God. Waiting quietly in prayer is often a good first step.

In moments of upheaval, simply wait as a stone waits for the artist to chisel away unneeded parts, gradually revealing the masterpiece that remains. In the words of a 17th Jesuit priest:

“All we need to think of is to keep still in his hands while he works on us…(2)”

Second, allow the experience to change you in a positive way. Rick Warren used his hardship “for good”, as he developed a desire to understand and support people with mental health challenges. Maybe your hardship will enliven growth in some aspect of your personal life.

When bad things happen, wait on God and be transformed. Let Him use the difficulties in your life to shape you into the woman or man He has in mind for you to become.

(1) Warren Smith. Pain and Gain. World Magazine. September 20, 2012

(2) Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure and Claude de la Colombiere. Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence, The secret of peace and happiness. St. Benedict Press, Charlotte, NC. 1980 (originally written in 17th Century).

Bad Things Happen to Good People

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photo (53)Spiritual beliefs may get distorted in times of depression; especially when bad things happen to good people. Viewing God as uncaring or unreal can be a part of the black mood experience. So how are we to think about a god who allows bad things to happen to good people?

In responding to this question, I will begin placing quotation marks around the words ‘good’ and ‘bad’ because sometimes what appears to be ‘bad’ is actually ‘good’. This, I believe, is frequently true in our view of life events.

Often, in the grand scheme of the universe as God knows it, what looks to be ‘bad’ is ultimately ‘good’. Look at Christ on the cross. Wow! Did a very ‘bad’ thing happen to a ‘good’ man? Or, did an ultimately very good thing happen to a very good man?

In smaller ways, God may be using ‘bad’ things to bring ‘good’ things into your life and the lives of those you love. Accepting this suggestion is not easy. Keeping faith when life hurts is hard.

We need a renewed perspective, like the writer of Trustful Surrender who said:

“If we could see all He sees
we would unhesitantly wish all He wishes.
We would beg Him on bended knees for those afflictions
we now ask Him to spare us.”(1)

Bad things do happen to good people. When they do, may God help us to submit to his will so that, in these hardships, we might be transformed into the man or woman he intends us to become.

(1) Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure and Claude de la Colombiere. Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence, The secret of peace and happiness. St. Benedict Press, Charlotte, NC. 1980 (originally written in 17th Century).

Encouragement for Periods of Depression

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125There are dark clouds.
There are blue skies.
You have to know that there are blue skies beyond the dark skies.
Right now, clouds obstruct your view.
Right now, you have to know with intuition and faith, that good days are a reality and when the clouds pass you will experience again the joys of a beautiful day.

The key is to know that bad days will pass – better days will come.
It happens.
As you wait through cloudy days, hang onto a long-range vision and focus your mind on faith.
Strength will rise and clouds will part.

Spirituality in Recovery

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iphone June 2014 128Spiritual growth can help to change habits – from overeating and smoking to alcohol and drug abuse. 12-step programs, such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), suggest how this may work.

A recent medical journal notes: “The heart of AA’s philosophy is that addiction should be seen a spiritual problem and that genuine recovery requires a profound spiritual awakening (1).” Part of this awakening comes in the steps, first by recognizing an inability to change on our own (step 1), then recognizing that God has the power to orchestrate change (Step 2), and then giving the problem to God (Step 3).

Recognizing God seems to be the key: searching for his presence in moments of meditation and prayer, appreciating his existence beyond words and ideas, developing a habit of waiting on the movement of His spirit. Focusing on God can usher in the serenity we too often seek thorough unhealthy behaviors.

John Allen & others. “Recovery on higher ground: Spirituality in the treatment of substance abuse.” Current Psychiatry. February, 2014.

Sin on the Brain

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photo (39)Life experiences change the brain. As we learn new things, brain cells sprout new branches and make new connections. These synaptic connections create new pathways on which nerve impulses travel.

Learning new things is like forming a path through an open field. If you walk through a meadow, following the same route many times, you will tromp down the weeds and create a path. The more you use that pathway, the more entrenched it becomes.

Choosing to obey God also produces pathways. The more you travel paths of righteousness, the easier it gets for your brain to go that way.

Disobeying God creates alternate pathways. The more you make wrong turns and choose sin-pathways, the easier it becomes for your brain to go that way again.

Sin is not caused by the brain but is reflected in brain cell networks. Sinful choices leave marks – changes in synaptic connections. When too many pathways lead to the amygdala (anger center) unrighteous rage erupts. If too many connections lead to the nucleus accumbens (pleasure center) addictions corrupt healthy ways to find pleasure.

Spiritual growth, on the other hand, can be reflected by building healthy behavioral choice pathways to the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for reasoned responses. Growing connections to the prefrontal cortex, through spiritual experience and religious practice, may facilitate wise choices.

So, open your mind to God. Meditate on the life of Jesus. Read something that stirs your spirit. Brain cells will spout in new directions.

It may be hard at first. Treading out a new pathway though a meadow may cause scratches and bruising. Likewise, building new behavioral choice pathways around your brain may provoke annoyance and frustration at times; but God never promised an easy path. He promised the Holy Spirit to comfort you along the way.

For a video clip of brain cell pathways, click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRLhlf6hDgU