Do People Turn to Religion To Correct Thought and Emotion Disorders (Including Borderline Personality Disorder)?

Surely most would agree that people are regularly looking for ways to get relief from psychological distress, even if their looking is misguided or not well-informed. Perhaps most could also agree that mental health is not a commonly understood subject or commonly pursued avenue for getting psychological relief, even though that is the reason mental health services exist. And if considerations like these at least hold some truth, then perhaps it is safe to suggest that many people might first turn to religion rather than mental health services to find this relief.

In my experience studying and practicing psychology, learning about and participating in religion, and having challenging mental health issues (Borderline Personality Disorder), I have learned very well what religion can and can not do for mental health. In my experience, there is definite confusion regarding the extent to which people can alleviate mental health problems through religious participation, simply because it is the nature of religion to make frequent generalizing statements about "finding peace" and "being blessed." It is also my experience that without sufficient learning about mental health while being involved in religion, the confusion about how to effectively alleviate psychological suffering can remain ongoing, even until illness leads to self-destruction.

All that said, I also recognize that the differences between religion and mental health will be more relevant to people who have genetic predispositions or mental health risk factors (e.g., past trauma, unhealthy family members, broken attachments with caregivers, etc.). In other words, people WITHOUT predispositions and risk factors could participate in religion, claim their participation adequately addresses their internal issues, and then follow this up with making claims that religious participation could do the same for everyone else. On the other hand, others WITH predispositions and risk factors might have an entirely different experience, remain frustrated, and perhaps believe "they are bad" for not having the same experience as a person without risk factors.

The following questions and answers now form my general opinion about the above-noted issues:

• Do people turn to religion to correct thought and emotion disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and personality disorders? Absolutely, yes, although I would speculate more often than not these people are failing to realize they are using religion for these purposes. It isn't uncommon for people to be looking for psychological relief from anywhere but the mental health clinic.
• Do people sometimes experience temporary relief from psychological distress when they engage in their religious practices? Absolutely, yes! However, remember that science proves that powerful belief can temporarily alter experience (it's called the placebo effect). Experiencing the placebo effect is not a lasting correction for a mental health issue; in fact, it could turn into an addiction for temporary relief from symptoms.
• Was religion designed to address thought and emotion disorders? No! It may do just the opposite when a person has yet to receive the proper psychological assistance. Even so, many continue futilely looking to religion (and acting on religious prescriptions) as a way to experience lasting psychological relief.

It was my experience as I participated in religion to seek psychological relief desperately but progressively getting more and more unhealthy as I falsely believed "following the faith" would result in "blessings" and help me in various ways (including mental health). And for this reason, it continues to baffle and annoy me how it is rarely (if ever) stated during church sermons, talks, testimonies, etc., that following religious prescriptions DOES NOT (CANNOT) solve complex mental health problems. Instead, it is much more likely for people to make broad /sweeping assertions and simplistic claims - without admitting they are doing this - about receiving "blessings" for obedience to rules that have no bearing on the brain and health whatsoever.

My observations and experience inform me that desperate people receive "church talk" such that it means whatever they wish it to mean. Furthermore, after church talks get given, no one seems to care or consider the high likelihood that a percentage of the membership goes home absolutely misguided and confused about dealing with complex mental health problems. It is not uncommon, for instance, to go home from church believing extra attention needs to go towards bible study or prayer or paying tithes and offerings to be less depressed and experience less conflict with family members. But what do these practices have to do with, for instance, learning more about communication skills or learning skills to settle the brain's emotional areas?

**Therefore, my ongoing issue with religion concerns the continuing lack of clarity and informed consent about the limitations for what church and church practices can offer for dealing with mental health issues: very complex issues and less complex issues alike.**

Since mental illness is such a common problem, wouldn't it make sense to regularly inform church participants that what they are hearing is NOT ENOUGH to solve complex mental health problems - especially since it is common to reach false conclusions about what religion can realistically do to help? I wonder if this lack of informed consent happens because God and church doctrine/practice are perceived as infallible and can fix anything (including mental health). Perhaps it is the religious expression of narcissism to rarely (if ever) admit that religious practices fail to solve complex psychological problems. Maybe it is normalized mental health ignorance, laziness, or stupidity.

My sincere advice to anyone facing severe mental health struggles is never to give your religion (or any other religion) the benefit of the doubt to resolve your issues. Instead, take your mental health concerns to places where the needed understandings and skills are abundantly available - THE MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC. Religion can rarely (if ever) be the whole solution to a complex mental health problem, such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Ask yourself: would you be looking for outside professional help if you were getting your appendix removed? Of course, you would! The same logic applies to mental health conditions like BPD.

I bought into the assertions and simplistic claims delivered at church multiple times before finding the information I needed to make the necessary adjustments in a mental health clinic. After all, at church, it is suggested that God can solve any problem if only you are faithful and obedient enough to become worthy of His assistance. Who wouldn't believe these kinds of claims and remain misguided and confused when they are in a state of quiet desperation and when no one is saying outright that the religious expressions and instructions may not be enough to solve complex mental health problems (or even be one of the causes of mental health problems)?

I believe it is an essential ethical matter and morally proper to speak out on these matters, as it seems to be a topic rarely discussed, especially among churchgoers.