Mental health diagnoses.
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According to a 2020 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 21% of American adults suffer from a mental illness. Johns Hopkins says it’s 26%. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) says that in the US, 7 million people have a bipolar disorder, 21 million people have a major depressive episode each year, and 19.1 million people suffer from an anxiety disorder. As a result, NAMI records show suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24, which has increased by 35% since 1999.
Although Americans have become more educated and technologically sophisticated, and our hospitals are more advanced than ever, these statistics show we are also more depressed, anxious, and attention-deficit than ever. In short, we are living under the sovereignty of psychology. Ours is a culture ruled by mental health diagnoses.
For those who desire to live by the Bible, the ubiquity of psychology presents a problem. When the answers to all of life’s struggles come in the form of a medical diagnosis, a psychoactive prescription, and a lifetime of secular therapy, then the Bible is inevitably irrelevant. You don’t need God, it seems, if you’ve got Freud.
That’s why, over the last half a century, both in and outside of the church, the Bible has been replaced by another bible: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The latest version, released earlier this year, is the DSM-5-TR. Produced by the American Psychiatric Association, this thick tome is universally accepted by the American medical community – physicians, psychologists, and psychiatrists – as the authoritative standard for defining and diagnosing every mental disorder. The DSM-5-TR has increasingly found a home in the hands of Christians counseling other Christians. And inevitably, when the DSM goes up, the Bible goes down.
The Church must recognize that a worldview that sees medical disorders as the root cause of human ailments is hostile to Scripture. Modern secular psychology, as summarized in the DSM-5-TR, oozes with an evolutionary, materialistic, and humanistic worldview.
Psychoanalysis does not offer another, compatible, auxiliary resource for Christians to face life’s challenges; rather, it assumes an anti-Christian stance with solutions that contradict the Bible. Therefore, Christians must decide between one and the other. Is the Bible sufficient “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17), or do we need the world’s vain wisdom poured out through the pages of the DSM-5-TR? The Church must stand on the sufficiency of the Bible and therefore reject any partnership with psychology and its version of the Bible.
To make the case, consider three reasons why the Bible is incompatible with the DSM-5-TR:
The DSM-5-TR assumes an unbiblical worldview
The irony of modern secular psychology is that the word “psychology” literally means “the study of the soul,” but psychology today rejects the existence of the soul at all. This rejection of a biblical anthropology (body and soul) began over a century ago.
Philippe Pinel, a 19th-century French physician often referred to as the “Father of Psychiatry,” believed that internal, human issues could be entirely explained by physiology and environment without any reference to a human soul. Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist, further developed Pinel’s ideas and created the discipline of psychoanalysis. According to Freud, religion is a “universal obsessional neurosis” and of no value in treating mental disorders.
Later psychologists and psychoanalytical researchers, influenced by Pinel, Freud, and Darwin, would likewise assert a materialistic, humanistic worldview, denying the existence of any immaterial component in man, any higher power interacting with man, and any ability of man to operate free from his genetic makeup and received environment. The DSM-5-TR follows suit, allowing for no explanation of human behavior outside of physical or material causes.
Modern secular psychology, then, is atheistic, materialistic, and deterministic. It rejects the God of the Bible and the Bible’s explanation of man. To modern secular psychology, the Bible is utterly irrelevant. That’s why biblical counselor David Powlison said, “Secular disciplines have made a systematic commitment to being wrong.” If you don’t start with the God of the Bible and with a biblical anthropology, you can only be right accidentally, like a broken clock. Richard Gantz, a former psychoanalyst who writes about the bankruptcy of the psychological worldview, said, “Clinical psychology comes to no consensus in its view of human beings—with one critical exception. It is unified in its belief that people are free from God.”
The updated sections of the DSM-V-TR only further distance psychology from a biblical worldview. New to the psychological bible this year is a section entitled “Impact of Racism and Discrimination on Psychiatric Diagnosis,” which legitimizes concepts like systemic racism, microaggressions, and unconscious bias as tools for psychiatric diagnoses. As you might expect, the DSM-5-TR also includes an updated diagnosis for “gender dysphoria," which asserts that adolescents with “a strong desire to be of the other gender” for six months should be clinically diagnosed as gender dysphoric and in need of “gender-affirming treatment.” It estimates that the suicide rates for those suffering from gender dysphoria range from 30% to 80%.
Christians cannot reconcile the unbiblical worldview of the DSM-5-TR with God’s explanation of mankind because the two irreconcilably conflict.
The DSM-5-TR reasons from wrong premises, but how does it apply that worldview to psychological diagnosis? How does psychological diagnosis work? The answer: It labels groups of experiences and presents that label as if it were an explanation.
In each section of the DSM-5-TR, under the headings of various disorders, the manual lists a number of behaviors and experiences, then says that if you check off enough of those behaviors or experiences for long enough, you should be diagnosed with one of the 836 mental disorders or disordered conditions described in the book. Here are a couple of simplified examples:
Do you fidget in your chair, enjoy conversing, and appear to be perpetually “on the go”? Then you’ve got attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Should you be a girl when you’re a guy? You’ve got gender dysphoria.
Do you get blackout drunk every weekend? You’ve got alcohol use disorder.
Do you eat too much and then feel guilty about it? You’ve got binge-eating disorder.
Do you dislike authority? Oppositional Defiance Disorder.
Do you sometimes get angry? Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
Do you like to burn stuff? Pyromania.
Do you like to steal stuff? Kleptomania.
Do you like yourself a lot? Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
To illustrate this condition, test yourself against the following criteria. How many of these have you experienced over the last 6 months:
Excessive Worry
Restlessness
Being easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbance
If you were to tell your primary care physician or a therapist that you had the first experience (worry) and three others, you would be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and likely prescribed an SSRI medication, such as Zoloft.
The problem with this system of diagnosis, however, is that it parades itself as an explanation for the cause of our struggles when in fact it’s just a naming system for different kinds of struggles. And the DSM-5-TR itself admits that it can’t actually solve any of these alleged disorders; it can only categorize them. “A diagnosis does not carry any necessary implications regarding the etiology or causes of the individual’s mental disorder or the individual’s degree of control over behaviors that may be associated with the disorder” (p. 29).
Allen Frances, the chair of the DSM-IV Task Force, writes in his book Saving Normal, “All of our diagnoses are now based on subjective judgments that are inherently fallible and prey to capricious change. Billions of research dollars have failed to produce convincing evidence that any mental disorder is a discreet disease entity with a unitary cause. Our classification of mental disorders is no more than a collection of fallible and limited constructs that seeks but never finds the truth.”
Now, there are some obvious problems with an overblown, subjective, capricious categorization system for human experiences. One issue is that it teaches people to think incorrectly about their lives, that their feelings and behaviors are only the product of physical maladies classified by secular experts. But in many of the cases, the problem is that the DSM-5-TR redefines sin (like drunkenness, lying, and sinful anger) as an illness. It turns guilty sinners into innocent victims. Redefining sin as illness moves the solution for spiritual problems from the Bible to the field of medicine, and medicine cannot change the heart. It removes the call to repentance, the comfort of the gospel, and the goal of living for God’s glory altogether. It replaces these with more pills, more therapy sessions, more techniques, and no real heart change.
In summary, psychology can’t tell you why your condition is happening or if you can do anything about it, but it can slap a label on you and call you sick. Richard Topping writes, “Remember, we live in a time when six of the seven deadly sins are medical conditions, and pride is a virtue.”
The DSM-5-TR promotes unbiblical solutions
Because the DSM-5-TR’s psychological diagnoses are considered gospel truth today, they are used as the justification for the multi-billion-dollar psychoactive pharmaceutical industry, pumping pills into people based on brief conversations without even knowing what those medications do. Unfortunately, that’s not hyperbole.
Psychology Today recently published an article saying that while “85-90% of the public believes low serotonin levels or a chemical imbalance causes depression,” there is “no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations.” The serotonin narrative is completely false. And the psychological community has known this truth for years, even while continuing to diagnose SSRI medications as if they work.
Daniel Carlat, editor of The Carlat Psychiatry Report, said in an interview with NPR, “We don’t know how the medications actually work in the brain…. I’ll often say something like, "The way Zoloft works is it increases the level of serotonin in your brain (or synapses, neurons), and, presumably, the reason you’re depressed or anxious is that you have some sort of a deficiency." And I say that [chuckles] not because I sincerely believe it, because I know the evidence doesn’t yet allow us to understand the mechanism—I think I say that because patients want to know something. And they want to know that we as physicians have some basic understanding of what we’re doing when we’re prescribing medications. They certainly don’t want to know that a psychiatrist essentially has no idea how these medications work.”
Thus, not only are psychiatric solutions factually baseless, but psychiatrists are using those baseless arguments to experiment with people’s brain chemistry en masse. That kind of unethical, deceptive movement can have no partnership with Scripture.
In an article entitled What Is Biblical Counseling? Wayne Mack wrote, “Because the Bible asserts its sufficiency for counseling-related issues, secular psychology has nothing to offer for understanding or providing solutions to the non-physical problems of people.” In contrast, hear what the Bible says about its ability to offer solutions to life’s deepest spiritual pains:
“Yahweh’s law is perfect, reviving the soul; Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple; Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart; Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever; Yahweh’s rules are true, and righteous altogether.”Psalm 19:7-9
God’s Word is altogether sufficient to save and sanctify his people. Therefore, modern secular psychology has nothing to offer God’s people. Christians must choose between the DSM-5-TR and the eternal Word of God. We can only serve one master, and there can only be one Bible.
Given this massive worldview difference between the DSM and Scripture, how should you respond to a mental disorder diagnosis? See the following post for a biblical answer to psychological labels.
Article by Dan Crabtree - Cripplegate
Today we will talk about Bible verses about mental health. Many Christians do not know what this verse means. Be in the mode of meditation as we read through God’s word. Mental health is an essential component of our overall well-being, and as followers of Christ, we can draw strength and peace from Scripture. The Bible speaks volumes about how we can navigate challenges, find comfort in times of distress, and cultivate a sound mind. Let’s explore these verses together, allowing God’s messages of hope and love to uplift us and encourage our journey toward better mental health.
Bible Verses About Mental Health
Finding Peace in God
In our quest for peace, we often allow the busyness of life to distract us. Yet, God invites us to discover serenity in Him. Many of us experience moments of anxiety and worry, but through prayer and trust in God, we can attain a peace that surpasses understanding. As we read these verses about mental health, let’s remember to lean on God, allowing His words to fill our hearts with tranquility and reassurance.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Psalms 34:4
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
God’s Comfort in Struggles
Life can sometimes feel overwhelming. During these times, we might feel isolated or even defeated. However, God assures us that we are never alone in our struggles. He comforts us in our times of need, reminding us through Scripture that He is a source of strength and solace. Let’s explore these verses about mental health that reveal how God wraps us in His love, pulling us closer when we need Him the most.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble.”
Psalms 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalms 23:4
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Offering Prayer for Healing
Prayer is a powerful tool, particularly when navigating our mental health journey. Communing with God allows us to express our fears, hopes, and needs. In moments of distress, prayer can bring healing and provide clarity as we surrender our worries to Him. Let’s take a look at these verses about mental health that highlight the importance of prayer and how it opens the door for God’s healing in our lives.
James 5:16
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Matthew 7:7
“Ask and it will be given; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Pray continually.”
Psalms 121:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Overcoming Fear and Anxiety
Fear and anxiety often linger in our minds, threatening our peace and stability. The Bible encourages us to confront our fears with faith. By grounding ourselves in God’s promises, we can overcome the anxiety that often seems insurmountable. In these times, let us remind ourselves of God’s power and presence as we explore these verses about mental health that help us conquer our fears.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
Isaiah 43:1-3
“But now, this is what the Lord says—He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.'”
Psalms 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
Matthew 6:34
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
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