Page 118 - Biblical Counseling II

“Standards for deviance also vary by context and by culture. In one context, wartime mass killing may be
viewed as normal and even heroic. In some contexts, people are
presumed deranged when they hear voices. But in cultures practicing
ancestor worship, people may claim to talk with the dead and not be
seen as disordered because other people find them rational” (Myers,
2009).

“Deviant and distressful behaviors are more likely to be considered
disordered when also judged to be a harmful dysfunction. If a
behavior becomes disabling, it is not a typical behavior. An intense
fear of spiders may be deviant (unusual), but if it doesn’t impair your
life, it is not a disorder. Psychological disorders are diagnosed using a
book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
5 (or the DSM-5). The DSM-5 is a helpful and practical tool to help
psychologists diagnose disorders (Myers, 2012). The manual is put
together by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by
counselors, researchers, health insurance companies, and
policymakers. If we were meeting in person, I would bring my DSM to
show you the layout of the book. It is an interesting manual to look through. (DSM-5 photo from psychcentral.com)

“Mental disorders include: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychoses (characterized
by an impaired relationship with reality), anxiety disorders, dementia, and developmental disorders,
including autism. There are effective strategies for preventing mental disorders such as depression. There
are also effective treatments for mental disorders and ways to alleviate the suffering caused by them. Access
to health care and social services capable of providing treatment and social support is key to treating mental
disorders. The burden of mental disorders continues to grow with significant impacts on health and major
social, human rights, and economic consequences in all countries of the world” (“Mental Disorders,” p. 1,
2019). Let’s spend some time briefly looking at several different mental disorders. We’ll first look at anxiety
disorders.

Anxiety Disorders
“Anxiety disorders are psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or
maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety” (Myers, 2012). According to the National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI), “We all experience anxiety. For example, speaking in front of a group can make us anxious,
but that anxiety also motivates us to prepare and practice. Driving in heavy traffic is another common source
of anxiety, but it helps keep us alert and cautious to avoid accidents. However, when feelings of intense fear
and distress become overwhelming and prevent us from doing everyday activities, an anxiety disorder may
be the cause” (NAMI, 2020).

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread in
which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations”
(Myers, 2012). “Many people accept their phobias and live with them, but others are incapacitated by their
efforts to avoid the feared situation. Marilyn, an otherwise healthy and happy 28-year-old, so fears
thunderstorms that she feels anxious as soon as a weather forecaster mentions possible storms later in the
week. If her husband is away and a storm is forecast, she may stay with a close relative. During a storm, she
hides from windows and buries her head to avoid seeing the lightning (Myers, 2012).

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