What is epilepsy? It is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions. This is a type of brain disorder which is also referred to as a mental illness.
Now that you know the definition for epilepsy lets take a look at the definition for psychiatry.
Psychiatry is a medical specialty or branch of medical science that deals with non-surgical techniques and practices for dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness such as epilepsy.
In Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, and Luke 9:37-42 Jesus heals an epileptic boy by rebuking a demonic spirit simply by displaying faith in God.
Matthew 17:18 - And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Jesus' actions points out that sometimes mental illnesses are caused by demonic unclean spirits. He goes on to explain the reason His disciples wasn't able to cast out the demon was because they didn't have enough faith, but never the less this kind of demonic spirit can come forth by nothing, but by PRAYER AND FASTING.
Consider also Jesus response to his disciples as to why they couldn't drive out the demon. In Matthew he says it is because of their unbelief (little faith But in Mark he says that this kind could only come out by prayer and fasting.
If we combine these two we might conclude that their faith in God's ability to heal the epileptic boy needed to be at a higher level in order for them to be able to cast out this type of demonic spirit with out using PRAYER AND FASTING as Jesus did by rebuking the demon.
This also means that the Jesus like way to deal with mental illnesses would be to pray and fast with fellow believers in your church. The results you get is largely dependent on your faith in God to heal the sick person in question.
In contrast the psychiatric way would be to sit you down ask you questions about your child hood life and prescribe you with the latest anti-depressant drugs available.
If you know anything about psychiatry you know that the most they can ever really do for the treatment of their patients is to prescribe some type of drug which is big business in the medical field.
These Drugs never really cure the patients of the illness itself but instead covers it up and makes people dependant on outside substances.
What's more, alot of the time these substances are very addictive with dangerous side effects.
For example: Specific prescription drugs and medications used for the treatment of epilepsy include the following:
Depakote, Dilantin, Neurontin, Tegretol, Klonopin,
Lamictal, Mysoline, Phenobarbital and Topomax.
Due to the changing nature of medicine and the progression of medication regimens, of course, this list may not be all that is available.
Lets take depakote for instance it can cause liver damage. This effect is usually mild and temporary, but could become permanent or severe. When it does happen,
this effect usually occurs during the first six months of Depakote therapy.
Of course, most people with epilepsy and their close family members and friends may feel like they have no choice but to take the prescribed drugs because they lack the faith required to FAST AND PRAY as Jesus instructed.
If this is the case I would suggest that you seek out a group of Christians and ask them to help you in PRAYER AND FASTING.
The combined faith of a group of people could put you over the top and get you or your loved one healed without having to gamble with addiction or harmful side effects by taking psychiatric drugs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Hopkins is a "Christian Article Writer" who specializes in helping people remember to glorify God in everything that they do, so they don't miss out on any of His wonderful blessings.
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