Religion Leading Cause to Mental Illness?

[Thoreau]

I heard somewhere that those who are highly religious often exhibit many other traits of mental illness. Is this true?

I ask because I have a friend who was raised highly religious and was himself for many years, though is no longer so. However his behavior is very abnormal. IE: Extreme anger management problems, paranoia, unable to let things go, unable to deal with stress... etc. etc. For example, he and his ex broke up 4 years ago after only 6 months of dating, yet he still cries often over this ex and still misses them greatly, though his ex cheating on him, physically abused him, etc.

Further example: If someone does something he does not like or says something that he does not agree with, instead of kindly and calmly handeling the situation, he insteads yells at them and sometimes gets physically violent.

One last example: He exhibits clear signs of bipolar disorder. His mood, likes and dislikes, will shift DRASTICALLY within minutes, hours or days. In regards to his mood, he sometimes will be extremely happy one seconds, goofing off etc, then the next he is very mellow calm, sometimes angry or sad for no reason. I've asked him if he knows why and he says no. I've noticed that he has acquired new dislikes in various aspects. Not even a month ago, he enjoyed various activities which he now cannot stand. Nothing external caused this shift.

Anyways, I'm sure he needs to see a counselor or something, which he has refused to do, and I can't make him. But I'm wondering if his issues are more than likely caused by his strict religious upbringing and possibly influenced by his still VERY strictly relgious parents.

 

[lightgigantic]

I heard somewhere that those who are highly religious often exhibit many other traits of mental illness. Is this true?

I ask because I have a friend who was raised highly religious and was himself for many years, though is no longer so. However his behavior is very abnormal. IE: Extreme anger management problems, paranoia, unable to let things go, unable to deal with stress... etc. etc. For example, he and his ex broke up 4 years ago after only 6 months of dating, yet he still cries often over this ex and still misses them greatly, though his ex cheating on him, physically abused him, etc.

Further example: If someone does something he does not like or says something that he does not agree with, instead of kindly and calmly handeling the situation, he insteads yells at them and sometimes gets physically violent.

One last example: He exhibits clear signs of bipolar disorder. His mood, likes and dislikes, will shift DRASTICALLY within minutes, hours or days. In regards to his mood, he sometimes will be extremely happy one seconds, goofing off etc, then the next he is very mellow calm, sometimes angry or sad for no reason. I've asked him if he knows why and he says no. I've noticed that he has acquired new dislikes in various aspects. Not even a month ago, he enjoyed various activities which he now cannot stand. Nothing external caused this shift.

Anyways, I'm sure he needs to see a counselor or something, which he has refused to do, and I can't make him. But I'm wondering if his issues are more than likely caused by his strict religious upbringing and possibly influenced by his still VERY strictly relgious parents.

Maybe you could get him to start an a/c up on sci

 

[Bishadi]

I heard somewhere that those who are highly religious often exhibit many other traits of mental illness. Is this true?

every conscious born; when they recognize they an 'I' we all began to question.

we all want or wanted to know at some point in life; maybe one in a gazillion (new term: covers time) did did did did not want to know.

Anyways, I'm sure he needs to see a counselor or something, which he has refused to do, and I can't make him. But I'm wondering if his issues are more than likely caused by his strict religious upbringing and possibly influenced by his still VERY strictly relgious parents.

the single number ONE cause of religion within a persons beliefs is from the upbringing, as children

that is where the dogma sits and fits as it is bred into the minds of the little people.

but as soon as the new minds combine a few sources of material information, the variations of acceptances are hugenormous (another newly coined word; from a whacked sense of humor)

the biggest problem i see, is that people continue to divide and try to catagorize what they 'believe' into a sect or group.

what will drive people crazy is trying to comply with all the opinion's of any single religion, sect or belief

well except perhaps; there is a term called 'god' (whatever it is)

and that one day mankind will understand

keeping them beliefs is pretty easy

from there forth..... use your own common sense

 

[SkinWalker]

I heard somewhere that those who are highly religious often exhibit many other traits of mental illness. Is this true?

Being "highly religious" may be a symptom of a greater mental health issue. In other words, a result rather than a cause. Not that you implied it, but I thought I'd mention this. There is good empirical data that suggests an association with the levels of religiosity and neurological disorders or injuries to the temporal lobe and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has also been variously correlated to increased religiosity. Many epileptics have reported intense religious experiences and sensations, particularly after seizures, but epilepsy often affects the temporal lobe mentioned earlier.

I believe I also remember coming across a study a while back that correlated bipolar-disorder and intense or conservative religiosity among females, but this is one that I probably only skimmed the abstract and certainly didn't save it.

I wouldn't begin to give you advice on how to help your friend. I certainly wouldn't pay any attention to the earlier trolling between your post and mine.

 

[phlogistician]

epileptics have reported intense religious experiences and sensations, particularly after seizures, but epilepsy often affects the temporal lobe mentioned earlier.

Interestingly, the temporal lobe may also be the cause of 'alien abduction' experiences;

http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/Articles/ejufoas00.html

She herself had temporal lobe epilepsy induced once, as part of a TV program, investigating the alien abduction phenomenon. So she could relate the experience (as many sufferers experience it during sleep) she lay in a sensory deprivation tank, before it was induced, so she was conscious, but relaxed, as in sleep. She reported feeling fear, and that she was being pulled, poked, and prodded, ie, sensations that could be interpreted in a dream as a medical examination.

 

[swarm]

I heard somewhere that those who are highly religious often exhibit many other traits of mental illness. Is this true?

This question is not addressed by the psychological establishment last I checked, for obvious reasons.

who was raised highly religious

Just personal experience is that highly and strickly religious families often have a lot of issues. I would suggest your friend seek counciling.

 

[S.A.M.]

There is a fine line between genius and madness.

 

[spidergoat]

I don't know, it probably doesn't help lead one to rational thinking, but I think it's the case where mentally ill people seem to be attracted to Christianity for some reason. When you see a crazy homeless person on the street, they are usually screaming about Jesus and Revelations.

 

[Bishadi]

There is a fine line between genius and madness.

when the three begin to argue; then we can talk to me, myself and i

 

[baftan]

There is a rule for you; anything extreme can cause another extreme. As you mentioned, your friend have an extreme tendency towards religion, higher than his mental capability and brain is reacting to that. He is taking more than he can handle.

It must be a great burden for you to see your friend like that. You probably think what can you do about it. My advice is to push him to socialise if you could. This might help him to see the different side of the life other than religion, and could also take some of the pressure off your shoulders. However, socialising could make him worse, who knows? Meanwhile, you should also protect yourself from getting absorbed by his situation: don't make yourself vulnerable. Ask for advices through internet like you are doing, and/or ask for professional help if you can. I must admit it, this is a serious situation.

All these things will definetely not work if you are actually this "bipolarly disordered friend" himself; Dr. Jekyill asking help for Mr. Hyde...