Insulating Assumptions I have SO much that I could say about this topic as it relates to such a wide array of pain filled circumstances that we face in our own lives as well as those that we see others going through. One of the biggest things that God has/is teaching me through my experience of living with a mental illness is in regard to my making assumptions or having preconceived notions as to why a person might be going through a particularly dark valley. Many years before I understood that I was afflicted with an Anxiety Disorder I held my own insulating assumptions about mental illness. I actually never bothered to learn about mental illness. I just assumed that people who were afflicted had acted or behaved in a certain way to bring it upon themselves. As a Christian I assumed that my faith in Christ somehow protected me or caused me to be immune/insulated from the experience of mental illness. It was easier to believe that than to consider that one day I might also be diagnosed with a mental illness. I thank God for teaching me just how cruel such assumptions can be, as He has allowed me to walk the valley of OCD and Panic Disorder and allowed people to preach at me or blame me for my illness. Ever since then God is still pointing out situations where I need to drop my assumptions and preconceived notions about why people are going through some unbelievably distressing experiences. Instead of wondering what they might have done to bring all of that upon themselves.. (like Jobs friends did), I hope that I am able to approach them with compassion, empathy and a teachable heart that listens to their needs rather than a proud heart that is full of judgment and my own insulating assumptions. I wonder, have any of my fellow OCD/Anxiety sufferers been the recipient of insulating assumptions? And if so, what effect did it have on you?
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 16:08:53 +0000
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