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Friday, May 29, 2026

The Mental Health Trap

Do you think everyone needs counseling? Some people do -- especially counselors. After all, that's their bread and butter. So it's refreshing to see a professional psychiatrist, Dr. Roger McFillin, say this:


Obviously he's not talking about people who have serious mental illness, but the modern goal of turning everyone into a patient on the couch. Here's a bit from the article, but I recommend you click on the link above and read the whole thing.

What Does It Really Mean To Be "Mentally Healthy"?

Do we truly have a universally accepted definition of mental health? Is it merely the absence of painful emotions, a life devoid of anxiety, doubt, loss, sadness, or conflict? Are my emotions too intense, lingering longer than they should? Am I not supposed to think certain thoughts, is that unacceptable? The constant pressure to be happier than I am only adds to the confusion. What is the end goal?

Suddenly, experiencing even mild anxiety for a few days can spiral into a full-blown crisis. "I have anxiety," people now proclaim, as if they’ve been infected with this uncomfortable sensation that urgently needs fixing.

The concept of mental health is deliberately left nebulous, intentionally vague, lacking clear boundaries, which only serves to deepen confusion. This ambiguity inevitably leads individuals to seek validation from professionals to determine the normalcy of their experiences. What ensues is an entire industry poised to validate your struggles and reassure you that you’re on the right path of "taking care of our mental health."

This cycle perpetuates a culture where uncertainty breeds dependency on external affirmation, fostering an environment where the solution to our internal turmoil lies in seeking external validation rather than cultivating genuine understanding and resilience within ourselves.... 

What if I told you that the majority of messages around achieving mental health were not only counterproductive but were also the driving force behind feeling worse? 

Our life on earth is a walk through the Valley of Tears. How can anyone expect to be happy all the time. Having a "bad" day is normal. Do some people need mental health help. Of course, but like the article says that's the exception. Trying to eliminate every negative feeling is hopeless and counterproductive. Dealing with feelings is an opportunity to exercise our reason, the seat of judgment. Just because I feel angry, I don't need to lash out, throw things or have an adult tantrum. Just because I feel attracted to someone doesn't mean I have to commit adultery. Just because I feel depressed doesn't mean I need to sit down and eat a quart of ice cream and a box of chocolates. The surest way to happiness is to know, love, and serve God. That's the roadmap to a happy life. God can turn even sorrow into joy when we realize that nothing "just happens" and conform our wills to His.

The person who constantly looks at himself in the mirror has the wrong focus. Look at the face of Christ and remember that we are called to be His image. He is not called to be ours.

If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart. 

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