Elahe Hessamfar

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These are my reflections on those Scriptures that God has used to comfort me as I have travelled through the "valleys of Shadow of death." I am hoping that they will comfort those fellow-travelers who are going through the wilderness of life. At times, I will also write blogs relevant to mental illness, particularly as it relates to issues of faith, theology and community. All Scriptures used here will be from New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise specified.

Reflections

What if Some of Our Psychiatric Symptoms are Iatrogenic?

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Elahe Hessamfar

Illustration: Jon Han Many psychiatric treatments are iatrogenic, meaning the treatment itself creates new disordered symptoms. Unfortunately, not all physicians are familiar with all side effects of these drugs.  This is partially because pharmaceutical companies don't expose all side effects, ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Research Tagged: Akathisia, Antipsychotics, iatrogenic, psychiatric drugs, Schizophrenia, SSRI

Gaining Freedom in the Midst of Darkness: A Theological Perspective

Posted on November 13, 2018 by Elahe Hessamfar

  The following is a paper I presented at the 17th annual conference of The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis in Philadelphia:   The famous British scholar C.S. Lewis noted that, What we learn from experience depends on the kind of ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Research Tagged: Christianity, Faith, God, Healing, Human depravity, madness, sin

A Theological Interpretation of the Language of Madness

Posted on September 3, 2017 by Elahe Hessamfar

I presented the following paper at the 20th international congress of International Society For Psychological And Social Approaches to Psychosis, in Liverpool , UK, on Sept. 2nd, 2017.   Good morning everyone!  My name is Elahe Hessamfar. In the paper I am presenting to you today, I ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Research Tagged: God, madness, Mental Illness, psychosis, Schizophrenia, theology

What Should We Make of Hearing Voices?

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Elahe Hessamfar

I was reading a recently published article in the New Yorker, by Jerome Groopman, about those who hear voices.  The article questions why some people hear voices, and when such voices might become a problem.  I found the article interesting. The article builds upon the concept of self-talk and the ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Personal Reflection, Research Tagged: demonic possession, Hallucination, Schizophrenia, self-talk, voice-hearing

Do Not Trust in Riches and Worldly Goods

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Elahe Hessamfar

Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: apostasy, idolatry, Laodicea, Pride, self-sufficiency, Suffering

Being Built Up in Christ

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Elahe Hessamfar

The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk  in the same manner as He walked.  1 John 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: Faith, In Christ, Life, Sanctification, transformation

What is Wrong with Self-Esteem?

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Elahe Hessamfar

In today’s popular psychology culture, when faced with emotional distress, we are told that we should work on building up self-esteem. The emphasis on self-esteem is deeply permeated in our culture, and strongly advocated by many psychologists and educators. We are told that first and foremost, we ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Personal Reflection Tagged: Christ, Compassion, identity, Image of God, narcissism, psychological health, Self-esteem

The New Medicated Generation

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Elahe Hessamfar

We are a nation lost in our own self-worship, reaching for straws to pull ourselves out of pain and despair, hoping that somehow we can find the route to self-enforced transcendence, even if it means medicating ourselves toward that goal. Most of us refuse to accept that the void can only be ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Personal Reflection, Research Tagged: anxiety, childhood, Depression, Despair, Medication

Depression and Desperate Treatments

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Elahe Hessamfar

Depression is a soul-wrenching, dark, and dreadful illness.  Those suffering from depression, encounter such despair and hopelessness that makes them desperate for solutions in search of healing. The cause of depression is not yet known. Most people have bought into the medical narrative of a broken ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Personal Reflection, Research Tagged: Depression, Ketamine, soul-care

Suffering Will Bear the Fruit of Obedience

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Elahe Hessamfar

Although He was a Son, He learned Obedience from the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).   [B]ut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Acts ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional

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Elahe Hessamfar

Elahe Hessamfar

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In the fellowship of His suffering: A Theological Interpretation of Mental Illness.

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Recent Posts

  • What if Some of Our Psychiatric Symptoms are Iatrogenic?
  • Gaining Freedom in the Midst of Darkness: A Theological Perspective
  • A Theological Interpretation of the Language of Madness
  • What Should We Make of Hearing Voices?
  • Do Not Trust in Riches and Worldly Goods

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A Theological Interpretation of Mental Illness. - A Focus on "Schizophrenia"

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