Bitterness - a mental disorder
While reading the Montreal Gazette newspaper this morning I came across a small article carrying the headline ‘Bitterness might become sanctioned mental disorder". The story is about work on a new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which is the psychiatry’s official catalogue of mental dysfunction.
According to psychiatrists people who experience prolonged bitterness over a breakup or a conflict at work are "ill" and need treatment. Post-traumatic embitterment disorder is described as
a pathological reaction to a single negative life event, such as conflict at work, unemployment, divorce, illness or separation. People view the event as unjust, a violation of their basic beliefs and values, and "want the world to see how badly they have been treated," according to published studies. (Montreal Gazette)
Michael Linden, a German psychiatrist who named the behaviour said "People feel wronged, humiliated and that some injustice has been done to them." Speaking of the "condition" he said "These people don’t have the feeling that they must change, but rather have the idea that the world should change or the oppressor should change, so they don’t ask for treatment."
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like all types of objectionable behaviours are becoming illnesses rather than as the Bible declares them - works of the flesh - or sin. The biblical answer for bitterness is not treatment or counseling (although counseling is beneficial) it is repentance - taking ownership of the wrong behaviour and/or thought processes, asking God’s forgiveness and determining to change.
You can read more about this "illness" and discover others that are being considered for inclusion in the DSM like "Internet addiction disorder", "apathy disorder" and "partner relational problem" on the Gazette’s website here
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