In addition to present circumstances, we must mention experiences that one may have had previously in his/her life. We bring up this subject with caution, not because the phenomenon does not exist, but because there has been so much controversy and misunderstanding about this aspect of human behavior. It is unfortunate that Sigmund Freud championed much of this approach to human behavior, for because of his atheistic views and anti-Christian ideas, believers have quite rightly given him and his theories a wide berth. Nevertheless, it is true that past experiences do mold our thinking and outlook, and painful experiences may cause us to develop certain coping strategies or defense mechanisms. As long as these coping strategies are good (such as seeking help from someone or avoiding the cause of the problem), they make it possible for us to reduce the impact of stressful events and maintain normal behavior. However, if they degenerate into defense mechanisms that are destructive, they may well provoke mental disturbances instead of avoiding them. Those who repress a painful memory or deny that something unpleasant really happened may experience some short-term relief, but they will eventually find that they must face reality. We may leave a splinter in our finger to avoid the pain associated with removing it, but the resulting infection and inflammation will create a much greater problem than if we had taken the trouble to remove it. So hurts and bad experiences that happened in the past may cast a shadow over our lives, causing us to think and act in ways that are abnormal.
Demon Possession
This cause of mental illness is a most important one, and one which is mentioned a number of times in Scripture. Because it is a factor in mental illness that is frequently neglected and perhaps not even recognized, it is important that we consider it carefully. However, because it is in a class by itself and because it is so important, we will consider demon possession as a separate entity later in the Appendix.
Criminal Actions
We have seen how willful sin can cause mental illness and how sin allowed in our lives can aggravate a tendency that is already present in our beings as the result of sin. If this is carried beyond a certain point, the individual may be guilty of criminal activity. This is another case where willful sin combines with sin as a result of man’s fall. Again, because this is a special type of willful sin, we will leave it for consideration in the Appendix.