348 - Mental Illness or Spiritual Affliction? Physical Cures vs. Spiritual Solutions ft. Dr. Natalie Atwell!

·1 hr 11 min·5 clips

The first residential treatment center I went to did an exorcism on me, and I relapsed within a week.

The episode begins with host and guest exchanging personal backgrounds, noting their Southern roots and current locations. Dr. Natalie Atwell introduces herself as a mental health therapist running a private practice in North Carolina and an adjunct professor at Liberty University, specializing in the rise of non-traditional spirituality among clients. The host shares his history of addiction, mental illness since childhood, and a pivotal experience at Bethel Colony of Mercy where an exorcism was performed on him, leading to quick relapse. Dr. Atwell outlines her diagnostic methodology, emphasizing the need to rule out physical causes like parasites or brain tumors first, then mental health therapies, before considering spiritual factors, noting that typical treatments don't work against spiritual darkness. The host recounts a clinical case where a patient's genuine fear during episodes suggested possible spiritual oppression, contrasting it with attention-seeking behavior. Discussion shifts to brain imaging, with Dr. Atwell mentioning Dr. Amen's SPEC scan as an advanced but expensive tool for diagnosing conditions like PTSD or depression. The host details his personal medication journey, including a failed attempt to go off meds during the pandemic that ended catastrophically, and his ongoing debate about chemical imbalance theories. Dr. Atwell connects addiction to attachment theory, explaining it as a bad attachment stemming from unmet needs. The conversation explores spiritual practices, with the host describing his OCD-driven superstitious Christianity and Dr. Atwell sharing her daily relational experiences with God through prayer, nature, and scripture. They address the trend of Christians adopting new age practices like crystals or psychics, warning of spiritual dangers. Dr. Atwell discusses counseling clients from other faiths, emphasizing meeting them where they are and posing reflective questions. Theological topics include religious plurality, post-death conversion, and God's revelation to those unaware of the gospel. Dr. Atwell previews her book 'Behind Humanity', influenced by Dr. Michael Heiser's work, which examines the human struggle against dark forces and the flesh, offering assessments for spiritual manifestations in mental health. The episode concludes with reflections on psychedelics, where the host shares a negative experience with ketamine therapy involving a shadowy figure and relapse, and Dr. Atwell cautions about spiritual darkness in such practices.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Church & Other Drugs