Download or read book From Pastor to Psych Ward written by Steve Austin and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-08-31 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When I left home that Sunday night, I knew my wife and little boy would never see alive again. My name is Steve Austin. I survived childhood sexual abuse, but the effects rippled through my life for the next twenty-five years. After nearly ten years as a youth pastor and worship leader, I was convinced that my only "out" was a suicide attempt. Now that I have started telling my story, people often as me what's the trick? What's the answer? What made me want to start living again? I can tell you this: I didn't take a "magic Jesus pill" and suddenly life was better. I walked through a living hell and now I have a story to tell. Jesus is a major part of it, but there was also strong medication, one heck of a support system, and a lot of hard work. Recovery is a long and difficult process, but I am living proof that it is possible. This book is for anyone who has failed a suicide attempt and is left wondering "what's next." It's also for anyone suffering from anxiety or depression, bipolar, OCD, PPD, or PTSD. If you've ever secretly considered a suicide attempt, this book is for you. I'm not a doctor or a counselor. I'm just a real guy with a powerful story to tell. I'd be honored to share my experience with you.
Download or read book Christ on the Psych Ward written by David Finnegan-Hosey and published by Church Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2018-03-17 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A series of reflections on the intersections among mental health, faith, and ministry. Beginning with his own experience, Finnegan-Hosey shares ways communities of faith can be present with those suffering from mental illness and crises. Weaving together personal testimony, theological reflection, and practical ministry experience, he offers a message of hope for those suffering and for friends and faith communities struggling to care for them. Ultimately, his journey of recovery and healing reveals the need for a theological understanding of a vulnerable God, important not solely for ministry with those with mental health struggles, but offering a hopeful vision forward for the church.
Download or read book Hiding in the Pews written by Steve Austin and published by Fortress Press. This book was released on 2021-09-21 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2012, Steve Austin, then a pastor, nearly died by suicide. His experience launched him on a journey that opened his eyes to the widespread problem of mental illness and how those who live with it are often treated in congregations. He began to wonder: if church folks had talked openly about mental health, therapy, suicide prevention, recovery from abuse, and other difficult issues, would that have changed his story? In Hiding in the Pews, people with mental illness--some of whom might be pastors themselves--will find comfort as they learn they are not alone. Those who know someone with mental illness will gain wisdom about how to be a safe presence. Those who hold the most power in church communities--pastors, board members, and lay leaders--will be challenged and equipped to transform their congregations into places of healing, where it is safe for people to be vulnerable about their suffering. Austin draws on his own experience, as well as on interviews with eighty current and former church leaders and members. Each chapter covers a topic or theme about mental illness and the church and includes practical applications to guide leaders on a journey toward transforming church culture. When a church champions vulnerability and establishes safety within its walls, especially for those who are suffering, the loving power of God heals. Austin offers hope that faith communities will be the first places people think of when they need a sense of safety and belonging.
Download or read book Christ on the Psych Ward written by David Finnegan-Hosey and published by Church Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2018-03 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: - Applicable not just to those with mental health issues, but for churches and the church at large
Download or read book Resurrecting the Person written by John Swinton and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Resurrecting the Person, John Swinton argues that while mental illnesses are often biological and genetic in origin, the real handicap experienced by individuals is imposed by the types of reactions, values, and attitudes which are typical of contemporary western society. In other words, how a mental illness is experienced has much to do with how it is socially constructed. How will the church react to this suggestion? Swinton suggests that the key to the effective pastoral care of individuals with severe mental illness lies not only within the realms of psychiatry, therapy, and pharmacological intervention, but in the rehumanization which is borne within the relationship of friendship.
Download or read book Pastor s Role in the Psychiatric Hospital written by Christine Jones and published by . This book was released on 1980 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Loony Bin Blues written by Darrell Sroufe and published by Xulon Press. This book was released on 2012 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this fascinating testimony, author Darrell Sroufe recounts growing up in a home wracked by mental illness; his teen years lost in sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll; and nearly going insane after a bad drug trip. Coming to Christ only a few hours before committing himself to a mental hospital, he soon found full deliverance. Then God opened doors for him to become a counselor, therapist and case manager in several psychiatric institutions. Witnessing the anti-Christian charlatanism of psychiatry while knowing the delivering power of The Great Physician first-hand, he recommended trust in Jesus Christ rather than psychiatrists to patients with mental problems. This quickly resulted in an ongoing conflict with the psychiatric industry. In off-hours evangelistic ministry he did the same, recognizing that insanity is not relegated only to those locked inside psychiatric wards, but runs amuck everywhere in sin-crazed society. Unmasking modern psychiatry, Loony Bin Blues reveals the practice to be a multi-billion dollar business more interested in money than remedying mental illness. Its spurious history, philosophies and ideologies are brought to light, exposing its occult origins and illegitimate pseudo-science challenges to Biblical authority in matters pertaining to the human soul. If you believe that mental illness is simply the result of diseases and chemical imbalances of the brain, or if you don't believe in spiritual realities, then you are in for a real surprise. Loony Bin Blues moves in and out of earthly, heavenly and hellish realms unveiling the truth about psychiatry, insanity and emissaries of light and darkness who battle for the souls of us all. You can't make this stuff up. - S.T. Caballero, Georgia Medical Care Foundation of Atlanta A Christian testimony willing to tell the warts-and-all truth. - April Riggins, Life Impact International
Download or read book One Step From Insanity written by Lady Charmaine Day and published by Lady Charmaine Day. This book was released on 2008-02-06 with total page 443 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: People often say I almost lost my mind, or I'm about to lose my mind. You make me feel crazy or insane. Yet few people have actually lost it...went crazy. What does an insane person think about? What do you contemplate as your mind recovers from being insane,what thoughts flow through it? These are the actual words that I wrote while insane. Welcome to the inside of my brain : )
Download or read book I Love Jesus But I Want to Die written by Sarah J. Robinson and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2021-05-11 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.
Download or read book The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat And Other Clinical Tales written by Oliver Sacks and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 1998 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explores neurological disorders and their effects upon the minds and lives of those affected with an entertaining voice.
Download or read book Anatomy of an Epidemic written by Robert Whitaker and published by Crown. This book was released on 2010-04-13 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Updated with bonus material, including a new foreword and afterword with new research, this New York Times bestseller is essential reading for a time when mental health is constantly in the news. In this astonishing and startling book, award-winning science and history writer Robert Whitaker investigates a medical mystery: Why has the number of disabled mentally ill in the United States tripled over the past two decades? Interwoven with Whitaker’s groundbreaking analysis of the merits of psychiatric medications are the personal stories of children and adults swept up in this epidemic. As Anatomy of an Epidemic reveals, other societies have begun to alter their use of psychiatric medications and are now reporting much improved outcomes . . . so why can’t such change happen here in the United States? Why have the results from these long-term studies—all of which point to the same startling conclusion—been kept from the public? Our nation has been hit by an epidemic of disabling mental illness, and yet, as Anatomy of an Epidemic reveals, the medical blueprints for curbing that epidemic have already been drawn up. Praise for Anatomy of an Epidemic “The timing of Robert Whitaker’s Anatomy of an Epidemic, a comprehensive and highly readable history of psychiatry in the United States, couldn’t be better.”—Salon “Anatomy of an Epidemic offers some answers, charting controversial ground with mystery-novel pacing.”—TIME “Lucid, pointed and important, Anatomy of an Epidemic should be required reading for anyone considering extended use of psychiatric medicine. Whitaker is at the height of his powers.” —Greg Critser, author of Generation Rx
Download or read book Fresh Hope written by Brad Hoefs and published by Xulon Press. This book was released on 2013-01-01 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fresh Hope is a FANTASTIC and much needed resource for the church! I particularly appreciate the emphasis on the wellness versus medical model, as it empowers us to be active participants in the pursuit of healing. I would have given anything to be part of a group like this years back. Now I am so excited to help bring this ministry to the Chicago area. Jon Press MA Christian Education blogger for BP magazine A well written book that is concise, easy to understand and free of psychobabble. I highly recommend Brad Hoefs' book, Fresh Hope, for those suffering from mood disorders. Fresh Hope is an excellent resource that is informative and enlightening. It will bring insight to family and friends wanting to increase their understanding of their loved ones' mood disorders. Definitely a must read. Encouraging, explicit, resounding in truth...begin your own journey and allow God to redeem your pain and suffering into trophies of His wonderful grace. Allen L. Minnig LMHP, C.P., Omaha, NE, 2012 Brad has provided a great resource for the faith community in their effort to serve those who struggle with mood disorders. As a "wounded healer" he has provided a theological framework and philosophy of ministry for the church in partnering with the medical community on behalf of those who live with a chemical imbalance. Brad's story of recovery and growth brings hope to those who are not satisfied with merely coping with the challenges of a harsh medical diagnosis and medication. It is an invaluable resource for the church in coming alongside the millions in our communities who struggle with depression and anxiety. Brad's story of integrating faith in his recovery will bring hope to all who battle with depression. Dr Wendell Nelson Pastor of Spiritual Formation Christ Community Church Pastor Brad Hoefs was diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder in 1995, after experiencing a very public and painful manic episode. This episode led to him being asked to resign as the senior pastor of a large growing church. After his resignation a group of people formed Community of Grace Church and provided the Hoefs with a safe place to heal and find hope. It is out of this experience that Brad started Fresh Hope in 2009, a Christ-centered support group for those who suffer from mood disorders, as well as for their loved ones. Fresh Hope has grown to numerous locations throughout the US, with new groups starting all the time. Brad serves as senior pastor at Community of Grace in Elkhorn, NE and is President of WorshipOutlet.com, which provides creative worship resources. He also serves as a member of the State of Nebraska's Advisory Committee to the Governor on Mental Health Services. Brad is married to Donna, his sweetheart since college. They have two married adult children, Noah and Noelle, and two grandchildren, Ava and Jayden, who bring them great joy! You may contact Pastor Brad by emailing him at [email protected].
Download or read book My Church was a Mental Hospital written by Ward A. Knights and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 125 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Hope Always written by Matthew Sleeth and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2021 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A much-needed manual for all who attempt to counsel troubled souls battling despair." --Bob Russell, Retired Senior Pastor, Southeast Christian Church Every single day, someone you know is thinking about committing suicide. It isn't just one or two--ten million Americans will consider killing themselves in the upcoming year. Dr. Matthew Sleeth believes Christians--and our churches--should be the first to offer hope. Are we prepared to do so? As a physician and minister, Dr. Sleeth shares his personal and professional experiences with depression and suicide, challenging Christians to become part of the solution. With sound medical principles finding their rightful place beside timeless biblical wisdom, Hope Always offers the practical and spiritual tools that individuals, families, and churches need to help loved ones who are stressed and struggling. In Hope Always, you will find research-based and scientifically grounded information about the suicide epidemic, biblically based information to start a conversation about the spiritual and emotional battles that so many of us face, and a practical toolkit to consult when a loved one is dealing with suicidal ideation. After reading Hope Always, you will have the resources at your fingertips to build communities of hope that help save lives!
Download or read book Loved Back to Life written by Sheila Walsh and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2015-02-03 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Join Sheila Walsh on her journey from despair to joy Beautiful and talented, Sheila Walsh was at the pinnacle of her career, appearing daily on television as cohost of The 700 Club. One day she found herself walking away from it all and checking in to a psychiatric hospital, where she stayed for a month. From the outside everything seemed fine, but on the inside Sheila was in trouble. In her journal she wrote, “Lord, please hold me. I’m falling into a dark well. I feel as if I am disappearing a little more every day. I am so angry inside that I am afraid of myself. I feel so alone.” How did this happen? What brought her to her knees? Loved Back to Life takes readers on Sheila’s journey of the soul from hopelessness to joy as she finds that although the road was scary, at every turn God beckoned her to follow and trust Him. And He did not let her down.
Download or read book Medicine and Health Care in Early Christianity written by Gary B. Ferngren and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2016-08 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on New Testament studies and recent scholarship on the expansion of the Christian church, Gary B. Ferngren presents a comprehensive historical account of medicine and medical philanthropy in the first five centuries of the Christian era. Ferngren first describes how early Christians understood disease. He examines the relationship of early Christian medicine to the natural and supernatural modes of healing found in the Bible. Despite biblical accounts of demonic possession and miraculous healing, Ferngren argues that early Christians generally accepted naturalistic assumptions about disease and cared for the sick with medical knowledge gleaned from the Greeks and Romans. Ferngren also explores the origins of medical philanthropy in the early Christian church. Rather than viewing illness as punishment for sins, early Christians believed that the sick deserved both medical assistance and compassion. Even as they were being persecuted, Christians cared for the sick within and outside of their community. Their long experience in medical charity led to the creation of the first hospitals, a singular Christian contribution to health care. "A succinct, thoughtful, well-written, and carefully argued assessment of Christian involvement with medical matters in the first five centuries of the common era . . . It is to Ferngren's credit that he has opened questions and explored them so astutely. This fine work looks forward as well as backward; it invites fuller reflection of the many senses in which medicine and religion intersect and merits wide readership."—Journal of the American Medical Association "In this superb work of historical and conceptual scholarship, Ferngren unfolds for the reader a cultural milieu of healing practices during the early centuries of Christianity."—Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith "Readable and widely researched . . . an important book for mission studies and American Catholic movements, the book posits the question of what can take its place in today's challenging religious culture."—Missiology: An International Review Gary B. Ferngren is a professor of history at Oregon State University and a professor of the history of medicine at First Moscow State Medical University. He is the author of Medicine and Religion: A Historical Introduction and the editor of Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction.
Download or read book The Dark Has Its Own Light written by Sue Dowell and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2016-07-14 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Dark Has Its Own Light chronicles the authors experience as a patient in a psychiatric hospital, at a time when limited treatment methods meant less chance of recovery. Alternating between recounting the family history that resulted in hospitalization, and the relationships that developed in the hospital, the book charts a story of loss, suffering, and the discovery of hope and love where none seemed possible.
