Maybe it’s something you’ve known about for many years, but been too scared to share. Or you’ve received a recent diagnosis; a name for all the stuff that is dominating your life. Sometimes it’s easy, like someone has joined the dots on a picture of you. Sometimes, putting its’ name and your name together feels foreign, even wrong. You’ll need time to make sense of it; and to work out who, and if (see here), you want to tell. Whatever …Read More
Some things to consider if you think your child might be struggling with their mental health… Is your child’s behaviour age-appropriate? Has it changed recently? What about the basics: eating, sleeping, communication? Every child is unique; so comparisons can often be unhelpful. However, there’s a difference between a 2 year-old having a melt-down and a 10 year-old doing the same thing. Listen to your guts – you know what’s normal for them and what feels wrong. Keep a diary of …Read More
Here’s another brilliant guest post from Sharon, who’ll be releasing an AMAZING book on mental health next year. (Details to follow). Thank you my friend! Unforsaken: Bringing God’s love to a friend in the Mental Health Inpatient Unit “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 When someone is admitted to a Mental Health Inpatient Unit (sometimes still known as the psychiatric ward), it can feel as if they have really hit …Read More
Huge thanks to T for sharing her story, in this brave and honest guest post. I first got a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) about 10 years ago. It was in many ways a relief, as there was finally a single condition that covered the different, seemingly disparate, symptoms that I had battled with over the years. It also validated the reality that the feelings and thoughts that often threatened to overwhelm me, and led to destructive behaviours, …Read More
What it is Also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder, (EUPD). Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness that makes it hard for sufferers to know themselves, control their feelings and impulses and relate to others. It’s called ‘borderline’ because in the past, mental illnesses were categorised as ‘psychoses’ or ‘neuroses’ and it didn’t fit into either category. What it’s not a myth chosen by sufferers untreatable How it feels: a disturbed sense of identity (not knowing who you are …Read More
I’ve been asked to do a video on good mental health habits; and I’d love to get your wisdom. Here’s some of mine; Talk it out – don’t bottle it up. Expressing feelings can be a big struggle for lots of us with MH issues. Sometimes it’s a trigger, (you feel bad, but don’t know why; you don’t have anyone to talk to; you learned that negative emotions are ‘bad’, so you look to other ways to ‘speak’ such as …Read More
Part 2 of Sharon’s wonderful guest post. (Read part 1 here) The Church and Severe Mental Illness When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he referred to it as the ‘body of Christ’, which had ‘many parts’ (1 Corinthians 12:27,12). He emphasised that every part – or person – in the church body was important: “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable …Read More
I’m hugely grateful to Sharon Hastings for this brilliant 2-part guest post on severe mental illness. Sharon graduated as a medical doctor before becoming ill with schizoaffective disorder but has found therapy in writing and is working on a book about her experience of finding God’s peace in psychosis. She lives in Northern Ireland with her husband Rob and two golden retrievers. In today’s post Sharon looks at severe mental illness…and in part 2, she considers how as churches, we …Read More
Having faith’ doesn’t mean going it alone. Yes, you need prayer, community and the bible. But you can also use medication, counselling and therapy. If we can use doctors for our bodies, we can use doctors for our brains. When Saul was stressed, David played him soothing music. When Elijah was close to breakdown, God told him to sleep and eat. So let’s not be ashamed of using the resources we have been given. It’s not true that if …Read More
“I hate myself.” “I have no hope. I have no future.” “I’m so ashamed.” “I don’t belong in church.” “Why did He make me like this?” “I have/have had problems with my mental health.” “I feel my weakness.” “I don’t quite fit.” “I believe the gospel but I don’t feel it.” “I’m afraid.” If you feel these things, then know that Jesus is for you. You are not beyond the pale, or outside of the camp. In your weakness …Read More
