Just thought I’d share a little of what is going on in my life at the moment, although I generally stay away from that sort of thing, as my life is by and large quite boring! I am very well at the moment. In fact, for the past year I have had few wobbles, and […]
Holy Suffering?
July 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There is a long-running theme in Christianity that suffering – whether mental or physical – is in some way good for us. In a way, we identify more closely with Jesus (the Suffering Servant) when we too suffer, and some people suggest there is a transformative power to our suffering. Martin Luther wrote on the […]
The Power of a Good Story
July 19, 2012 by 2 Comments
We have all seen them, the stories of those who have suffered and won. Disabled people face two “stories” about themselves – the disabled person as scrounger, as the faker who is in it for the benefits and not really disabled/ill (which has become increasingly the story of choice for the government/media) and the disabled […]
Troublesome Verses: Sound Mind
July 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There are some verses in the Bible which are troubling to Christians who suffer mental ill-health. Some of them seem to suggest that we cannot be proper Christians, or even Christian at all, if we have mental illnesses. One of these verses is in 2 Timothy, where Paul is speaking to Timothy: For the Spirit […]
“You Have a Spiritual Problem”
July 14, 2012 by 3 Comments
There is a great deal of rather ignorant talk from some Christians about mental illness. I think everyone has at least heard of, if not actually experienced, Christians who believe that mental ill-health is a spiritual problem rather than a medical one. Such people believe that a Christian must be in emotional good health, and […]
Visions and Psychosis
July 11, 2012 by 1 Comment
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17) Disclaimer: I have not experienced psychosis, or indeed heavenly visions. Please feel free to ignore what I write as the […]
Rest and Our Souls
July 10, 2012 by 10 Comments
Resting, both with sleep and with relaxing while awake, is important for our mental health. Mental ill-health can make us wide-awake when we desperately wish not to be, may be triggered by overwork and a lack of rest, and may lead us to be constantly exhausted. Rest also has a spiritual purpose, rest for our […]
Christians and Suicide
July 9, 2012 by 3 Comments
If you are feeling suicidal, please consider calling or emailing The Samaritans… I have been suicidal many times. I have seriously attempted suicide several times. My bipolar disorder (which, in me is characterised by deep depression) has led me close to the brink of death by my own hand. I have to say that when […]
Believing for Comfort?
July 4, 2012 by 1 Comment
I have occasionally been told by others that I only believe in God because of my illness, that I have in effect chosen to believe in order to give myself comfort and a sense of purpose, to make sense of why I have a mental illness and not because God actually exists. I came across a […]
Reading the Bible as a Mentally Ill Person
June 30, 2012 by 13 Comments
I remember when I was given a “proper” Bible. I was about thirteen and the Gideons had come round to my school, handing out pocket New Testaments in the NIV translation. I don’t think I really read it at that time, aside from when we were covering Mark’s Gospel in RE class, but I have […]
Believer's Brain 