She couldn't believe it. There she was with her medical qualifications sitting on the floor of a mental hospital. She'd been baptized, offered her life to God, wanted to serve him anywhere, but no, surely not this...
Sharon Hastings is absolutely passionate about helping anyone who suffers from 'severe and enduring mental illness' (SEMI): schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. She wants the church to know all about these illnesses: how they devastate ordinary people and how they need to be treated. By telling her story, warts and all, showing her own tortuous, painful journey, she equips us to come alongside loved ones, fellow church members, friends and neighbours, understanding the social and spiritual ramifications of their illnesses, including them in our activities (where appropriate) and encouraging their spiritual growth.
Contents
Introduction: Deep joy
1 Too numb to pray - Wrestling with thoughts of darkness
2 The symphonies have lost their colour - Wrestling with low mood
3 I want to go home - Wrestling with my loss of freedom
4 Throwing the bouquet in the bin - Wrestling with my identity
5 A case too complex to treat - Wrestling with rejection
6 He wants me back - Wrestling with God
7 Sighing out my bitterness - Wrestling with despair
8 Too alive - Wrestling with suicidal thoughts
9 Aftercare. At last - Wrestling with my body
10 More than well - Wrestling with mania
11 Support for my application - Wrestling with the General Medical Council
12 The network of the fourth dimension - Wrestling with psychosis
13 A complicated little creature - Wrestling, with fresh hope
14 This doesn't feel like 'friends' - Wrestling with risk
15 It's not your average relationship - Wrestling with first love
16 Even there your hand will guide - Wrestling, with acceptance
Epilogue
Appendix 1 FAQs
Appendix 2 Useful contacts and resources
End notes
A natural storyteller, the author draws us in. We journey with her as she shares deeply. With wisdom, kindness and the heart of a bruised survivor, she interweaves her exceptional story with vital teaching which cannot be ignored by anyone within the church today.
