Broken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're "Losing It" [Paperback]

Steve Bloem (Author), Robyn Bloem (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 2005

Mental illness is often much more subtle than we imagine . . . and much more prevalent. This book is a deeply personal, yet practical, book for Christians who are clinically depressed or have been diagnosed with a mental illness. (20060901)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I have a personal interest in Steven and Robyn Bloem's book because I too am a pastor 'on pills.' My depression remained undiagnosed from the age of twenty until the age of fifty. That was largely because I put my cyclic low periods down to fatigue and refused to seek medical help. I was greatly helped, however, by the elders and members of Little Hill Church near Leicester, where I was pastor for 15 years. They had the right ideas about clinical depression being organic in origin and eventually prevailed on me to seek appropriate help. . . .These spells I now recognise as being good for me, 'thorns in the flesh' keeping me from being over-elated or arrogant (2 Corinthians 12:7). I also find that my personal experience of clinical depression has brought me two other benefits as a pastoróit has taught me to rely more on the God who is able to raise the dead and has given me a great sympathy for, and understanding of, those who suffer from depression (2 Corinthians 1:3-11)." (David Gregson evangelical-times.org )

"This is the best Christian perspective on depression I have read. A young American Baptist is about to start his first pastorate when he is incapacitated by a severe clinical depression. The story is told by the man himself and also his wife. She in turn suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress. The author shows how C. H. Spurgeon suffered from all three and yet he was a great servant of God. The question is asked, does a mental affliction disbar a man from pastoral ministry? The not unusual experience related here is of some lack of understanding and sympathy from Christians who deny the reality of mental illness or attribute it all to the demonic." (Graham Weeks christianquoter.blogspot.com )

"This is a candid and spirit affirming story of a family's personal struggle, not only with mental illness, but also in finding where they fit into the body of Christ and His ministry. Considering that 10% of the world's adult population suffer from some form of mental illness, this book could well be required reading for pastors, elders, and Christian counselors or for anyone who is called to minister with understanding and unbiased care. The book is solidly based on a scriptural foundation with ample clinical information to appeal to the lay person or anyone in a counseling capacity. Informative, honest and helpful, this work shatters the old stigmas and perceptions of mental illness and depression. It is well written with enough heart and hope to balance the seriousness of the subject. Interesting reading." (Sandra Thayer Author's Choice Reviews )

From the Back Cover

Mental illness. These words illicit frightening images of uncontrolled behavior, hospital confinement, and destructive violence.

But mental illness is often much more subtle—and much more prevalent than we imagine. Unfortunately, people who are diagnosed as mentally ill may not understand what is happening to them. And for Christians, some “helpful” leaders heap on guilt, saying that the problem is spiritual rather than emotional or physical.

This book takes Steve’s personal story of major depression and weaves through it Robyn’s insights and Steve’s professional knowledge. The result is a tapestry of practical information—including definitions, treatment options, government services available, and interactions with the church and God—and a deep compassion for those who feel like their world is falling apart.

“If this book can help to dispel the stigma of mental illness and depression, remove the fallacious claims of the nouthetic counseling, integrationist, and spiritual warfare devotees, and recover the wisdom of the Puritans for pastoral counseling of the depressed, it will have done a great service for God's church.”

 

—John Rawlinson
General Manager
The Banner of Truth Trust

“The Bloems have produced a useful, biblical, practical, and pastoral book that presents spiritual truth and provides hope for the mentally ill or those caring for them.”

— Chaplain, Colonel John Poston

 Steve Bloem (B.A., Cornerstone University; M.Min., Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, Penn.) has been a children' therapist to socially and emotionally disturbed youth, been involved in clinical counseling/case management for a mental health agency, and presently is in private practice as the director of Heartfelt Counseling Ministries Inc. But it was his own struggle with depression that led him to write this book.

Robyn Bloem has been a volunteer in a variety of inner-city and church ministries for more than twenty years.

(20051201)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (August 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825421187
• ISBN-13: 978-0825421181
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Candor, December 17, 2005

By 

Robert W. Kellemen "Doc. K." (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're "Losing It" (Paperback)

Bloem and Bloem write a telling personal and biblical narrative for those dealing with depression. This is a rare book from a conservative Christian perspective. Many authors from a secular perspective have shared about their own battle with depression (William Styron, Lewis Wolpert) or bi-polar disorder (Kay Redfield Jamison), but few evangelicals have done so. Fortunately the stigma of depression is fading as Christians of today realize what Christians of the past have known--there are many causes of depression (for a powerful look at "famous" Christians who struggled with emotional issues, see "Genius, Grief, and Grace").

For an honest, open, biblical, theologically-sound, and helpful conservative Christian approach to hope for healing, "Broken Minds" should be tops on your list.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource on Depression & Mental Illness, June 1, 2007

By 

V. Gaines "Vicki" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're "Losing It" (Paperback)

This book is vitally important to our understanding of the mechanics of depression and mental illness. After reading a plethora of books on the subject over the years, this is the ONE book that I am excited to recommend, and I highly recommend it.

"Broken Minds" is both practical, sensitive, compassionate, and very biblically sound. In fact, it should be required reading for every pastor, elder, ministry leader, counselor, or person who is wrestling with the effects of depression, PTSD, OCD, SAD, bipolar, panic disorder, and so much more. Having suffered clinical depression more than once in my life, I'm amazed at the volume of wisdom contained here. It's like five books in one. I believe God will use this book to to broaden the church's understanding, dispel the stigmas, and to literally save people's lives.

"...blessed is the church that has access to pastoral staff who understand both theology and the dynamics of major mental illness. The care of souls requires balance and discernment."

Amen to that. Many years ago I threw away my antidepressants, to prove to a Christian counselor and friends that God had healed my depression. I did okay for awhile but wasn't sleeping. Years later, unexplainable depression cloaked my mind again. Not only was I suffering from severe sleep deprivation by that time, I felt like a failure to need pills because of the stigma attached to them. Lo and behold, God began to show me that my brain is just different. My neurotransmitters get out of whack. Light and sleep deprivation will do me in. You'd think it wouldn't be rocket science to figure that out, but even the professionals were saying that my root causes of depression were unforgiveness or "anger turned inward." I was chastised by one person for "choosing depression" as a coping mechanism and response to life in general. That only served to push me further down the dark abyss.

Needless to say, it was frustating to spend over ten years processing a boatload of misinformation and bad counsel. Folks just didn't know better. But now they can!

I thank God for the Bloems. Their book is a lighthouse of spiritual truth and information that we've needed for too long. I plan to re-read it, and keep a ready-copy for reference. Let me shout it to the housetops: There IS hope because somebody finally understands!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve and Robyn helped to save my life., March 12, 2007

By 

Grace A. Bollman (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're "Losing It" (Paperback)

Praise God for what He is doing through Steve and Robyn Bloem! Sadly, many lives have been lost to depression, but the Bloems have taken a strong stand on the front lines trying to keep more people from giving up on life. It's sad that the insidious belief, that one can merely "snap out of it," has pervaded even the walls of the Church. This book is especially helpful for those who know someone dealing with mental illness.