Darkness is my only companion
Subtitle: a Christian response to mental illness
By: Kathryn Greene-McCreight.
Publisher: Brazos Press
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Grand Rapids, MI
Language: eng
Number of pages: 176
Subjects: Mental illness -- Religious aspects -- Christianity.; Mentally ill -- Religious life.
Description: Greene-McCreight confronts the difficult questions raised by her own mental illness, bipolar disorder. Does God send this suffering? Why, if I am a Christian, can I not rejoice? What is happening to my soul? Greene-McCreight concludes that God does not will mental illness or any other suffering on his people. We suffer because of evil, but still she sees God work grace out of suffering. With brutal honesty, she tackles often avoided topics such as suicide, mental hospitals, and shock therapy. She also shares her perspective on Christian versus secular therapists. Greene-McCreight offers the reader everything from poignant and raw glimpses into the mind of a mentally ill person to practical and forthright advice for their friends, family, and clergy.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Part I: Facing mental illness; title: Darkness; title: Mental illness; title: Temptation to suicide; title: Mania; title: Darkness, again; title: Hospital; title: Part II: Faith and mental illness; title: Feeling, memory, and personality; title: Brain, mind, and soul; title: Sin, suffering, and despair; title: Dark night, discipline, and the hiddenness of God; title: Health and prayer; title: Part III: Living with mental illness; title: How clergy, friends, and family can help; title: Choosing therapy; title: Conclusion; title: Appendix I: How and why I use scripture; title: Appendix II: A brief checklist of symptoms and resources.