Something HUGE is happening for me this weekend and the only thing better than its magnitude is that my good friend will share it with me.

This Saturday from 10:15 – 11 am I will be participating in a Zoom dialogue with my partner in mental health ministry, Eric Riddle. Eric and I first met in 2014, when an article about me and my first book came out in the local newspaper. Eric and I share similar diagnoses and also had experienced a measure of healing from both prayer and pills, worship and psychotherapy, Bible studies and support groups. We met weekly for nine months with no agenda but to walk around Eric’s neighborhood, talk about what was in our hearts, and listen for God’s guidance. Over that period we conceived of a faith-based mental health support group called Faithful Friends that has touched the lives of dozens of men and women impacted by brain illnesses as well as those who love them. We’ve met every Tuesday night for over five years and, while the pandemic has moved us to Zoom, our friendships survive.

In the summer of 2017, while on a walk in my neighborhood, we conceived of a new ministry initiative — a podcast that would come to be called Revealing Voices. Now in its third season, our podcast has revealed voices from those with brain illnesses to loved ones and practitioners, from pastors to police officers, from advocates to proponents of good mental health. Along the way, we have had bumps in the road, but as brothers in Christ, they have only made our bond stronger.

Now, as I approach a new phase in my ministry with the publication of my second book and the international collaboration it is bringing, I am delighted that Eric is going to be by my side (or at least sharing the screen). As we look forward to new directions, I want to celebrate this continuous journey we’ve been on.

{first published May 8, 2017}

Thanks for joining me, Eric. We’re here to talk about faith and mental illness, two subjects I know you are passionate about. First tell me how you came to faith.

I was raised in the church. As many who grow up in the church, I was following in my parent’s tradition. I became more serious about my faith after my daughter was born. Going on a “Walk to Emmaus” retreat was a turning point in getting much more serious.

I’ve heard those can be very transformational.

Yes. The retreat was for men only and about 40 guys representing many churches attended. I really began to understand the meaning of “the body of Christ” during that weekend. I think it is very important to spend time time Christians of many different denominations and worship styles.

I let go of a lot of anger on that retreat as I forgave people who had wronged me.

I recently heard a phrase, “Forgiven people forgive.” Sounds like that’s what happened to you. Okay, let’s shift gears to mental illness. Do you have a diagnostic label? More importantly, when did you first notice you were struggling with mental health?

My diagnosis is Bipolar 2. My mental health issues became apparent when I moved to Columbus (IN) from Owensboro (KY) when I was sixteen. I was uprooted and became depressed for about nine months. Bouts with suicidal ideation. Our rental was across the street from a graveyard when we moved.

I went through stretches where anxiety would activate my insomnia and I would dive into a deep depression. During the 7 year period from 1996-2002, I experienced depression about 25% of the time.

In 2002, I had a manic episode during my senior year in college following a panic attack. That was the only panic attack I’ve experienced and it was the start of a very tumultuous few months.

I was at my girlfriend’s house getting ready for a double date and I had some anxiety that was not related to anything in particular. The other couple were friends that we had known for a long time, but I couldn’t get out of bed to go to dinner. It was probably 8 pm or earlier on a Friday night and I began hyperventilating and passed out. I did not wake up until the next morning.

When I woke up, I felt absolutely free of the previous depression that had really been hounding me for about 4 months. The vitality stayed with me for a long time.

It’s one of the experiences that is hard for many to believe unless you have gone through it.

At the time, I was not practicing my faith so I didn’t relate it to a spiritual experience It was more like a serendipitous “overcoming” of my depression.

So, now that you do practice faith, how would describe what happened?

Great question. I have never thought of that and it may take a while to have an answer. My initial thought is that God was showing me that there are forces outside of my control that create profound physical, emotional, and spiritual changes.

It truly felt somewhat miraculous at the time but not something I attributed to God. Unfortunately, it led me down a reckless path that turned into the only manic episode I have ever experienced. Thankfully, after a brief hospitalization about a month later, I quickly stabilized.

Let’s move forward to when we met in 2014. Would you describe how that came about?

You were highlighted in newspaper regarding your upcoming book release. I had been hospitalized a year prior for depression and consistent suicidal ideation. While I did recover well (and have not been hospitalized since), it led to a heartbreaking job loss.

When I met you, I had been out of work for about two weeks and was thinking a lot about starting a mental health ministry. Our relationship was very much God directed.

I agree. So we met for coffee. Jill’s Diner, right? Go on.

Yes. I felt an instant connection to your faith perspective in dealing with a mental health condition. It was the start of many long walks and prayers together. You truly discipled me during your time in Columbus.

Now, you have been led to advocate for folks with mental illness and I see how your faith shapes your approach. What do you see as one of the major steps the Church needs to take to reach out to those of us who have troubled minds?

I think that prayer is a great place to start. Discernment is important, because ultimately I think we need people to feel comfortable sharing their mental health struggles with fellow Christians. Overcoming stigma, unfortunately, is just as difficult in church settings as it is in society in general. Prayer and discernment help people know the appropriate time to share.

My home church is doing well in this regard. I have a friend at my church who was hospitalized this week and his wife was praising God before our worship service.

Really? What was she praising God for?

The prior week, before the hospitalization, the church prayed for him and his family during the church service. The family had no fear about being public and instead was confident that Christ’s love would be expressed by our church community.

During his hospitalization, the support for the family was the same as if he had suffered a heart attack. Thank God it wasn’t a heart attack!

That’s beautiful. Your church does an exceptional job reaching out to folks who are broken-hearted.

Yes, our church hosts the Faithful Friends mental health ministry, so we have awareness of mental health struggles in our church culture. It’s not surprising that the family was able to be transparent.

For the reader, Eric and I began the Faithful Friends ministry as a faith-based support group. I know in my experience with the group that support was quite evident. We could see the Holy Spirit moving within us and among us.

It is peer-led, so it’s a different experience compared to clinical therapy. There’s the key element of strengths-based encouragement, rather than trying to reduce/eliminate negative symptoms. The routine of prayer, wellness discussion, Scripture study, and open ended personal sharing really helps.

One thing I admire about you, Eric, is that in your personal mental health history, you build a bridge between the secular and the sacred, church and community. You focus on hope and the process of recovery both at Faithful Friends and the National Alliance of Mental Illness. (NAMI). You have also promoted healing through your writing.

I have been a writer all of my life. I published a book in 2009 called Watershed: Service in the Wake of Disaster. The book was about the concurrent recovery for me and my hometown following a historic flood. It is through service to others that I am best able to cope with my symptoms.

Recently, I have been writing haikus. I like the challenge of packing meaning into seventeen syllables. I will leave you with a couple!

–

2.28.17

No need to impress

Share life with humility

New friends will emerge

5.1.17

Share the abundance

Can’t divide the infinite

Your joy is my joy