In March of 2020, I stepped aside from my position as Faith and Mental Health Advocate to spend more time at home during the pandemic. God graciously guided me to serve in another way, as I became the founder and administrator for the Facebook community page Hope for Troubled Minds. Soon I was fielding prayer requests and publishing content to inform and inspire people impacted by brain illnesses, including their loved ones. Our aim was/is to generate hope and we have found a good way to do this is to encourage people to post from their heart and point in response to basis of faith that is non-sectarian but also so generic that it is watered down. I may be biased, heck, I am biased, but I'd say we've largely reached our goal thanks to a community, and leadership (Janet Coburn - moderator; Katie Dale - co-administrator) dedicated to the [...]

Whether you have a loved one who is diagnosed with a serious mental illness, or you want to learn more about the topic and those who provide care, this book is for you. It’s important to know about this subset of people who struggle in the shadows due to an invisible illness that can strike anyone. We need to talk about it openly and share our stories widely. ~ Kathy Day, Senior Family Liasion, Treatment Advocacy Center I am delighted to share that word from Janet Coburn that she is in the last stages of line item editing. Associate editor Katie Dale and I are preparing the dedication page and editor's note and Leanne Sype is ready to do the ebook and print formatting. We are right on schedule for a November release. Meanwhile, you don't have to wait to order your copy/copies of this vital and valuable book. You can [...]

From the author:  A couple of months after my husband and I started dating, I began noticing that something was not right. As someone with lived experience with a mental health condition, I notice symptoms of PTSD which provoke him to anger. I searched for help through NAMI (National Alliance On Mental Illness) and started educating myself  through a caregiver class called NAMI Homefront for family members of people with military trauma. There, I was able to gather information on how to deal with his condition. After a year of courting, we got married. I thought loving him would be enough to empower him to change his behavior and seek help. How wrong was I! We were able to maintain five bittersweet marriage years, but the illness took a toll on our relationship, and after seeing no change and lack of responsibility regarding his illness, I decided to file for [...]

"There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole."** **Songwriters: Nana MOUSKOURI / Roger LOUBET   Balm in Gilead lyrics © Raoul Breton Editions Brain Balm is a once weekly newsletter exploring topics related to faith and mental illness. This week, and this week only, you will receive bonus devotions taken from my first book Delight in Disorder, available through Amazon. It started when I was taking a test Mr. Lang's Algebra II class. I was a precocious sophomore. I heard a voice. It started in my brain then shifted to the walls, the ceilings around me. "You're stupid. You're a phony. You are a failure." What started as one voice became two, three, ten, a cacophony of chaotic voices that would become my constant companion for over three decades. I have sought the best psychiatry. I have found a measure of relief to cope with the symptoms, but no lasting relief. [...]

A lifelong social activist, and serious mental/brain illness advocate & writer - maneuvering through tragedies that have led down many different paths.  One of a set of identical twins who now work together to advocate and personally challenge our broken mental healthcare system.  Also known as the 'Twin Tag Team' after 34 years of tending to the needs of our brother. He had a horrific accident in 1987, resulting in a TBI and loss of his eyes.  Three years later he began showing symptoms of Schizophrenia w/Psychosis with chronic and persistent Anosognosia.  He has been homeless for 14 years while we have sought LPS conservatorship, supervised housing, care and treatment. Author of personal blog, "Am I Not My Brother's Keeper?" and Administrator of the private Facebook group, "Mark of Vacaville," and Facebook page, "Twisted Sisters Advocacy & Activism for Serious Brain Disorders." Dear Mark, I have learned so much from you.  Despite experiencing tremendous pain, [...]

Lauren is a mum of two beautiful children. She has a BA Hons in Health and social care and also a diploma in CBT. Lauren became a born- again Christian in 2004. She is transparent about her ups and downs with mental health, depression, anxiety and self- harm. But God helped her with these and she has learnt to refocus from the negative and towards Christ. She practices being mindful of Him, thus the name of her blog ‘Mindful of Christ’. She is the author of ‘Christian based Cognitive Behavioural therapy.’ A Speaker and a Christian Life Coach where she helps people to recognise & overcome limiting beliefs & negative mindsets and help them to discover and step into their God given purpose. Have you ever thought that you need to let go a bit more? I mean, do you ever go through life thinking you need to be in [...]

In the beginning, when the world grinded to a halt and everyone stayed home, I received a huge dose of validation as a stay-at-home mom.  Suddenly people were realizing exactly what I do every day, and how demanding it is.  After several weeks, we all settled into a new routine and got used to the new norm.  The good feelings of validation wore off, and I started to feel the struggle. But I’m a stay-at-home mom.  It’s literally in the name.  I’m supposed to have the stay-at-home thing down. DOWNWARD SPIRAL Initially, it wasn’t too different from our day-to-day.  The biggest change was we were no longer going out.  We were no longer having play-dates.  We were no longer doing our activities.  You see, “stay-at-home” is a misnomer.  We actually go out a lot.  So we, like everyone else, were stuck at home and feeling the struggle.  However, now I had the guilt [...]