Overview

She couldn't believe it. There she was with her medical qualifications sitting on the floor of a mental hospital. She'd 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. A natural storyteller, the author draws us in. We journey with her. With wisdom, kindness and the heart of a bruised survivor, she interweaves her exceptional story with vital teaching which simply cannot be ignored by anyone within the church today.

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9781789740882

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Reviews

Sharon Hastings has done a true service by spelling out mental illness... This book is a good resource for those who likewise 'wrestle', as well as the helpers alongside. -- Philip Yancey * Bestselling author (of books like What's So Amazing about Grace), journalist and speaker * Mental health, and mental illness, is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the church, and what Sharon writes, and the approach she uses, are very useful. -- Professor Andrew Sims (commenting on draft 1 of the manuscript) With courageous humility, Sharon Hastings has given us a rare privilege: sharing the experience of a Christian with mental illness. Her story is honest, at times heart-rending, but eventually hopeful. This book will pass on that hope to many struggling Christians who can easily feel excluded and forgotten. It will also equip the church better to understand and care for those who appear to be the weaker members of the body - but upon whom God has bestowed greater honour. Read this book, witness living faith, and see why God esteems those weakened through mental ill-health. -- Dr Andrew Collins, consultant psychiatrist and biblical counsellor What an incredible story and what an incredible woman... Severe mental illness is a difficult and painful topic, but Sharon writes with immense courage and clarity about her experiences. Writing from both a personal and a clinical perspective, she offers a unique insight into depression, bipolar, EDNOS and schizoaffective disorder. I was inspired, challenged and profoundly moved by her story - and you will be too. Raw and powerful, this is a book that demands to be read. -- Emma Scrivener, author and blogger It is a strange truth that when people generalise how to handle suffering they often compound it; but when people relate the specifics of their own suffering, they give untold confidence and inspiration to others, even when in very different circumstances. Sharon Hastings' story is heartbreaking but very powerful. It is a bravely honest testimony to the goodness of God, the vital support of loving friends, and the resilience and perseverance of a remarkable person. To be invited to walk alongside her during some of the darkest periods of her life is a rare privilege indeed. -- Mark Meynell, speaker, trainer, author and blogger Sharon's story is raw and compelling. It engenders hope that true grace can be found in the midst of deep suffering. Her battle with mental illness has been characterised by a gritty perseverance which forms real character. As she testifies herself, this is made possible by the fact that she is being held by God even when all seems lost. This book can be of much help to believers who struggle with the shame and stigma of profound mental disorder. It provides wise advice for churches seeking to respond well to those who are afflicted with severe psychological conditions. It is to the immense benefit of others that Sharon has been able to bravely recount her journey, and that her intense internal wrestling has not been in vain. -- Dr Ken Yeow

In this remarkable book, Sharon Hastings unfolds with unflinching honesty the devastating effects of severe mental illness on her life and hopes. A qualified doctor, she tells of the heartbreaking loss of being unable to practice her profession. Her medical knowledge adds an extra layer of poignancy to the narrative. And as a Christian, she testifies to the particular spiritual challenges presented by the relentless attacks on her mind. To a reader who has not suffered mental illness, the book is revelatory, and even shocking. Fed by Scripture, enormous courage, and above all the love of Christ, it is a victory for hope in the midst of darkness, a unique and profound work of spirituality, and in the end, a deeply moving love story. -- Gordon McConville, Professor of Old Testament Theology, University of Gloucestershire, England Mental health, and mental illness, is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the church, and what Sharon writes, and the approach she uses, are very useful. -- Professor Andrew Sims (commenting on draft 1 of the manuscript) With courageous humility, Sharon Hastings has given us a rare privilege: sharing the experience of a Christian with mental illness. Her story is honest, at times heart-rending, but eventually hopeful. This book will pass on that hope to many struggling Christians who can easily feel excluded and forgotten. It will also equip the church better to understand and care for those who appear to be the weaker members of the body - but upon whom God has bestowed greater honour. Read this book, witness living faith, and see why God esteems those weakened through mental ill-health. -- Dr Andrew Collins, consultant psychiatrist and biblical counsellor What an incredible story and what an incredible woman... Severe mental illness is a difficult and painful topic, but Sharon writes with immense courage and clarity about her experiences. Writing from both a personal and a clinical perspective, she offers a unique insight into depression, bipolar, EDNOS and schizoaffective disorder. I was inspired, challenged and profoundly moved by her story - and you will be too. Raw and powerful, this is a book that demands to be read. -- Emma Scrivener, author and blogger It is a strange truth that when people generalise how to handle suffering they often compound it; but when people relate the specifics of their own suffering, they give untold confidence and inspiration to others, even when in very different circumstances. Sharon Hastings' story is heartbreaking but very powerful. It is a bravely honest testimony to the goodness of God, the vital support of loving friends, and the resilience and perseverance of a remarkable person. To be invited to walk alongside her during some of the darkest periods of her life is a rare privilege indeed. -- Mark Meynell, speaker, trainer, author and blogger An extraordinary book. From depression to eating disorders to mania to psychosis, Sharon Hastings has experienced a vast amount of mental illness and invites us into her story with almost excruciating honesty. It's also a painful read. I had to stop several times to process the things I had read. But it is also a deeply needed book. Sharon writes from a unique perspective as not only someone with mental illnesses, but also as a medical professional. It is a perspective which is incredibly helpful, meaning that we are brought into the story on a personal level with Sharon, but are also educated about the illnesses themselves. Sharon is very honest about the treatments she received, and highlights the importance of help while also admitting its shortcomings. One of the difficult but wonderful things about this book is the fact that it doesn't have an easy or a happy ending. Sharon has continuing struggles, as we all do. However, it is a glorious picture of God holding on to a dearly beloved child, even as he allows incredibly hard things to happen to her. He remains faithful, forgiving and good throughout it all, and it is a beautiful to thing to read about Sharon's return to him. It is a story of incredible humbling, and one about accepting the life that God has for each of us, no matter if it's the one we expected or not. -- Ruth van den Broek, blogger Sharon's story is raw and compelling. It engenders hope that true grace can be found in the midst of deep suffering. Her battle with mental illness has been characterised by a gritty perseverance which forms real character. As she testifies herself, this is made possible by the fact that she is being held by God even when all seems lost. This book can be of much help to believers who struggle with the shame and stigma of profound mental disorder. It provides wise advice for churches seeking to respond well to those who are afflicted with severe psychological conditions. It is to the immense benefit of others that Sharon has been able to bravely recount her journey, and that her intense internal wrestling has not been in vain. -- Dr Ken Yeow Sharon Hastings has done a true service by spelling out mental illness... This book is a good resource for those who likewise 'wrestle', as well as the helpers alongside. -- Philip Yancey * Bestselling author (of books like What's So Amazing about Grace), journalist and speaker *

Sharon Hastings has done a true service by spelling out mental illness… This book is a good resource for those who likewise ‘wrestle’, as well as the helpers alongside. -- Philip Yancey * Bestselling author (of books like What's So Amazing about Grace), journalist and speaker * Mental health, and mental illness, is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the church, and what Sharon writes, and the approach she uses, are very useful. -- Professor Andrew Sims (commenting on draft 1 of the manuscript) With courageous humility, Sharon Hastings has given us a rare privilege: sharing the experience of a Christian with mental illness. Her story is honest, at times heart-rending, but eventually hopeful. This book will pass on that hope to many struggling Christians who can easily feel excluded and forgotten. It will also equip the church better to understand and care for those who appear to be the weaker members of the body - but upon whom God has bestowed greater honour. Read this book, witness living faith, and see why God esteems those weakened through mental ill-health. -- Dr Andrew Collins, consultant psychiatrist and biblical counsellor What an incredible story and what an incredible woman… Severe mental illness is a difficult and painful topic, but Sharon writes with immense courage and clarity about her experiences. Writing from both a personal and a clinical perspective, she offers a unique insight into depression, bipolar, EDNOS and schizoaffective disorder. I was inspired, challenged and profoundly moved by her story - and you will be too. Raw and powerful, this is a book that demands to be read. -- Emma Scrivener, author and blogger It is a strange truth that when people generalise how to handle suffering they often compound it; but when people relate the specifics of their own suffering, they give untold confidence and inspiration to others, even when in very different circumstances. Sharon Hastings’ story is heartbreaking but very powerful. It is a bravely honest testimony to the goodness of God, the vital support of loving friends, and the resilience and perseverance of a remarkable person. To be invited to walk alongside her during some of the darkest periods of her life is a rare privilege indeed. -- Mark Meynell, speaker, trainer, author and blogger Sharon’s story is raw and compelling. It engenders hope that true grace can be found in the midst of deep suffering. Her battle with mental illness has been characterised by a gritty perseverance which forms real character. As she testifies herself, this is made possible by the fact that she is being held by God even when all seems lost. This book can be of much help to believers who struggle with the shame and stigma of profound mental disorder. It provides wise advice for churches seeking to respond well to those who are afflicted with severe psychological conditions. It is to the immense benefit of others that Sharon has been able to bravely recount her journey, and that her intense internal wrestling has not been in vain. -- Dr Ken Yeow

Author Information

Sharon Hastings graduated as a medical doctor but became a writer after being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in her twenties. She lives in County Down with her husband, Rob, their young son, and two golden retrievers. Sharon enjoys seaside and forest walks, practising mindfulness, and reading – non-fiction for herself and children’s stories with her little one. She is passionate about improving understanding of severe mental illness in the Church.

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