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Bipolar Disorder: Rebuilding Your Life
Having survived an abusive childhood, Jim Stout was building a ministerial career and a joyful family life when he began experiencing mood changes—periods of frantic energy alternating with overwhelming despair. Fearful and withdrawn, he was unable to function as a spiritual leader, husband, and father. Labeled “crazy” by many unsympathetic fellow clergymen, he was eventually diagnosed as suffering from bipolar disorder.
In search of help, Stout institutionalized himself, thus beginning an ordeal at the hands of well-meaning doctors and bungling druggists who made him a human guinea pig in a near-fatal pharmaceutical odyssey. Only his faith, the support of his family, and his commitment to taking control of his own recovery enabled him to endure.
After recreating his role as a husband and father, Stout has refocused his ministry. He now offers the hard-won lessons, strategies, and practical tips he gained during his lengthy struggle. In hopes of reducing the anguish of others who suffer bipolar disorder, and giving encouragement to their loved ones, he shares a message of hope and of the role of spirituality in finding new purpose in life and deeper meaning in adversity. Mental health professionals and social workers, too, will benefit from this candid account of a family’s efforts to cope with a debilitating illness that, by affecting so many individuals, impacts the whole of society.
In search of help, Stout institutionalized himself, thus beginning an ordeal at the hands of well-meaning doctors and bungling druggists who made him a human guinea pig in a near-fatal pharmaceutical odyssey. Only his faith, the support of his family, and his commitment to taking control of his own recovery enabled him to endure.
After recreating his role as a husband and father, Stout has refocused his ministry. He now offers the hard-won lessons, strategies, and practical tips he gained during his lengthy struggle. In hopes of reducing the anguish of others who suffer bipolar disorder, and giving encouragement to their loved ones, he shares a message of hope and of the role of spirituality in finding new purpose in life and deeper meaning in adversity. Mental health professionals and social workers, too, will benefit from this candid account of a family’s efforts to cope with a debilitating illness that, by affecting so many individuals, impacts the whole of society.
- GenresPsychology
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 14, 2012
It might not be a book for everyone, and the writing certainly isn't polished. Written from the perspective of someone who has walked miles (and miles) in the shoes of dealing with depression and mental illness (specifically bipolar disorder), "Rebuilding Your Life" is a great introspective look at a first hand experience with depression. Citing a general lack of public information and his difficulty in dealing with a diagnosis and pairing it with appropriate professional help, he tells the hidden story of what is arguably a largely misunderstood portion of society who live with some form of depression related struggle on a daily basis.
The book does not present itself as a scientific journal of study and information. In fact, in some respects it seeks to be guide towards knowing how to appropriately navigate through those studies and information. It is the story of a man who was floundering in the confusion of a misunderstood diagnosis and who desperately needed (and wanted) a way to the other side of a deabilitating disease. His insight and advice come not only from what worked for him after over 50 years of searching, but also from hearing and encountering countless stories along the way.
The book is divided both by chapters and main sections which are kind of layed out in hectic fashion. While the first half deals primarily with the story of his earlier years, the latter half delves in to his years as a pastor and father and husband. His early life experience carries some of the benchmark signatures of warning signs for potential depression, many of which he did not recognize until years and years later. And much of his struggle is wrapped up in a feeling that he could never be good enough and a very low degree of self confidence and worth garnered from his upbringing and early child hood experience.
While the parts that deal with some of his early experience and his direct association with bipolar disorder provides the backdrop, the sections that I found most impacting and which I connected with the most (as one who deals with depression) were the sections on his ministry experience as a pastor and the chapters on forgiveness (both of others and ourselves). He offers yet another source on some of the scarier statistics that come with working in a ministry field, including the many who have been hurt and neglected by the Church they worked for in some form or fashion. According to the statistics more than three fourths of pastors (and spouses) deal with depression that is triggered by ministry work, and over forty percent are living a schedule and lifestyle that is beyond their means of coping with personally. A fourth of all clergy have been "forced" out at least once in their careers, and a whopping 75 percent of pastors currently working would move immediately if given the chance and opportunity. Dr. James T Stout (the author) is one of these statistics, and his story and experience is heart wrenching and familiar. There are very few careers that can hold such a devastating affect on ones self perception, and very few that can act as such strong trigger points in such a consistent nature. This, combined with the formation of his child hood experience, proved to be devastating, as it has been for so many.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the way it links depression to a variety of experiences. Depression can strike on so many levels, and so often we aren't even aware that we have it. And in todays increasingly social world it has become such a misunderstood and misused topic where social living is a prerequisite for living. Failure in relationship (which so often is what depression affects and sacrifices) often fuels what is already a rock bottom self perception to degrees that are beyond personal control. And it is often in these places that those living with it begin to blame themselves, drown in thoughts of not being good enough, loneliness, manic tendencies, despair, suicide, panic, social reclusion, insomnia, obsession and compulsion, and the list goes on. It took Stout over 50 years to figure out how to move from the narrow view that accompanies this to one that is able to grasp a renewed sense of purpose and meaning beyond it. And as he says, one never really does away with the struggle, but rather learns how to appropriately deal and manage with it. This was something that took him many years to learn.
Another interesting part of the book are the chapters that deal with dependence on pills, and the struggle in knowing when that dependence is necessary or not, and the stigma that follows that. His stories of dealing with the professional community and attempting to find the right pills is incredibly tough, but familiar to many. It is often the back and forth of this process that hits those dealing with depression the hardest. When one feels good (and the pills are working) there is the struggle to go off. The feeling of giving in to pills, in a diagnosis that is built heavily on pills first, counseling second, can often feel humiliating for some and defeating. It means that we can't deal with it on our own. And then there is the worry of unknown long term effect and side affects and too many pills. Often it sends one in to a spiral trying to figure it all out and what to do. Here this book is particularly helpful as it walks through his own struggles with that and offers some advice on the other side. For him it was taking complete control over it, educating himself and not being afraid to demand and ask questions from his pharmacist and doctors.
No one can or is meant to deal with depression alone. This comes across loud and clear in this book. Recognizing trigger points and disciplining ones self to adjust our life accordingly is key, but community, like minded experience and people, and support are crucial to allowing this to happen. And given that depression so often moves one to do things on their own or to shut out other people, this is not an easy thing. So often trigger points are past hurt and experience by others (including the Church), and so some of our primary sources of community are often marred by this. This is something that he encourages anyone going through a mental illness to challenge themselves with, specifically in the chapter about the importance of forgiveness.
I think this is a very hopeful book. Depression is becoming so common given the move of our culture and the high demand it places on our shoulders. But it also has a stigma, and so many remain too scared to accept that reality based on what people might think about it. Depression is also serious, often deadly serious. it can affect every corner of ones life and it can control you even when you think you are controlling it. This book paves a path that just may open the door to the other side of it though, and the confidence that this story inspires is powerful.
The book does not present itself as a scientific journal of study and information. In fact, in some respects it seeks to be guide towards knowing how to appropriately navigate through those studies and information. It is the story of a man who was floundering in the confusion of a misunderstood diagnosis and who desperately needed (and wanted) a way to the other side of a deabilitating disease. His insight and advice come not only from what worked for him after over 50 years of searching, but also from hearing and encountering countless stories along the way.
The book is divided both by chapters and main sections which are kind of layed out in hectic fashion. While the first half deals primarily with the story of his earlier years, the latter half delves in to his years as a pastor and father and husband. His early life experience carries some of the benchmark signatures of warning signs for potential depression, many of which he did not recognize until years and years later. And much of his struggle is wrapped up in a feeling that he could never be good enough and a very low degree of self confidence and worth garnered from his upbringing and early child hood experience.
While the parts that deal with some of his early experience and his direct association with bipolar disorder provides the backdrop, the sections that I found most impacting and which I connected with the most (as one who deals with depression) were the sections on his ministry experience as a pastor and the chapters on forgiveness (both of others and ourselves). He offers yet another source on some of the scarier statistics that come with working in a ministry field, including the many who have been hurt and neglected by the Church they worked for in some form or fashion. According to the statistics more than three fourths of pastors (and spouses) deal with depression that is triggered by ministry work, and over forty percent are living a schedule and lifestyle that is beyond their means of coping with personally. A fourth of all clergy have been "forced" out at least once in their careers, and a whopping 75 percent of pastors currently working would move immediately if given the chance and opportunity. Dr. James T Stout (the author) is one of these statistics, and his story and experience is heart wrenching and familiar. There are very few careers that can hold such a devastating affect on ones self perception, and very few that can act as such strong trigger points in such a consistent nature. This, combined with the formation of his child hood experience, proved to be devastating, as it has been for so many.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the way it links depression to a variety of experiences. Depression can strike on so many levels, and so often we aren't even aware that we have it. And in todays increasingly social world it has become such a misunderstood and misused topic where social living is a prerequisite for living. Failure in relationship (which so often is what depression affects and sacrifices) often fuels what is already a rock bottom self perception to degrees that are beyond personal control. And it is often in these places that those living with it begin to blame themselves, drown in thoughts of not being good enough, loneliness, manic tendencies, despair, suicide, panic, social reclusion, insomnia, obsession and compulsion, and the list goes on. It took Stout over 50 years to figure out how to move from the narrow view that accompanies this to one that is able to grasp a renewed sense of purpose and meaning beyond it. And as he says, one never really does away with the struggle, but rather learns how to appropriately deal and manage with it. This was something that took him many years to learn.
Another interesting part of the book are the chapters that deal with dependence on pills, and the struggle in knowing when that dependence is necessary or not, and the stigma that follows that. His stories of dealing with the professional community and attempting to find the right pills is incredibly tough, but familiar to many. It is often the back and forth of this process that hits those dealing with depression the hardest. When one feels good (and the pills are working) there is the struggle to go off. The feeling of giving in to pills, in a diagnosis that is built heavily on pills first, counseling second, can often feel humiliating for some and defeating. It means that we can't deal with it on our own. And then there is the worry of unknown long term effect and side affects and too many pills. Often it sends one in to a spiral trying to figure it all out and what to do. Here this book is particularly helpful as it walks through his own struggles with that and offers some advice on the other side. For him it was taking complete control over it, educating himself and not being afraid to demand and ask questions from his pharmacist and doctors.
No one can or is meant to deal with depression alone. This comes across loud and clear in this book. Recognizing trigger points and disciplining ones self to adjust our life accordingly is key, but community, like minded experience and people, and support are crucial to allowing this to happen. And given that depression so often moves one to do things on their own or to shut out other people, this is not an easy thing. So often trigger points are past hurt and experience by others (including the Church), and so some of our primary sources of community are often marred by this. This is something that he encourages anyone going through a mental illness to challenge themselves with, specifically in the chapter about the importance of forgiveness.
I think this is a very hopeful book. Depression is becoming so common given the move of our culture and the high demand it places on our shoulders. But it also has a stigma, and so many remain too scared to accept that reality based on what people might think about it. Depression is also serious, often deadly serious. it can affect every corner of ones life and it can control you even when you think you are controlling it. This book paves a path that just may open the door to the other side of it though, and the confidence that this story inspires is powerful.
September 22, 2012
One man's personal story of childhood abuse and lifelong mental illness, with his recommendations for illness management. His perspective is that of an evangelical Christian pastor--so some of his advice made my hackles rise. And much of his advice was not news to me. Glad I read it, but Kay Redfield Jamison's work--and her tone and perspective--feel much more resonant for me.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews