by Teresa McBean "Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with the pain." Introduction Suicide is a challenging topic, made more difficult if we aren't clear about the limitations of any article on the subject. Before we get into the body of the article, I want to make two things clear. First, this is not a discussion about how friends, family, recovery … [Read more...] about Suicide Prevention: A brief intro for recovery ministry leaders
Search Results for: Recovery from spiritual abuse
Seeing God in New Ways: Recovery from Distorted Images of God
by Juanita R. Ryan God is waiting around the next corner with a club to punish me. God has a mean face, I don't like to think of him looking at me. These descriptions of God come from deeply committed Christians. Neither person would have signed a doctrinal statement which described God as someone who carries a large club, or as a someone with a mean face. They both would have affirmed … [Read more...] about Seeing God in New Ways: Recovery from Distorted Images of God
Finding a Church to Support Your Recovery
Because recovery is a spiritual journey, it will result in spiritual changes as well as emotional and physical ones. That is one reason, among many, why having a supportive faith community during recovery can be helpful. In addition to the resources of a therapist and/or a support group, having a safe community of people with whom to worship and learn can be a big help. … [Read more...] about Finding a Church to Support Your Recovery
What’s hot, what’s not and who cares?
by Dale Ryan About six months ago, I started hearing people say "recovery is over." I first heard this from a publisher of Christian books who told me: "It's just not as hot anymore; I think it'll be dead in six months." Let's be clear about what this person meant. He meant that the profitability of publishing projects that are explicitly about recovery has decreased. It will be more difficult, … [Read more...] about What’s hot, what’s not and who cares?
Overview of Recovery Pathways
People think about the process of recovery in different ways. Some of the differences come from the fact that people have experienced different kinds of abuse. But other differences represent fundamental differences in how people conceptualize abuse. LECTURE NOTES: If you experience the central problem as being fundamentally about:you will probably lean towards conceptualizing … [Read more...] about Overview of Recovery Pathways
Listening to Depression
by Juanita Ryan Carol had been divorced for six months when I first met her. From what she shared of her experience it was obvious that the six months since her divorce had been difficult. Recently, however, she learned that her ex-husband was planning to remarry. Carol had never fully given up the hope that she and her ex-husband might get back together. His intention to remarry made the … [Read more...] about Listening to Depression
Know You Are Not Alone
I am with you always. Matthew 28:20 There was a very real sense in which breast cancer was not something that was just happening to me. It was happening to everyone in my life. But there was also a very real sense in which it was only happening to me. No one else was going through exactly what I was going through. Our suffering is always uniquely ours. I was the one who was facing surgery. I was … [Read more...] about Know You Are Not Alone
Know You Are Not Alone
I am with you always. Matthew 28:20 There was a very real sense in which breast cancer was not something that was just happening to me. It was happening to everyone in my life. But there was also a very real sense in which it was only happening to me. No one else was going through exactly what I was going through. Our suffering is always uniquely ours. I was the one who was facing surgery. I was … [Read more...] about Know You Are Not Alone
Know You Are Not Alone
I am with you always. Matthew 28:20 There was a very real sense in which breast cancer was not something that was just happening to me. It was happening to everyone in my life. But there was also a very real sense in which it was only happening to me. No one else was going through exactly what I was going through. Our suffering is always uniquely ours. I was the one who was facing surgery. I was … [Read more...] about Know You Are Not Alone
If your god is not God, fire him.
by Dale Ryan There is a difference—sometimes an enormous difference—between the God of our doctrinal statements and the god we live with every day. Our theological convictions may be thoroughly orthodox, but we may actually serve a god who is quick to anger and slow to forgive. Or a god who shames his followers. Or a god who is punitive and rejecting. That was my experience. I was close to … [Read more...] about If your god is not God, fire him.