Why Have a Mental Illness Support Group?

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone, (NASB (1 Thessalonians 5:13,14).

The Greek word (para-mutheomai), which is translated encourage in the above text of Scripture, is a compound word which means, to get close to someone (who knows Jesus Christ as Savior) and in a very friendly manner use narratives of Scripture to bring comfort and give hope to fellow believers who are suffering.

The word fainthearted in the New American translation is the Greek word, oligos-psuchos,which literally means small souled. The minds of mentally ill people are subject to great weakness. They possess a fractured mind, and the result is they have very very little inner resources to cope with depression, sorrow, mental illness, lack of assurance of their salvation and the like.

The need for this comfort is reflected in Proverbs 18:14, which says, the spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear (NASB)?

According to the great scholar, Gerad Kittel,the encouragement of the fainthearted, in the above New Testament text, indicates that comfort for the fainthearted is God’s comfort through the Christian community (Kittel, Gerhard. TDNT C.1967), Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans, See pages 816-823).

It cannot be emphasized enough that support groups for the mentally ill done in the right fashion will help accomplish the strengthening and edification of the mentally ill and their families and bring great blessings to their lives.

It is difficult for a member of church to start one of these groups without pastoral support. Please make your pastor aware of this blog.
If they are wary of the use of psychiatry, then you can show them our doctrinal statement which is available on our web sight.

Bipolar Disorder Type 1 or 2:

Bipolar disorder can begin with a bout of either depression or mania, but about two-thirds of cases start with a manic episode, and mania tends to predominate. Just as there are many forms of depression, there are several types of bipolar disorder. The two main subtypes are bipolar type 1 and bipolar type 2. Both are characterized by one or more major depressive episodes, but the type and degree of mania differ.

Bipolar type 1
People with bipolar type 1 experience mania consisting of distinct periods of persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood. The mania may involve delusional ideas and impaired judgment. A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more other symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for one week or longer.

Bipolar type 2
People with bipolar type 2 experience what's called hypomania, a mild to moderate level of mania that is generally a less destructive state than mania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Impaired judgment is rare. Symptoms of bipolar type 2 can be so mild that patients -- and their doctors --mistake these periods of good mood for recovery between depressive episodes. Therefore, even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can turn into severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.

Manic Episode

By definition, a manic episode may include psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or paranoia during euphoria. About one-half to two-thirds of people with mania have psychotic symptoms. In hypomania, no psychotic symptoms are present.

Getting the correct diagnosis is crucial. Certain medications and health conditions can cause significant mood swings that mimic the symptoms of bipolar disorder. These include corticosteroids, antidepressant or anti anxiety drugs, drugs for Parkinson's disease such as tolcapone (Tasmar), abuse of alcohol or other drugs, an under active or overactive thyroid gland, a neurological or adrenal disorder, vitamin B12 deficiency and other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. These potential causes of mood swings should be taken into account when a person is suspected of having bipolar disorder or is not responding to treatment.

Dementia, the facts

Hi everyone,
For some reason we tend to not think of dementia as being a mental illness. I think this will change. Dementia (a more general category) is a result of something gone wrong in the brain. The result is a person is severely disturbed in the area of the intellect, the emotions and the will. This sounds very much like mental illness. At Heartfelt Ministries we do help (usually by a referral), persons who have dementia. We also provide family support. Please read a piece from the highly esteemed John Hopkins is below.


Advice to Keep Dementia at Bay

Recently, researchers looking into cognitive decline and dementia have made encouraging findings. Although it was believed that the adult brain could not develop new neurons (or brain cells), scientists have learned in the past decade or so that the human brain is pliable and adaptive. The brain can actually add new neurons even late in life and continually form new connections among existing neurons -- a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.

This means that while an aging brain may have signs of damage, it can often compensate for them, at least initially. And engaging in mentally stimulating activities like reading, taking a class or playing board games is one way to bolster this process.

This compensation process depends on your "cognitive reserve," the extra, perhaps unused, amount of cognitive ability that can make up for the loss of brain functioning when your brain shows signs of dementia due to the death of cells and their replacement by beta-amyloid plaques. Genetics, early childhood stimulation and education level can influence cognitive reserve but are essentially immutable once you're an adult.

Fortunately, studies have found that you can also increase your cognitive reserve and delay the onset of dementia through a variety of intellectually stimulating leisure activities in middle and later life.

You can delay Demnetia

A study in the journal Neurology, for example, found that among 101 people who eventually developed dementia, those who frequently participated in one or more activities, such as reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing card or board games, having group discussions or playing music experienced memory decline more than one year later than those who participated in these activities less often. These pursuits built cognitive reserve and delayed dementia as much as a higher education level did.

T.V. is too much of a passive activity.

It's worth noting that researchers have discovered that watching television is a passive activity that doesn't really stimulate your mind at all; on the contrary, watching television is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline. One study found that TV watchers were 10 percent more likely than nonwatchers to experience cognitive impairments over a five-year period. A possible explanation: Time spent in front of the TV means less time for the mental, social and physical activities that can help delay dementia.

Posted in on January 9, 2012

Part 2, He is mentally ill; Should I divorce him?

Steve and Robyn Bloem
Heartfelt Counseling Ministries


What about a Definition of Marriage?

Marriage is a covenant union, ordained by God from creation. It is the joining together of one man and one woman by God in the presence of witnesses. This involves an unparalleled, physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological intimacy that can ever be otherwise realized on planet earth. Parenthood is transitional and preparatory but the marriage union is permanent in its origin and is rooted in God's creation of the woman from the man. Marriage is one man and one woman leaving their families and establishing a new unit, becoming one flesh.

Genesis 2:24 –For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

The word joined in Hebrew is transliterated dabaq - to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, join to, cleave to stay with, to be joined together, to cause to cleave to pursue closely to overtake, to be made to cleave


Here is a brief Word study of leave. The Hebrew word is aw-zab.'

to leave, loose, forsake to leave to leave behind,
to leave, abandon, to let loose, set free, let go, free


Implications of One Flesh

1. Marriage is a God ordained institution of society. Monogamy is one woman with one man until death do they part.

2. Marriage relationship is a oneness, socially,intellectually, emotionally, physically, economically and spiritually.

3. Never think of yourself as only a father or mother

4.Your loyalty is to your spouse, not to your parents. Your duty to love and honor your parents remains but not your devotion or your attachment.

This is taken from my seminar How to Keep the Honey in the Honeymoon.
Heartfelt does marriage counseling by phone.


Steve and Robyn Bloem also do a marriage seminar for those suffering from severe addictions such as heroin,cocaine, methamphetamine and any other drug that interferes with the marriage relationship.
Steve has spoken on dual diagnosis at Dunklin Memorial Camp,CAP program in Okeechobee, Floria and at the Transformation Life Center in New York State.

This Thing Is From Me

1 Kings 12:24, Thus says the LORD, "You must not go up and fight against your relatives the sons of Israel ; return every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me.""' So they listened to the word of the LORD, and returned and went their way according to the word of the LORD. (NASB).

Life’s disappointments are veiled love’s appointments.” Rev. C. A. Fox.

My child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head. This thing is from me.

Have you ever thought of it, that all that concerns you concerns Me too? For, “he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye.” (Zech. 2:8) You are very precious in My sight. (Isa. 43:4) Therefore, it is My special delight to educate you.

I would have you learn when temptations assail you, and the “enemy comes in like a flood,” that this thing is from Me, that your weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.

Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, who never consult your taste, who put you in the background? This thing is from Me. I am the God of circumstances. Thou camest not to thy place by accident, it is the very place God meant for thee.

Have you not asked to be made humble? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught; your surroundings and companions are only working out My will.

Are you in money difficulties? Is it hard to make both ends meet? This thing is from Me, for I am your purse-bearer and would have you draw from and depend upon Me. My supplies are limitless. (Phil. 4:19) I would have you prove my promises. Let it not be said of you, “In this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God” (Deut. 1:32).

Are you passing through a night of sorrow? This thing is from Me. I am the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may obtain everlasting consolation. (2 Thess. 2:16,17) Have you longed to do some great work for Me and instead have been laid aside on a bed of pain and weakness? This thing is from Me. I could not get your attention in your busy days and I want to teach you some of my deepest lessons. “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Some of My greatest workers are those shut out from active service, that they may learn to wield the weapon of all-prayer.

This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things.
Laura A. Barter Snow

The Bohemian Martyr,John Huss

When John Huss, the Bohemian martyr, was brought out to be burnt, they put on his head a triple crown of paper with pointed devils, he said, My Lord Jesus Christ, for my sake wore a crown of thorns, why should I not for His sake wear this light crown, be it be it ever be so ignominious? Truly I will do it, and that willingly. When it was put upon his head, the bishops said, Now we commend thy soul to the devil.
But I,said Huss, lifting his eyes to Heaven, do commit my spirit into Thy hands, O, Lord Jesus Christ; to Thee I commend my spirit, which Thou hast redeemed. When the fagots were piled to Huss's neck, the Duke of Bavaria was officious enough to desire him to adjure, No, said Huss, I never preached any doctrine of evil tendency; and what I taught with my lips, I now seal with my blood. (From the Sword Scrapbook, complied by John R. Rice, Sword of the Lord Publishers, (1969).

Luther about Huss

Early in his monastic career, Martin Luther, rummaging through the stacks of a library, happened upon a volume of sermons by John Huss, the Bohemian who had been condemned as a heretic. "I was overwhelmed with astonishment," Luther later wrote. "I could not understand for what cause they had burnt so great a man, who explained the Scriptures with so much gravity and skill."

For a biography see the link below.

If you would like to share about someone who has endured persection, please join the blog and leave a message in the comments section, SB

Heartfelt Ministries New Year Resolution

It is a new year and Heartfelt Ministries is in a new city, West Palm Beach, Florida. The mission of our ministry remains the same. Some think we only minister to the mentally ill population. We do this but we also have a ministry to those who are bereaved and to the persecuted church world wide. What do all these have in common? They are people who suffer from mind and mood.

This year Heartfelt Ministries is asking for your involvement.
This blog is two sided. If you join the blog, you can communicate with us and others.
I would like to ask a question and invite you to answer. How would you describe what depression feels like?

Happy New Year!
Please stay stay tuned for more blogs.

If you would like to receive our e-letter please go to the link below.
Rev. Steve Bloem
Co-founder Heartfelt Ministries
Executive Director