How to find Courage in times of Disappointment

Copyright 2008 by Rev. Steve Bloem

1. Understand the doctrine of Adoption, Galatians 4:4-6

2 Encourage yourself in the LORD our God. I Samuel 30:1-6

3. Take up the Armor of God, especially the shield of faith and helmet of salvation, Ephesians 6:10-17.

Adoption defined, It is an act of God whereby the believer in Christ is granted the full privileges and rights of sonship, that because of it the believer experiences a familial affection with God the Father and enjoys assurance of his salvation. This is brought about by the Holy Spirit, who is called, “The Spirit of Adoption.” It is because of Adoption, the believer is a son who has an inheritance of many blessings in Christ, the least not being the final redemption of his body. (Steve Bloem)
For the rest of the first point of this message please visit our website page,

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Description of Depression by those who had it.

It has been said that you can't really understand depression unless you have felt it. I believe that this is true but these testimonies will help you somewhat understand. Please feel free to share how you would describe, depression or mania or hearing voices or OCD or panic, etc. Thanks, SB
bone crushing vortex sucking all will to live, mind numbing, black
agony,silent shrieking,disconnectedness,hopelessness,despair,distrust

A few words about how depression feels... In my aching hands I hold a thick rope attached to an anchor that lies at the bottom of a lake of molasses. I have the pleasure of hauling the anchor from one end of the lake to the other, over and over. heavy limbs, unfocused,worthless,empty,why? guilt, paranoid,deep sadness, non existence, broken nothing, sinking alone in silence,running from all including me, listening. Maybe music may spare me again tonight. writhing, consumed in fury, rage, hate, and fear crashing into the deepest darkness, shaking, alone.


Depression....

A dark tunnel with no light at the end. Heavy, cement arms and legs, eternal sleep without peace. disconnection: seeing the world from outside my skin, not able to participate in the fun of life no matter how much I want to. forced smiles, hidden feelings...despair...alone...hide from the world

What I really feel, desire to scream, but I have no voice. Sensory overload. Don't touch me, don't look at me, and don’t make noise in my presence, Noise hurts. Life, REAL life on the other end of the door, can't turn the knob...can't grasp the knob.

Depression is a link to send me under the blanket! Cement shoes are super glued to the chair, a vast nothingness all around having everything, but feeling nothing. feeling nothing, wanting something, but have no clue what that something is. mind static, a sudden realization of intense loneliness and disconnect even when smiling, feeling like crying.
A stranger in one's own home striving to make a difference, but never budging in that direction the never-ending treadmill of life, on an incline.

My mind is saturated with confusion. I have no direction, no place to go, lost.

Will someone help me remember
happiness?

The child is trembling under
her bed. Hopeless, silly dreams
crushed in a moments time.

The Darkest Chasms of your Mind"
Confusion never stops ....
Closing walls and ticking clocks

Depression, Bipolar, Panic, etc. No one is to blame

“No one is to blame. Just as a diabetic cannot by sheer will power alone, control his or her blood sugar, a person with depression cannot simply decide to elevate his or her mood... Knowing this should help release those with depression from the painful suspicion which some harbor, that what really lies behind their illness is a personal failing or weakness. Personal strength can’t by itself, change the genes a person has inherited or the stroke a person has had. Seeing depression as a disease could help to remove the prejudice toward psychiatric patients that is cloaked in words like ‘crazy’. While it might be more comfortable for many to assume that their current good health (or good habits or good sense) protect them from a depressive disorder, this is not so. The fact is that everyone is vulnerable to depression. Once it is understood that each of us is a potential victim of this illness, it becomes more difficult to stigmatize those who are actually suffering from it." DePaulo, Raymond M.D. Ablow, Keith Russel M.D. How to Cope with Depression, A Complete Guide For You and Your Family. ( New York: Fawcett Crest, 1989) pp. 94,95 For more information like this, please see Robyn and Steve Bloem's book, Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like Your Losing It, Kregel Publications. http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?index=books&linkCode=qs&keywords=0825421187

Trapped in a Psychiatric Hospital

Psychiatric Hospitals - They are all across the world. It is a harrowing, upsetting experience to be in one. I have spent more than 70 days in three different psychiatric hospitals. Each time was a traumatic lonely experience. Some people go in to these hospitals voluntarily, others have to be committed, usually because they are a danger to self, others or cannot take of their basic needs.

Both sides of the clip board

My hospitalizations have always been voluntary but as a mental health professional I have petitioned the probate court to start the process for putting others in a psychiatric hospital. I have been on "both sides of the clipboard." 

Recently our son, Brant, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Robyn and I visited him twice a day for one hour each visit. I was again reminded of what I don’t like about psychiatric hospitals. To be sure they are a necessary evil, but I am often disappointed with the way psychiatric hospitals deliver treatment to those who have mental illness...

One problem, I believe is that psychiatric hospitals do not have enough visiting hours. I feel so lonely when I am a patient in a psychiatric hospital. I suffer from one of the most painful diseases that exist among mankind, severe depression. Why was my chief support system only allowed to visit a couple times a week for a few hours?  Why was my son given only two hours a day, to receive visitors, one hour at noon and the other at 7:00 pm?

 Another problem that I have experienced; Why are psychiatric hospital workers  often controlling and rude.   W

When Brant  was very depressed and hospitalized my wife and I, along with his pastor, went to visit him. We were sitting at a table interacting and laughing with other patients and Brant. A worker came over from behind the desk and told us to disperse. When I asked why, he retorted, waving his hand up and down,“too much turbulence.” I felt like saying, "Thank you Captain" but I did not want to come across as being hostile. For the most part it boils down to an elitist attitude among the staff in psychiatric hospitals; it is a matter of control and corporate co-dependency. Robyn has been told about patients including me, “They need us more than they need visitors” or “we provide groups that keep them busy all day long. We protect their mental state by limiting sensory stimulation.”

In Brant’s hospital, I witnessed a patient getting in trouble for sitting at a table and “nodding off” during visitor hours. The staff told her that visitors did not need to see her do that. While working in a psychiatric hospital I have had a “charge” nurse tell me to take a patient to the “quiet room,” because she was at the front desk continually bothering this nurse. The patient suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The nurse in this case was guilty of a violation of the patient’s rights. But nobody filed a rights complaint.

I hope I never have to go into a psychiatric hospital again, but if I do, why can’t my loved ones be with me much of the time? If you would like to learn more about our book, Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It please go to:

http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Minds-Healing-Youre-Losing/dp/0825421187