TENDING TO MY THOUGHTS:
A Doctor with Severe Mental Illness
Finds Recovery
By Sharon Hastings
IVP. 178 pages. £11.99
ISBN 978 1 789 744 545
Applying the Bible to the area of mental illness is a complex subject, and in this book, the sequel to Wrestling with My Thoughts, the author tells her experience with it.
This is done by telling the story of her recovery, a phrase she uses to mean a life worth living and looking towards a future not marked by severe and chronic illness.
Chapters usually begin with a Bible verse and a principle of recovery which give the backdrop for the chapter to follow. The book is punctuated with episodes of the author’s experience, helpful definitions and interviews with professionals. Each chapter concludes with Scripture, reflection, and questions for the reader to consider.
The author seeks to link her experience with a Christian worldview and Biblical thinking, showing how her understanding of God’s character and His plan through Scripture has grown, and how this has impacted on her recovery. It was also helpful to see the balance between the value of medication and other therapies.
However, whilst the author seeks to consider if particular strategies or thinking are in line with a Christian worldview, Biblical thinking did not always seem to be centrally involved in the working out of them. God’s common grace means that there can be value in secular practices, but other Christians may disagree; for instance, with her conclusion that mindfulness is acceptable for Christians. So often that involves emptying our minds (compared to the Bible’s view that we should fill our minds with the things of God).
The skills discussed have no doubt been helpful to the author, as she worked hard towards her recovery and, as acknowledged, the aim is not to give a model to follow. However, others might value a recovery process where being more Christ-like is seen more centrally and affects the moment-by-moment experience to a greater extent.
