BRIGHTER

In today’s episode, co-hosts Steph and Laura address a listener’s prompting question: is it just a fad to have a mental illness in today’s society? They take a broad look at the history of Western culture and medical treatment towards mental illness, and how it’s changed. When we consider the current moment in culture in the context of history and the gospel, it’s easier to understand: culture’s source of hope is always moving, but with God we have an everlasting and never-changing source of hope-- Jesus’s redemption for us.

Includes: Western mental health history, burning witches at the stake, diagnostic standards used today, the DSM-V, our need for attention, the ever-changing standards of culture, the benefits of our current culture’s approach. Scriptures mentioned: 1 Corinthians 13:12 , James 1:5, Lamentations 3:40.

Timeline

2:30 - History of mental health treatment

10:00 - Treatment can never be perfect

13:30 - What we’re seeing in today’s culture

15:50 - Our innate need for attention

20:05 - Our afflictions become light when we look to Jesus

25:40 - Scripture to help us keep our eyes on Jesus

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other resources.

In today’s episode, Steph and Laura share from personal and professional experience on how to know when it’s time for help, and the wide variety of options we each have when finding support. They also discuss reasons why someone may resist various forms of help, including pride, fear, and misunderstanding. If you’ve ever wondered what’s waiting for you on the other side of a first-time call to your doctor, a counsellor, or friend to tell them you aren’t O-K, this is a good place to start.

If you’re listening today because you think it may be time for yourself or someone you know to reach out for help, we want you to know that God is with you. We pray over you directly in today’s episode, and share some encouragement right out of the gate for those of you in the trenches.

Includes: Being honest about when we need more help, signs and steps for getting help, and addressing fear and pride directly. Turning our hope to God when the process isn’t perfect, and sharing scriptures1 Peter 1:13, Romans 15:13, Hebrews 11:1, Romans 5:5, Micah 7:7.

Timeline:

2:00 - Encouragement if you’re in a difficult place

3:20 - When to get help

4:10 - Warning signs we need help

7:30 - Ways getting help can look

10:10 - When pride gets in the way of getting help

14:50 - Other reasons someone might resist getting help

16:15 - Our hope is not in the process, it’s in God

20:00 - Being involved in your care

23:00 - Related and encouraging scripture

25:15 - Praying for our listeners

Resources:

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

In today’s episode, co-hosts Steph and Laura define the differences between mental health and mental illness, and if it’s a person’s fault if they’re depressed or anxious. They use the comparison of common physical issues (like a stomach ache) to help illustrate what experiencing mental illness may look like or begin as.

Includes: How mental illnesses are diagnosed, how we can take ownership of our mental health by taking our thoughts captive and scriptures including Ephesians 4:21-24, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and Philippians 4:8.

We mentioned Dr. Caroline Leaf in this episode. You can find her and her work on the mind-brain connection at www.drleaf.com.

Ep.3 Timeline

2:00 - Difference between mental health and mental illness

4:50 - Stomach ache analogy to help explain the difference

10:40 - How mental illnesses are diagnosed

15:00 - Taking ownership of our mental health

18:50 - Taking our thoughts captive

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

Description:

In today’s episode, co-hosts Steph and Laura dive into how God made His people, and how that matters for our journey in mental health. Does mental illness occur only in your brain, biologically? If someone is mentally ill, does it mean they’re possessed? Or do they just have a lot of emotional baggage? The answers can be found in the Bible, especially when we take a closer look at an Old Testament building called the Tabernacle...

Includes: How we’re saved in all aspects of our being, our spirit, soul and body; the relevancy of the Tabernacle (Exodus 25-31, 35-40) and scriptures such as Mark 5:1-20, Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 24:6. W

We mentioned Dr. Caroline Leaf in this episode. You can find her and her work on the mind-brain connection at www.drleaf.com.

Ep.2 Timeline

5:00 - Tabernacle as a picture for our being

7:20 - Explaining what we’re compiled of: spirit, soul, body

8:40 - How we’re saved in our soul (sanctification)

10:50 - How we’re saved in our body (glorification)

11:20 - How we’re saved in our spirit (justification)

11:50 - Mental health in this framework

13:30 - Is mental illness only in the brain?

17:15 - Is mental illness just emotional baggage?

18:10 - Wise counsel and importance of professional counselling

22:20 - Is mental illness demon possession?

29:00 - Our hope is in God, who has the answers

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

In today’s episode, co-hosts Steph and Laura share in-depth descriptions of basic terms (like the gospel and mental health/mental illness), how they can be framed in an understanding of the reality of God, and why it’s the most important framework for living a rich, joy-filled life in the midst of any struggle. They answer questions like: is God punishing me by giving me depression?

Includes: Definition of mental health & mental illness, definition of the gospel, scriptures such as Genesis 1, Philippians 1:5-7, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 34:17-22.

Timeline:

3:00 - Defining mental health

6:00 - Defining the gospel

13:00 - Putting mental health & the gospel together

18:40 - Hope & joy in Jesus despite afflictions

25:00 - God is close to the broken hearted

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As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

Welcome to the Brighter Podcast! In today’s episode, co-hosts Steph and Laura share about their own personal journeys through mental illness, and why they started the Brighter Podcast ministry. They also discuss what you can look forward to from the podcast, and where they will be drawing most of their understanding from.

Includes: personal introductions, Steph’s story, Laura’s story.

Timeline:

1:45 - About the podcasts beginning

3:00 - Introducing ourselves

15:00 - The why behind the podcast

16:00 - What we’re hoping to do through this podcast

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As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.