I Have a Psychiatric Diagnosis: What Does the Bible Say?

Edward T. Welch helps readers explore how God's Word speaks to finding wisdom, rest, and hope in Jesus following a psychiatric diagnosis.

What do you do when you recognize yourself or someone you love in descriptions like "OCD," "bipolar disorder," "PTSD," or "narcissism"? A psychiatric diagnosis can be a heavy burden-for you or someone you love. The DSM can give you a detailed description, but what next? These struggles can be life-dominating. But we know this: God is not silent when his people struggle. What does God say?

I Have a Psychiatric Diagnosis guides readers in listening to God, who has compassion for those who are struggling in these painful ways. Listening to God through the Bible reshapes psychological descriptions and functions as a corrective lens that opens our eyes.

• Practical, accessible, and concise guidance on moving forward after a psychiatric diagnosis, written by an experienced counselor and best-selling author.
• Part of the Ask the Christian Counselor series, walking readers through their deepest and most profound questions.
• Gives readers the tools to understand the struggles that come with a psychiatric diagnosis and how the gospel brings hope and healing to the problem they are facing.

Author:

Edward T. Welch, MDiv, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). Ed has been counseling for over forty years and has written extensively on the topics of depression, fear, and addictions. His biblical counseling books include Shame Interrupted, When People Are Big and God Is Small, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave, Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest, A Small Book about a Big Problem, A Small Book for the Anxious Heart, A Small Book about Why We Hide, and I Have a Psychiatric Diagnosis.

Endorsements:

"Bigger than a minibook, smaller than regular, just the right size to give biblical answers to common counseling questions. This book, along with others in the series, is an affordable, much-needed resource for the church community-strugglers, pastors, counselors, and other helpers."
--Barbara Miller Juliani, VP New Growth Press

"When I'm looking for balanced thoughtfulness with counseling issues, I regularly turn to Ed Welch. Once again, he's provided a valuable resource for the challenging issues faced by hurting people. This book charts a course through the most common psychiatric diagnoses with compassion, grace, and biblical truth. In a world of 'either-or,"'Welch offers a wealth of wisdom. I'm grateful for this practical and timely book!"
--Mark Vroegop, Lead Pastor of College Park Church, Indianapolis, IN; author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

"When I was previously diagnosed with a mental disorder, it felt like my entire world was being redefined. I struggled to find biblical resources that spoke to my lived experiences in an approachable way. This book is what I needed to read in those early days. It gently addresses common questions, empathizes with the sufferer's nuanced problems, and offers practical encouragement for walking forward with Jesus on a challenging post-diagnosis journey."
--Christine Chappell, Author of Help! I've Been Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder; outreach director and Hope + Help Podcast host, Institute for Biblical Counseling & Discipleship; certified biblical counselor

"Diagnostic categories can either seem competitive with biblical understanding or used to justify inexcusable behavior. Ed Welch clearly explains the meaning behind common psychiatric diagnoses and brilliantly offers redemptive and restorative perspective to address these maladies. His championing of biblical categories doesn't create a false divide between biblical wisdom and psychological reflection. Instead, he irenically brings the lens of Scripture to intensify our need for Jesus."
--Dan B. Allender, Professor of Counseling Psychology, The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology

"Ed Welch has tackled this delicate and challenging area of the Christian life with characteristic wisdom and kindness. He walks closely to Scripture and to Christ and shows rich, nourishing connections with anxiety and panic attacks, depression and trauma. This will feed the soul-for sufferer and carer/counselor-over the long haul, with many short sentences of distilled, sweet grace. The final chapter breaks glorious new ground, teaching and modeling love, grace, and understanding for people with narcissistic qualities. If narcissism is a problem of our age, then this book offers Jesus and his gospel to his people in new ways we most desperately need."
--Andrew Nicholls, Director of Pastoral Care, Oak Hill College, London, UK; coauthor of Real Change

"Ed Welch's book I Have a Psychiatric Diagnosis: What Does the Bible Say? is an important contribution to the field of wise biblical counseling. Welch stresses the importance of a comprehensive approach to such issues as anxiety and panic disorders, trauma, depression, and narcissism, where God 'speaks to every square inch of life.' Too often, we address these issues in a piecemeal fashion and relegate God to the sidelines, but Welch challenges us to listen to God, engage His Word, seek support from the community of faith, and listen to and continually learn from the experience of others, particularly in terms of the benefits and limitations of medical and physical treatments. All problems have a deep and profound spiritual component, and all caregiving should respond in terms of both the immediate issue and the eternal consequences. Highly recommended for pastors, counselors, and people ministering to or dealing with such difficult and complex issues."
--Ian F. Jones, Professor of Counseling, Associate Dean, Division of Counseling, Baptist Community Ministries' Chair of Pastoral Counseling, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

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