Pine Rest Mission Statement
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is called to express the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by providing behavioral health services with professional excellence, Christian integrity and compassion.

My Personal Experience With Bipolar Disorder

By a Former Patient

Before my own illness was diagnosed, I knew my moods controlled my life. I alternated between extreme highs and lows with few periods of “normalcy,” and I now have memories that make sense to me. I was an ambitious, gregarious, and creative child. I was always engaged in some activity requiring elaborate planning and lots of festivity. I was the leader of the neighborhood kids and all of our activities. But I also remember specific incidences when I felt very sad. I would retreat to my bedroom and lie in bed for hours, lonely and depressed. As I reached adolescence, I relished the new relationships that junior high and high school afforded me. My schoolwork came easily and I felt charged with exuberance for life, which made me very popular with others. I also remember suffering from severe migraine headaches and periods of confusion. When all of my senses would be on alert, almost as if the pain was filling me with some strange energy, I felt compelled to keep active long past the time others would have given in to the pain and confusion. Because my parents didn’t seem to be too concerned with my headaches or other activities, I accepted my situation as “normal” and developed coping mechanisms that seemed to work for me.

After graduating from high school, I attended the local community college for a couple of years. From there, I transferred to Northern Michigan University where I experienced my first serious brushes with manic-depression, although I didn’t recognize what it was at the time. Being away at school and savoring my new freedom from parental rules, I enjoyed the social aspects of college life. I made many new friends and partied a lot.

Sometimes I would party for days. Naturally, my schoolwork suffered, but it didn’t matter to me. Rather than spend time on my classes, I threw my energies into my part-time job, sometimes working around the clock. Of course, my friends were moving ahead with their educational goals, and I was not. Between running myself ragged with outside activities and the added stress as my grades plummeted, I began to feel anxious, overwhelmed, and experienced a rapidly sinking sense of self-worth. I remember feeling devastated after failing a very important math exam I needed to pass to move ahead with my major. I felt demoralized and frustrated because everyone else could pass this class but me. The next day, I woke up and could not get out of bed. I thought I was just exhausted and needed to catch up on some sleep. Several days went by. I started to cry and couldn’t stop. Someone called my dad, and he arranged airplane tickets for me to go home immediately. It was only a few days until Thanksgiving break, so I went home.

When I returned to school after the holiday, I was still somewhat depressed but could function. My depression lasted for several months, but eventually went away. After a year and a half, I quit college and returned home. I felt defeated, worthless, and isolated.

Fortunately for me, it was toward the end of this episode that I met the man I would marry.

I loved being married, but as I passed through the various stages of my married life, I became more aware of my mood swings. I had periods of intense energy and creativity. When I had an idea, nothing could stand in my way. I could literally tear our house apart and totally redecorate it in a matter of days, working around the clock. When I was “up,” I was the family social director—planning activities, celebrations, and events. I thought nothing of suddenly inviting 25 people for Thanksgiving dinner at the last minute. I entertained frequently with elaborate gatherings and wonderful, expansive gourmet dinner parties for our friends.

I also started two businesses, both in just a few weeks. I immersed myself in each until eventually I had to sell them because I could not maintain the pace. I would be very active and work tirelessly, to the point of exhaustion. Unfortunately, because I couldn’t keep up this intense level of activity with the emotional upheaval that would result, I would eventually cycle into depression.

I sought treatment from Dr. Henry Mulder, a psychiatrist who diagnosed my condition as bipolar type II manic-depressive disorder. He prescribed lithium and Prozac and recommended psychotherapy. I saw Dr. Mulder weekly for psychotherapy and medication monitoring. After a year of using lithium and tolerating its side effects of drowsiness, unsteadiness, abnormal gait and slurred speech (not to mention the humiliation that I felt each time I had my blood tested for toxicity), I stopped using it. We tried several other medications until we established a regimen that was effective. Being treated by a psychiatrist who could treat both the psychological and biological aspects of my disorder was a major turning point in my life. The first few months of treatment are a blur. The depression—combined with the unpleasant side effects of the medication and the frequent blood testing required by lithium use— reinforced my feelings of shame and low self-esteem. They were a constant reminder that I was not "normal." Though the antidepressant medications reduced the number and severity of my migraine headaches that had persisted since childhood, the side effects of tremors, blurred vision, dry mouth, dizziness, confusion, and body twitches were bothersome. I thought I would never feel better again. Thanks to more than two years of psychotherapy and appropriate medications, I did.

My life is full—but controlled—and I do not suffer from the extreme highs and lows that used to paralyze me. My experience has taught me that each person brings to their illness their own genetic makeup, personality traits, biological factors, and life experiences that influence the way this illness affects them and those who care about them. The insights and coping skills that result from psychotherapy are valuable tools necessary for controlling this disorder. Of course, as with anything important in life, the person suffering from bipolar disorder must want to recover and seek qualified professionals to bring about recovery.

(Excerpted from "Today" magazine's "The Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder" issue. The complete article is available online at: http://www.pinerest.org/education/today/bipolar/personal.asp)

Keeping the Faith Memory Safe

By Rev. Rozanne Meyer Bruins, MDiv, BCC

As a chaplain, I represent the Church to all those I serve, including persons who have dementia. Together with the Church and with caregivers and family members, I am entrusted with the safe-keeping of faith memory. Together, we can embrace that holy responsibility to stimulate that worship connection with God, which reminds all of us: God loves me; I belong to God.

But just how is that done? Perhaps you have heard these negative or discouraging comments about persons with dementia: “He’s so out of it—why bother with worship services?” “She won’t remember anyway . . . no need for pastor visits . . . no need for Holy Communion.” These comments are incorrect and they give dementia the last word. There is another way. Let’s begin with music. . .

MUSIC

King Saul in the Old Testament knew music’s power to soothe his soul and often called for David’s harp music. Familiar hymns also soothe the soul and connect us to our faith community, in spite of our level of cognitive loss. Even a person not able to converse with caregivers, will quietly sing the right words to her over-learned and much-loved church’s hymn, “Have Thine Own Way Lord.”

Those of us who partner together to keep the faith memory safe can use familiar hymns, singing or humming, as we push a wheelchair, as we hold a hand, as we lull our loved one to sleep. Upon hearing her favorite hymn “In the Garden,” one person with cognitive loss responded quietly, “At times that is all you have . . . the song God gives you. Those words get you through the things you don’t understand.”

Tucked in the area of the brain where the shadows of dementia cannot reach is familiar music. This music safeguards one’s faith memory.

SCRIPTURES

Psalm 23, John 14 and other familiar passages provide cues to recover the faith memory. Reading is a skill a person with a progressive dementia like Alzheimer’s disease maintains for a long time. Prepare large print cards with your loved one’s favorite scripture verses to read together. The use of visual and touch also cues memory. Use a nativity scene with figures in re-telling Luke 2, for example.

Scripture brings comfort and connects us with God. Using scripture also gives us the opportunity to profess our faith. Ask the question, “What is it you and I believe about our Lord and Savior?” Then recite John 3:16 slowly, pausing at familiar words to invite response.

Professing one’s faith is a faith-building exercise, if even for the moment. Remember that Christ himself modeled “in the moment” ministry, as he healed the woman with the blood disease, welcomed the children to climb onto his lap, and invited the thief on the cross to join him in Paradise. . .

(Excerpted from "Today" magazine's "Living With Dementia" issue. The complete article is available online at: http://www.pinerest.org/education/today/dementia/faith.asp)

Rev. Roze Meyer Bruins, MDiv, BCC, serves as a Chaplain on Pine Rest’s Adult Inpatient units and ECT Clinic. She specializes in working with persons who have experienced trauma and those with chronic mental illness. Bruins is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary, where she received a Master of Divinity degree. She has also received board certification as a Chaplain from the national Association of Professional Chaplains. She has worked for Pine Rest for eight years and is an Associate Pastor for the Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, MI.

November 28, December 5, 12
Pine Rest's Anger Management For Teens
Led by Ryan LaRue, MSW, LMSW, ACSW, outpatient therapist at Pine Rest Campus Clinic. 4:15 -5:30 p.m. in the Van Andel Center on Pine Rest's main campus, 300 68th Street, SE, Grand Rapids. Open to male and female teens ages 12-17. Cost: $75/person. Call 616/222-4584 for more information or to register.
For more information click here.

October 9, November 13, December 11, January 8, February 12
Pine Rest’s Southwest Clinic To Host 'Family Connection' Support Group
"Family Connection" helps spouses, parents, siblings and other caregivers more effectively deal with the stresses created by the symptoms or behaviors associated with mental illness. The support group offers guidance through shared experiences, sharing effective coping strategies, and gaining knowledge about various disorders in a safe and confidential setting.
For more information click here.

December 6
Professional Lecture Series
"Improving Outcomes for the Addicted Corrections Client: Teaming Corrections Professionals with Addiction Treatment Providers" Featuring Michael Johnson, MSW, LMSW. 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Mulder Center Gymnasium on Pine Rest’s main campus, 300 68th Street SE, in Cutlerville. Call 616/455.6500 or
For more information click here.

Web Site Update

A new feature has been added to the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services Web site's home page that displays the latest behavioral health news. Recent stories include "Study gives more insight into Alzheimer's", "Models' deaths put spotlight on eating disorders", and "Task therapy benefits patients, caregivers". The stories are presented as headlines with links to the complete article. Articles are updated daily, so you'll always discover something new. Log on today at http://www.pinerest.org and check it out!

Pine Rest Services

Subscription Information

If you received this email from a friend, and would like a free subscription of your own, please click here to get to our subscription page.

You are receiving this email because you asked to be added to our subscription list. If you wish to cancel your subscription, please [removal_link].

Disclaimer

Copyright © 2006, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. All rights reserved. The contents of Mental Health News & Information are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.