I will be writing more on this in the days to come, but in the meantime, here is an interview I just did on Issues, Etc.. The topic is suicide and mental illness.
https://issuesetc.org/2014/08/12/3-suicide-pr-todd-peperkorn-81214/
Peace be with you all! I’ll post more later.
-DMR
a.k.a. Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn
Seven years ago today I was ready to take my life. I’ve written about it many times (HERE, and HERE are the most recent).
I’m in a pretty good place, from a mental health point of view. I have an excellent counselor, my medication seems to be pretty stable, and I have a loving and supportive family and church. I haven’t found a father confessor that’s less than 100 miles from me yet, but otherwise I feel like all of the various pieces are as in place as they are likely to get. For this I am very thankful.
What always strikes me, as this day comes around, is how many there are who suffer with depression, despair, bipolar disorder, and so many other diseases and maladies both physical, emotional and spiritual. Just yesterday I was contacted by three different people about their trials with mental illness. I had only met one of them beforehand. Sadly, these sorts of days are not that uncommon.
Our Lord’s death for our salvation was nearly 2000 years ago, and the world continues to be remade by His death and resurrection. But it is still a sorry, broken world. More than anything else, we need to hear and receive the healing balm of the Gospel, and we must continue to learn how to give of ourselves to one another. I speak to myself as much as to my readers.
Know again, friends, that Christ is here for you. He suffers for you, dies for you, and rises for you. Rejoice in His salvation, no matter how dark the road may be. You are never alone.
-DMR
(a.k.a. Pastor Todd Peperkorn)
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was a day of great darkness and paranoia. Anxiety, fear, anger even were the watchwords of today. Today, it was completely different. Yesterday I was embraced by my family and my congregation, and most especially by the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
I don’t mean this in an abstract “think about Jesus” sort of way. I mean by the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper. Our Lord binds Himself to me, forgives all my uncleanness, and draws me into His loving embrace.
One of the strangest changes of my move to California has been the shift in my view toward shut-ins. I had wonderful shut-ins in Kenosha. But visiting always created great anxiety in me. Here, I look forward to them in a way I never did before. This is a gift I did not expect. The Eucharist is the lifeblood of the church. God continues to teach me this.
“O Taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8
Be at peace, brothers and sisters.
-DMR
This was a new one for me. Today I had some remarkable highs and lows. Highs of super productivity, and lows of not being able to get my head off of my desk.
But what was new today was paranoia.
I don’t remember experiencing this kind of paranoia before. It was as if everything and everyone was out to get me. I was looking into people’s eyes and saw anger and resentment. Closed doors meant plotting against me. Every look, every turned shoulder, every voice spoken that wasn’t abject praise I heard as loathing. And praise was manipulation.
I am a pariah. I am a leper who is unworthy to be in the presence of anyone. My touch is death, and so one and all plot to destroy me.
Paranoia.
I can’t really say I’m a fan of this twist.
I know that this is not true. I know that I am surrounded by people who love me and care for me. I know that God is merciful and that He will never abandon me to such depths, but that He travels with me through the valley of the shadow of death.
But it feels so real. So terribly, terribly real.
The hand of a friend is peace. A hug from one who cares is comfort. The love of my beloved is hope.
Even in paranoia, we are all incarnational. It is only in flesh and blood, real humanity that does not shrink from the chaos, only in that flesh and blood can healing begin.
Never underestimate the power of your humanity. It may not seem like much, but that moment of contact with the sufferer may be all that is between them and the abyss.
Time to go pray Psalm 46 and go to sleep.
Be at peace, dear brothers and sisters.
-DMR
It’s been five years since my life took a strange sideways turn. I’ve written about it before (HERE, and HERE for example). It has made Good Friday a very strange day for me, personally.
This year I’m in a better place personally and emotionally than I usually am by this time in Lent. Sermons are done (I think). Family is coming. Everything is okay. Maybe that doesn’t sound like much, but sometimes, that’s all you have, and it is enough.
I pray for all my fellow sufferers that Christ’s death and resurrection would sustain you in the true faith to life everlasting. Your labor is not in vain. Your suffering will come to an end. There will be peace for you.
Grant peace, we pray, In mercy, Lord;
Peace in our time, oh send us.
For there is none on earth but You, None other to defend us.
You only, Lord, can fight for us. Amen. (LSB 778)
I just returned from speaking at the Fort Wayne seminary. The topic, of course, was clinical depression. It was really a two part visit. The first part was speaking to a deaconess practicum class, and the second part was doing a “fireside” chat in the Commons with about fifty students and (if they had one) their wives.
I always feel like it is returning to the mother ship when I go home. No matter how much I like (or dislike) what is going on at the place, it is home in many respects for me. I feel the same way about Seward. I don’t really have many ties to Seward anymore, but it is still my school.
The visit itself was good. I got to catch up with some friends, etc. More importantly, I was able to speak to about fifty members of the student body (and their wives) about depression. It was basically the same schtick I have done elsewhere (if you want to order the talk, CLICK HERE).
What do you say to a group of men who are studying to be pastors about mental illness and depression? There’s a lot to say but I tried to keep it to a description of depression, why pastors are at risk, and ways to address it (either preventatively or in the midst of it). I don’t know if they liked it. Can you “like” a talk about clinical depression? But I believe it was and is important for them to hear, and pray that there are more opportunities to do the same.
What would you tell a soon-to-be-pastor about clinical depression? Why?
This coming week I will be speaking to the Concordia Deaconess Conference about the topic of depression and mental illness. I’ll have about four hours with these fine ladies, and I am really looking forward to the opportunity.
My plan right now is to divide the presentation into two parts. The first part will be on living with depression. This section will be an overview of the book, and trying to provide some insight into the mind of the depressed and/or mentally ill. The second part will be on how to serve those who suffer with depression and/or mental illnesses of various types, and how to serve their families.
So my question for you today is this: if you had this opportunity, what would you want to teach about and why? How do you see the role of deaconesses and others in your congregations when it comes to serving those in need, especially with mental illnesses? Do they have a place? What is the place? Are they better suited to serve the family, or the person directly? I have my own ideas on these subjects, but I would love to hear yours as well.
-DMR
I Trust When Dark My Road – Episode 4 – Letting Others Help You
The easiest way for you to hear and get these consistently is to subscribe in iTunes. Try this link from iTunes.
I am trying to send this one out in MP3 format. Let’s see if this is a little more generally accessible.
Again, I would appreciate any comments on the quality, accessibility, etc., of getting this audio. Thanks very much!
-DMR
I recently had a conversation with someone that centered around the question of what to confess if you suffer from depression or other mental illnesses. So many of the symptoms which we face that are bio-chemical in origin also find their origin in our fallen nature. In other words, I can look at certain manifestations of my illness(es) as being the disease “talking” but at the same time it can be my sinful nature “talking”. Here are a few examples:
Now these are just a few examples. I think that any of those three categories could be easily attributed to sin or clinical depression/anxiety.
So what do you confess?
The real mess of depression and mental illness is that they are so intertwined. My general approach is that if you are in doubt, confess it. But it is also a matter of real pastoral care, so that when I am confessing something that isn’t sin, my pastor tells me that.
Probably the dilemma comes from the fact that when you are in the throes of the darkness, you aren’t in a position to be making subtle theological distinctions. I just want relief. And at some level, I don’t really care where it comes from. IT it comes from my pastor forgiving my sins, great. If it comes from my doctor or counselor reminding me that this is biochemical and not a character flaw, great.
So how do you approach this question?
Please, go read this blog now. IT is worth your time.