Image: I’m Not Supposed to Feel Like This by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 8 out of 10. A Christian book on anxiety and depression that outlines strategies that predominantly rely on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD, author of unJoy / 12.9.2021; No. 57
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Star Rating – 8 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Authors
Chris Williams, Paul Richards, and Ingrid Whitton
About the authors
Dr. Chris Williams is a Professor of Psychosocial Psychiatry and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He has been elected twice to serve as President of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, which is the lead organization for CBT in the United Kingdom. Dr. Williams led a team of specialists to develop the Five Areas Approach to CBT, researched a variety of written and computer-based self-help treatments, and authored several books on mental health, most notably the workbook Overcoming Depression.
Paul Richards served as Pastor of Lister Hill Baptist Church in Leeds and is “an expert in pastoral care.”
Dr. Ingrid Whitton is a consultant psychiatrist in Leeds.
General description
I’m Not Supposed to Feel Like This is a Christian book on anxiety and depression that was published in 2002 and written by authors based in the United Kingdom. This book utilizes the Five Areas approach to explain how to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies to balance thoughts and emotions. The Five Areas approach was developed in 1998 to make the CBT model more accessible and practical. This self-help book, which has elements of both a workbook and a Bible study, utilizes CBT strategies from a Christian viewpoint to improve anxiety and depression. The book includes a closing prayer and Bible meditation at the end of each chapter. Topics covered in this book include:
The relationship between thoughts and emotions
The nature and causes of anxiety and depression
The Five Areas model, including the Five Areas Assessment
The importance of maintaining your spiritual practices when going through a mental health difficulty
The use of church supports versus professional mental health supports
Unique and most important aspects
I’m Not Supposed to Feel Like This delivers what it promises in its subtitle, which is that it is A Christian Self-Help Approach to Depression and Anxiety. The authors utilize strategies and skills from CBT, which is one of the most effective models of psychotherapy. As the book is nearly 20 years old, it is understandable that some of the information on psychiatric medications is dated. Also, some of the resources mentioned in the book are specific to the United Kingdom. The authors effectively use Bible verses and logic to reduce the stigma that Christians with anxiety and depression experience, and they provide useful ideas for clergy to support their church members who are struggling with their mental health. Important concepts from this book include:
Addressing common misunderstandings about mental health difficulties and spiritual warfare
The use of thought logs with examples of people using the skills and strategies
Explaining the “funneling process” for defining a specific problem and targeting the problem with realistic solutions
Enhancing creative problem-solving by including ridiculous solutions that you are unlikely to use
A chapter for church leaders to address unhelpful attitudes and stigmatizing approaches
Best quotes
“Studies in the USA show that over 60 per cent of people with depression blame themselves and see sin as a contributing cause. Many Christians and some church workers incorrectly believe that we ‘shouldn’t’ get depressed and that psychiatric problems are the result of a poor or damaged relationship with God.”
“Although at times we all choose to act in ways that are wrong and this can lead to bad consequences for us and for others, we do not see anxiety and depression as always being the result of sin; neither do we believe that mental health problems are the result of a lack of faith.”
“So the reality of God’s love and compassion for us does not alter according to the state of our mental health; it is only the way we feel about it that is different.”
“Ridiculous ideas should be included as well even if you would never choose them in practice. This can help you to adopt a flexible approach to the problem.”
“A useful approach is to have pre-prepared a short one-line response to say to those people who you don’t really know well (or who you don’t wish to confide in) that you can use if they ask how you are. An example might be, ‘I’ve been feeling really tired/washed out, but I’m getting through it now – thank you.’ This answer is true, but avoids you getting drawn into conversations that you don’t wish to take part in.”
“Mental health is a problem area for many Christians in a way that isn’t true of any other branch of medicine. Mental health care practitioners are frequently suspicious of those who minister in the name of religion – and often not without reason – while many church leaders think that psychiatric treatment can often ignore important aspects of human experience such as spiritual issues. In contrast, perhaps a more helpful approach is to acknowledge that both spiritual and medical approaches can be helpful aspects of whole-person care.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in a Christian book on CBT strategies for depression and anxiety would likely enjoy I’m Not Supposed to Feel Like This.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Readers who are not interested in primarily cognitive-based approaches for improving anxiety and depression would not likely enjoy I’m Not Supposed to Feel Like This.
Conclusion
I’m Not Supposed to Feel Like This is a Christian book on anxiety and depression that outlines strategies that predominantly rely on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches.