Holding to Hope: Staying Sane While Loving Someone with a Mental Illness

Staying Sane While Loving Someone with a Mental Illness ----- Loving someone who has a mental illness can be as difficult as having the illness itself. It is even possible for those who love someone with a mental illness to suffer even more than their loved one who has the diagnosis. Their pain is your pain. Their struggle is your struggle. You are their mental health coach, life coach, and advocate. And yet, who is caring for you? How do you keep from being 'done in' by the roller coaster of mental health recovery? How do you find hope in the midst of what seems to be a hopeless situation? How do you as their loved one hold on to hope for them and yourself? How do give them hope much less hold onto hope yourself? That's what this book is about. It's about giving you hope. This book will empower you to hold onto hope while offering hope to your loved one who has a mental illness. This book is for you, the loved one. Our intent is to empower you to live well, give you hope and the strength to hold onto that hope in spite of the ups and downs of your loved one's recovery journey. We hope to provide you with practical insights, cause you to think, encourage you to find healing, and most of all to assure you that you are NOT alone. You can become the hero against the villain of mental illness in your life. Brad and Donna Hoefs are college sweethearts who have been married for over 40 years. They are blessed with two children and four beautiful grandkids. They have served in the ministry of the church for the past 35 years: Donna as a worship leader and teacher, Brad as pastor. Brad is the founder of Fresh Hope for Mental Health, and today is the full-time Executive Director. Donna continues to serve as the worship leader of Anchor of Hope, is a facilitator for Fresh Hope's Trauma Healing groups, and heads up WorshipOutlet.com. The Hoefs are ever so grateful for the Lord's redemptive work in their lives. They are living proof that there is always hope!