The Good Book of Mental Hygiene

By Gary E. Bell

In The Good Book of Mental Hygiene, expect insight, humor, healing, and a human perspective on all thought-based disorders. Borrowing from the apostle Paul's letters to various cities and followers, Dr. Bell writes letters to individuals with various mental disorders, common diagnoses, and typical life problems. From the Misrealites (those who are married and miserable) to the Melancholians (those who are depressed) to the Narcissians (those who are narcissistic), this book offers healing from a Christian perspective to anyone experiencing, assisting with, or witnessing these issues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Mar 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781725262195

Gary E. Bell

Gary Bell is a 1981 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and received an MBA Degree in 1992. He is a retired Naval Flight Officer and has been the CEO of AdSTM, Inc., a Federal contracting company in McLean, VA, since 2014. He is a Christian and lives in Annandale, VA with his wife Frannie, to whom he has been happily married for 33 years. Frannie graduated from Charis Bible College and received her Minister’s License, and together they attend Anchor Church in Fairfax, VA. They have three adult children, Cassie, Ryan, and Marty.

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The Good Book of

Mental Hygiene

Gary E. Bell

The Good Book of Mental Hygiene

Copyright © 2020 Gary E. Bell. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

Resource Publications

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3

Eugene, OR 97401

www.wipfandstock.com

paperback isbn: 978-1-7252-6218-8

hardcover isbn: 978-1-7252-6217-1

ebook isbn: 978-1-7252-6219-5

Manufactured in the U.S.A. 04/09/20

Table of Contents

Title Page

A Letter to the Readers

A Letter to the Melancholians

A Letter to the Misrealites

A Letter to the Phlipoutians

A Letter to the Parenthians

A Letter to the Narcissians

A Letter to the Addictians

A Letter to the Suicidalones

A Letter to the Mournalots

A Letter to the Impulsonians

A Letter to the Maniacatacs

A Letter to the Excentrites

A Letter to the Noconflictians

A Letter to the Badconductatudes

Conclusion

A Letter to the Readers

The Good Book of Mental Hygiene looks at various common mental issues. All mental illness is serious and very real. Though the form and style of my writing has some humor and sarcasm, I pray that all readers understand my only intention is to provide insight, healing, empathy, compassion, and the love of God.

It is also important to know that many of the diagnoses have layers of other mental disorders that also may be occurring at the same time. In this book I am focusing on diagnoses that are primarily driven by thought disorders. These types of disorders all have individual symptoms which come about from the person’s need to control things in life they cannot control alone.

There is only one God who is in control of all. He has given us the gift of this life to serve him, turn to Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to be the guiding force of our lives. It is not what happens to us in life that is important, it is how we react to what happens to us. That is how God measures our love for him.

For many, these mental changes are pervasive enough to run their lives. That is what the devil uses to weaken us and deteriorate God’s influence on us. All of the issues written about can be either resolved or diminished enough for you to manage them. All it takes is a willingness to open your heart to Jesus, trust him, pray, have others pray for you, and make your recovery your testimony.

I pray that this book of letters will help you in some way!

A Letter to the Melancholians

The Land of the Depressed

It is absolutely amazing that God has provided us a life where we can passionately live out the Holy Spirit within us with the many gifts of talent he has given us. Yet, many people listen to their own insecurities and live within the confines of their emotions. They start their day checking in with how they feel about working, doing chores, connecting with their family, and reading the Bible, and all they do is procrastinate or have a bad attitude. To these individuals I say, Thou needest a swift kick in the gluteus to the maximus!

If you want to cure your depression and get back to God being front and center in your life, get rid of every inhuman and unreasonable expectation you have for anyone or anything. For example:

I expect to be better off

I expect my relationship and partner to completely meet my needs

I expect my body not to be so big

I expect to love my job

I expect my children to do their homework

I expect my children to do what I tell them

I expect my boss to be intelligent, thoughtful, and empathetic

I expect to be happy

Turn all of those emotional expectations into preferences, and communicate them to anyone and everyone repeatedly. For example:

I prefer I didn’t procrastinate

I prefer I had a better income and all bills paid

I prefer my partner would want to have a tender glow more than once