Finding Quiet
My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace
- Counseling, Grief & Mental Health
- Publisher: Zondervan Reflective (Zondervan)
- Published: 2019
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Publisher's Description
Informative and honest, Finding Quiet validates the experiences of believers struggling with mental illness, provides spiritual and psychological tools for defeating anxiety and depression—and will reassure you that you can thrive again. In May 2003, prominent philosopher, author, and professor J. P. Moreland awoke in the middle of the night to a severe panic attack. Though often anxious by temperament and upbringing, Moreland had never experienced such an incident before. Thus began an extended battle with debilitating anxiety and depression. More than a decade later, Moreland continues to manage his mental illness. Yet along the way he's moved from shame and despair to vulnerability and hope. In Finding Quiet, Moreland comes alongside fellow sufferers with encouragement and practical, hard-won advice—a distillation of the very best and most helpful things he discovered about dealing with anxiety and depression from his personal experiences and extensive research. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 20 percent of Americans suffer from mental illness, and Christians are not immune. J. P. Moreland (who studied philosophy under Dallas Willard) explores the spiritual and physical aspects of mental illness, pointing readers toward sound sources of information, treatment, and recovery from both secular and Christian experts. Finding Quiet is perfect for: Those looking for a trusted starting point in their own research of anxiety/depression. Christians seeking a holistic approach to healing—one that doesn’t shy from scientific knowledge but maintains a theological and biblical framework. Anyone in need of validation and encouragement in their struggle with mental illness.
Endorsements (9)
“I thank God for Finding Quiet. Here J. P. Moreland, a first-rate philosopher, provides us with wise and deeply personal insights into anxiety and depression. In doing so, he gives us a most useful understanding of the functioning of the human soul. I highly recommend Finding Quiet.”
“Finding Quiet is a remarkable book. I am grateful that J. P. Moreland researched the topic of anxiety and depression so deeply and then shared his findings through his own story. His personal vulnerability is both encouraging and convicting. Whether you wrestle with anxiety and depression yourself or know someone who does, this book is full of wisdom and practical steps that make it an invaluable resource.”
“Anxiety and depression are unfortunately far too common and can be highly severe, even life-threatening. J. P. Moreland’s book is a personal, vulnerable, and instructive guide from his own narrative to what has helped him and to what can make a difference to the reader. His biblical references are especially enlightening. Highly recommended.”
Dr. John Townsend
“Here’s a masterpiece of scholarship, transparency, compassion, and profound guidance for all who struggle with anxiety or depression. My friend J. P. Moreland courageously opens his life so you can move toward healing and hope. This book will be a blessed breakthrough for countless readers!”
“J. P. Moreland is not only a leading philosopher; he’s also a man who has seen sore affliction due to stress and anxiety. In light of his candid account of his recovery from two nervous breakdowns, J. P. explains how broken people can find peace and wholeness through counseling, meditation, prayer, and medication. As a philosopher, he makes a strong case for his positions. I found especially helpful his argument for Christians taking medications that help with depression and anxiety. But he is more than philosophical; he’s pastoral. He uses his experience and research to help mend wounded people. In this, he is like Jesus, who was given “a well-instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary” (Isaiah 50:4). This book will help me find some of the joy and serenity I’ve lost in recent years.”
“Don’t be fooled by the title. Finding Quiet doesn’t minimize depression one bit or offer superficial solutions. Its well-researched ideas combine depth and practicality, providing a path to survive—even thrive—in living in the fullness of God.”
“Finding Quiet is a wide-ranging and remarkably helpful analysis of the causes and solutions for anxiety and depression. It draws on the findings of modern psychology, the timeless truths of the Bible, and the author’s own personal struggle with anxiety to provide a multifaceted remedy that will give readers genuine hope for dealing with their own anxiety and depression or helping others who face these challenges.”
“In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly enjoins us not to be anxious (Matthew 6:25–34). The apostle Paul reinforces this admonition when he writes, “Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6). But how? Many of us feel powerless to banish anxiety from our lives. It just happens. And sometimes we find that the more we try to deal with it, the more anxiety we feel precisely because we cannot overcome it. In this practical, insightful, and immensely helpful book, J. P. Moreland imparts the wisdom he has acquired in his years of personal struggle with anxiety—an integrative wisdom coming from the fields of neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and philosophy. He combines this with a set of biblical spiritual practices that make a profound difference in the quality of one’s life. If you struggle with anxiety, this book will give you hope.”
“Finding Quiet is a deeply moving, honest, and helpful resource. J. P. Moreland writes from his heart and out of his personal experiences about his own pathway back from anxiety and depression to peace and joy. Make no mistake, this philosopher is also a soulologist who has written a book that is holistic, practical, and a must-read for Christians who are experiencing anxiety and depression. Here you will find an excellent complement to the process of Christian counseling and psychotherapy.”
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