Navigating Marriage Through Busy Seasons
Breaking Bread Podcast
In seasons of busyness, it can be easy for marriages to drift towards disconnection. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer encourages simple ways to maintain connection as well as a framework for thinking about marriage amid the busy. Show notes: Demands on our time and attention can ebb and flow over the calendar year. When marriage is involved, these seasons of busyness impact the marriage. If we are not vigilant, disconnection can result. Communication becomes challenging. Irritations can set in, and spouses can drift apart. Couples who wish to weather these...
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Mental Health and the Church: The AC Story
Breaking Bread Podcast
ACCFS is a mental health service that supports the Apostolic Christian Church. This unique connection between church and mental health agency has a storied history. To tell it, Ron Messner and Ted Witzig Jr are interviewed by Matt Kaufmann on this episode of Breaking Bread. Show notes: Caring for people spiritually has given way to the need to care for them mentally. This led to the following statement of belief and consequently, the carrying out of counseling services at ACCFS. Based on scripture and extensive experience, we are complex beings with three...
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The Crisis of Connection
Breaking Bread Podcast
In an era that boasts the most human connectiveness in the history of the world, we struggle with isolation and depression in epidemic proportions. Evidently not all human connections are equal. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Katie Miller and Isaac Funk take on this crisis for connection directly. Not only do they identify the problem but also provide a vision for hope. Show notes: What do we mean by human connection? Human connection at a minimum is intersecting with another human being in physical or thought space. Human connection at a...
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Escaping the Drama Trap
Breaking Bread Podcast
Drama sells in the box office, newsstands, social media feeds and more. It draws an audience because it is interesting. Yet, because drama often plays on relational conflict, it is painful. Because we are relational beings, we unfortunately find ourselves too often on drama’s stage. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Craig Stickling peels back the layers of drama and helps us escape its trap. Show Notes: Drama defined: Interesting relational or situational conflict. What is drama’s ill...
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Elroi: The God Who Sees Me
Breaking Bread Podcast
She was useful until she was not. She was a victim of abuse and mistreatment. She was an abandoned outsider of God’s covenant people. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer and Matt Kaufmann linger on Hagar’s story. At her most desperate moment, God loves her really well. So struck by the encounter, Hagar names God Elroi, the God who sees me. Show notes: In her desperation, God finds Hagar abandoned to the wilderness. He calls her by name - “Hagar.” Even though her name meant “stranger”, his use of it meant she was not a stranger to him....
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Creative Spiritual Disciplines
Breaking Bread Podcast
God has created us with the ability to connect with him. In fact, we are most satisfied when we do. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Isaac Funk explains that spiritual disciplines are ways through which we walk with God. Yet, at times, our spiritual disciplines may seem dull, flat or tired. It is in times like these that we need to think creatively about the activities we regularly engage in that train us in connecting with God and growing more into his likeness.
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Before "I do"
Breaking Bread Podcast
A lot of health for marriages lies in the prework, before the marriage happens. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer and Arlan Miller speak about the pre-contemplative, contemplative and engagement phase of marriage and the great deal of promise these stages hold. They bring to bear resources and advice for both singles and the supportive community that surrounds them. Show Notes: The health of the marriage is what individuals bring into the marriage to create it. For this reason, attention to oneself is a critical...
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The Story of Mental Health
Breaking Bread Podcast
May is Mental Health Awareness month. Like most matters that get highlighted with a month’s recognition, there is a story to be told. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Ron Messner and Ted Witzig Jr. join to tell the story. A story that has loving as Jesus loves at its center. The story of mental health can be told from two perspectives: a societal understanding of mental health and the care that comes from that understanding.
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Receiving God's Blessing
Breaking Bread Podcast
God was very thoughtful and intentional about how to bless his people. “Do it like this” he told Aaron. His blessing (captured in Numbers 6) is beautiful poetry. Not only is it beautiful to the ear, but it is also health to the heart and soul. In this episode of Breaking Bread, let’s learn together about how God chooses to bless us, how to receive His blessing and how to bless others with our Father’s words. Show Notes: We live in a world of cursing. God knows this, so he has thoughtfully chosen to bless us carefully. And when he does, he confers abundant, flourishing life on us....
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Emotional Dependency & Enmeshment
Breaking Bread Podcast
The capacity for emotion sets us apart from all things living. It gives us the capability for healthy, deep and intimate relationships. What does it look like when our relationships are too enmeshed emotionally? In this episode of Breaking Bread, Brian Sutter and Kathy Knochel teach us about enmeshment and the dangers of being too emotionally dependent on others. Show notes While we are to receive and give support to others, we are not to take ultimate responsibility for other's wellbeing. Unhealthy emotional dependency can happen when two or more individuals lose...
info_outlineADHD has been well understood in the classroom. For a long time, ADHD has been well understood in children and treated for optimal growth in their maturing years. What about adults? What does ADHD look like later in life? How should we understand its effect on life and relationships? How do we treat the disorder for optimal living in the mature years?
Show notes:
What is ADHD?
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ADHD stands for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a brain disorder. Individuals with ADHD might find it difficult to focus, stay on task, calm and quiet themselves.
What is the neuroscience behind ADHD?
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ADHD is a delay in brain development. When certain neurotransmitters are unable to be balanced in the brain, ADHD will result. Two significant neurotransmitters out of balance in the ADHD brain are dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine promotes focus, motivation and reward. Norepinephrine regulates judgement and control.
When does ADHD show up?
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When ADHD is present, it will show up in childhood. However, the disorder does persist into adulthood. How ADHD is manifested through the aging process differs. For example, hyperactivity which manifests itself outward in youth is still present in an adult but is often experienced more inwardly. ADHD adults have an advantage over ADHD children because they have more control over their environment. For example, the classroom is imposed on the life of a child but a career conducive to an ADHD adult is within their control.
How is ADHD diagnosed?
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ADHD can be diagnosed at any point in a person’s life. Two methods for diagnosis are available:
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A clinical diagnosis happens when a professional evaluates the presence of the disorder by interview. Through a holistic battery of questions to the client as well as those who live and work closely with them an ADHD determination can be given.
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A neuro-psychological evaluation can be given by a professional. This approach includes cognitive skills assessments.
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It is important to note that before “ruling in” ADHD, many things need to be “ruled out.” There are many confounding matters such as anxiety and depression that conflate the ADHD diagnosis.
If someone suspects ADHD, should they get a diagnosis?
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Yes and no.
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Knowing what is contributing to pain is helpful in working through and finding remedies for it. If what an individual suspects to be ADHD is causing ongoing pain in their relationships and responsibilities, a diagnosis has purpose.
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If very mild ADHD is present but not causing ongoing life disruption and pain, then a diagnosis may not be necessary.
What are some “helps” for those with ADHD?
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Two routes can be taken for assisting those with ADHD:
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Therapy can be helpful in learning good coping, lifestyle management and relationship skills. These skills can help mitigate the pain ADHD can cause.
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Because ADHD is an imbalance of neurotransmitters, medication is available to help bring balance where imbalance is present.
Is having ADHD only negative in a person’s life?
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Fortunately, many have lived well with their ADHD. Their brain is able to take in a lot of stimuli at the same time. Their activated state can produce many benefits such as creativity and ambition.