When Mental Illness Hits Home: On Faith and Resilience with Virgina Pillars

Mental Illness and Virginia Pillars

In this episode of 'Helping Families Be Happy,' host Adina Oberman engages with guest Virginia Pillars, the author of 'Broken Brain, Fortified Faith' to discuss the complexities and journey through mental illness within a family context. This episode dives into Pillars' personal experience with her daughter's schizophrenia diagnosis, the impact on family, and the power of hope, education, and faith in navigating mental illness. Contributions from both speakers shed light on vital resources, self-care for caregivers, and the importance of ongoing learning and community support. 

Episode Highlights 

00:00:09 - Host Adina Oberman introduces the podcast focus on family, love, and relationships and presents guest Virginia Pillars, an advocate for mental health, sharing her start as a mother and author dealing with her child's mental illness. 

00:01:15 - Virginia speaks about addressing mental illness in families, emphasizing the necessity of faith, mental wellness, and education through her certification in First Aid for Mental Health and her awarded memoir. 

00:02:28 - The initiation of the conversation where Virginia expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share her story, setting a tone of mutual respect and eagerness for the dialogue. 

00:02:30 - Pillars touches on the inception of her book 'Broken Brain, Fortified Faith', discussing the loneliness felt by families dealing with mental illness and her hope to provide solace and understanding through her writing. 

00:04:16 - An intimate discussion on the persistency of hope and the importance of lifelong learning and indulging in one's craft to contribute positively to family and personal growth, despite the dark times. 

00:06:00 - Virginia recounts the initial signs of her daughter's schizophrenia, the emergency that signified a major change in their lives, and the critical role this moment played in sparking a relentless quest for help and understanding. 

00:08:32 - Dive into the Pillars' family's journey towards recovery, detailing their unwavering effort, exploration of resources, and the eventual success in facilitating an independent life for their daughter. 

00:09:44 - Overview of valuable platforms like NAMI for support and education for families encountering mental illness, reinforcing the power of community and shared experiences in healing. 

00:11:23 - Virginia shares the personal transformation from questioning faith to drawing strength from it, underlining the spiritual journey intertwined with coping with family mental health issues. 

00:14:08 - Emphasis on the criticality of self-care for caregivers, using a compelling analogy with the airplane oxygen mask to highlight the necessity of caring for oneself to effectively care for others. 

00:16:01 - Pillars explains how her faith was 'fortified' through adversity, detailing her morning routine of reflection and prayer that provided her with the resilience required for her challenging journey. 

00:19:35 - The close of the episode, with Virginia sharing avenues through which listeners can connect with her and learn more about her work, encouraging outreach and dialogue on mental health issues. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Hope and education are crucial elements in navigating the journey of mental illness within a family. 

1. Community support, like that offered by NAMI, plays an indispensable role in understanding and coping with mental health diagnoses. 

1. Self-care for caregivers is not just necessary but paramount in ensuring the wellbeing of both the caregivers themselves and their loved ones. 4. Maintaining faith or personal beliefs can offer profound strength and perspective during times of adversity. 

Tweetable Quotes 

"Hang on to the h