OPERATION SOUL RECOVERY (from default to purpose)

I once asked a relative of mine what he believed to be the biggest advancement in the treatment of mental illness, and his succinct reply, the invention of the tranquillizer. Unfortunately, as we have no doubt have come to realize, the tranquillizer is not exactly the cure all. Just look at the terrible side effects of such medication as Prozac. Sheryl J. Stevens, who has first hand experience in dealing with the mentally ill, or as she prefers to call these individuals "lost souls," has written a wake up call in her book Operation Soul Recovery (From Default To Purpose). The author strikes just the right tone: direct and passionate, in pointing out to her audience that the treatment of these lost souls is very low down on the health care totem pole. Furthermore, as the author asserts, we are lacking in sensitivity in our understanding that there is no physical pain comparable to that of a broken spirit. As pointed out, we would hardly expect someone with a broken leg to run a race. Instead, we would promptly treat the fracture by a qualified medical doctor. Why then is it so difficult to understand the basic requirements needed to treat the mind and spirit? There seems to be a tendency to cop out and either ignore the gravity of the situation or rely solely on medication. Do we really believe, as Stevens asserts, that these illnesses are incurable? The book is an engrossing and soul searching read that provides a window into the mistreatment of the mentally ill and in particular with society's obsession in looking for whom to blame, rather than trying to find a solution to the cure. As mentioned, "it is the cure that should be capturing our attention." After lambasting the system, Stevens does present several constructive ideas for improving the system in her chapter entitled A Manor Of Eden. It is here where she emphasizes the principle that no human being is a hopeless case, and it is essential that we treat the body, mind and the soul simultaneously, and not giving more importance to one over the other. Furthermore, the program of treatment is to be divided into a series of steps that considers the whole gamut from dealing in depth with the past, recovering the wisdom and value of the inner-child, developing knowledge of healthy living and formal education, job training, and job placement. There is a great deal here to ponder about, and as Stevens mentioned in her interview with me, the book definitely presents ideas and suggestions that are outside of the box. However, the question that remains is, who will be listening? Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com

It is a little bit sad that it is not really 'news', but there is a crisis of sorts in the Western culture - America and other 'developed' nations are in fact suffering from a great number of addictions, mental illness symptoms (both real and imagined), and an ever-shrinking safety net for those least able to care for themselves. One of the more ironic aspects of this crisis is that, in the midst of the 'lands of plenty', there would be such struggle. Even among those who fall into the affluent categories of people, depression and addiction troubles are at surprisingly high levels. What could be the cause of this? What would be the cure? Sheryl Stevens has some suggestions. She calls for a charge against the kinds of sicknesses of the soul to be waged akin to the efforts we as a nation are putting forward in fighting the threats of terrorism. ' When it comes to diseases of the mind and spirit that inflict untold numbers of people in varying degrees on the spectrum, there is still that mysterious air of denial.' We must first face the facts of the pandemic proportions of the problems. Stevens looks at some of the problems. She doesn't really cite statistics and case studies as much as she gives a more general, thoughtful approach to the problem. What is it that we need to change? What is it that keeps us in the dark? These are key questions for Stevens, who sees real opportunities in changes of attitude and aspect for us. Stevens has a vision, a place called 'the Manor of Eden' - taking the name from the biblical reference, this is a place where humanity is found at its most basic, and where humanity in the early stories is seen to be at its greatest possible wholeness and happiness. People who are in need of help would find people to help them who from start to finish recognise the full humanity of them, rather than seeing them as problems to be dealt with or case problems to be solved. Stevens has specific proposals for residence and treatment situations for those who would find help at the Manor of Eden. She writes realistically about the cost, but also points out the tremendous costs of what are being done (often ineffectually) about the various problems in today's society. Stevens' motivation is personal; she has encountered problems in her life, and also writes with feeling about her own upbringing and feelings about our current situation in a post 9-11 world. Worthy of consideration, and certainly in the same spirit as those pioneers of the American spirit who strive to make a better world for the entire community.

Sheryl Stevens writes with passion and insight about mental and emotional illness, which she is personally well acquainted with, and which is so prevalent in our society, but where treatment consists mostly of dealing with the symptoms with medication, rather than taking the harder but more constructive road to tackle the core issues that have caused the problems. Sheryl's vision of "A Manor of Eden" is a plan to combine the spiritual and the physical, to make the person "whole", and to make them a productive part of society. Is it feasible and is it worth a try ? The system we have in place now is spiraling out of control, and as Sheryl points out, "statistics show that the use of anti-depressants has tripled in the past decade", with little or no improvements to show for it. Any plan that could do better than the current status quo should be given consideration, and Sheryl's plan would certainly have less recidivism than what we have now, with so many who, if they experience well-being after treatment at all, find it short-lived. Is it too expensive ? Not if you consider what we are paying now for a system that is not producing results, and not if you consider that if people are made well and productive, how they would enhance our economy. Sheryl's vision has a strong spiritual heart, and the acknowledgement of a Creator, something certain sectors in our society are trying to eradicate, as judges who endorse and further the agenda of radical groups make laws that are systematically tearing God out of the fabric of our lives. It is my hope that the tide of this often nihilistic secularism be stemmed, and The Manor of Eden has ideas that if implemented could help do this. In Part III, Sheryl writes about childhood memories, of the farm she grew up on, and the boarding school she was sent to at the age of 14; we all have different sensibilities, and what was good for other family members was not good for Sheryl, and what she experienced there would influence the rest of her life in negative ways, but also surely had a hand in her vision of "The Manor of Eden", making all things ultimately work for the best. This is a small book with a lot of content, written with sincerity and conviction, with ideas that should be seriously contemplated.

Some twenty years ago, single mom Sheryl J. Stevens watched as her daughter Kelly descended into addiction and mental illness. And then, when things seemed at their darkest, she received a vision. She received a vision of the United States in general, and the churches of America specifically, launching a crusade against mental illness. This is Ms. Stevens' story, her plan, and her plea. This is a rather moving book. The beginning of the book reads rather like a stream of consciousness, as the author pours out her heart, begging for the reader to emotionally connect with the tragedy of mental illness in the United States. After that, the book moves into the author's plan for a mental health community that will use a holistic approach to heal body, mind and spirit. And last, there is the author's tale of her own life and experiences, which I must say was quite fascinating. Overall, I felt like this book was a throwback to a bygone era: the nineteenth century, when Christian and secular leaders proposed large and daring projects for the betterment of humanity. Ms. Stevens obviously cares deeply for those caught up in mental illness; the sufferers, and those who love them. I found this to be a fascinating and touching book, and I hope that Ms. Stevens will be blessed with the success her project deserves!

Perhaps sometimes God allows us to wander in the wilderness to gain personal understanding of the plight of others, so it may lead to a higher good. ~Sheryl J. Stevens Sheryl J. Stevens understands how difficult it can be to find support when you are depressed or you have family members who have a mental illness that leads to addictive behaviors. She struggled with her own depression and also realized the lack of support when her daughter went through a very troubled time in her life. Since the use of anti-depressants has reached shocking levels, you do have to wonder why the current system of care is not working. Sheryl J. Stevens presents a unique idea which places all the care a person might need in one location. She calls this sanctuary: "A Manor of Eden." If you have been watching a variety of movies lately, you may have noticed how the vicious sub-culture in schools is almost celebrated and while there is humor to be had, there are also people who never recover from the emotional abuse they receive in school or just in life itself. You could be a very loving person and be rejected at every turn simply because other people have been hurt and have closed their heart to love itself. In a world where depression might be the unfulfilled desires of the soul, it can be quite trying to maintain some semblance of hope in a hopeless environment. Women have shelters, there are camps for teens, but for the most part these places are quite different from the environment Sheryl has envisioned. While reading the condensed narrative of personal experiences section, I realized why it can be depressing to move from a smaller town where you feel you have many connections to a larger town with few, if any connections to the people you love. With that said, I was not sure anyone would want to go away for 90 days, but the programs in this book are divided into three 28 day sections. Stage 1, 2 and 3 are described in detail. Many of the items in this book could still be done while you were at home and seeing a psychologist or counselor. Although, at times it is probably best to leave an unhealthy environment. Not only do many people not know where to turn, many don't have medical insurance and during times of great stress, Sheryl's idea would sound like heaven to a distressed and depressed soul in need of care. I think she is right, something has to be done and while you might not agree with all the items like wearing uniforms, some type of customization for each soul might encourage participation. We have emergency rooms for hospital care, but how many of us would know where to go in a time of emotional crisis? I know you can pick up the phone book and find information, but A Manor of Eden seems to be a much more highly organized way of mending broken spirits and caring for hurting souls. I hope this book gets into the hands of someone very influential because it will take organization, planning and more than volunteers to get this idea off the gr