"On Getting Out of Bed" (Alan Noble)

TITLE: On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living
AUTHOR: Alan Noble
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023, (120 pages).
 

Mental health is increasingly in the news. In the past, the mere mention of mental problems can be taboo. Thus, there is a subconscious effort to dumb down any such talk. That said, times are changing rapidly. At the onset of Covid, talk about mental struggles has come to the fore, primarily because it is experienced in many places, thanks in part to a lockdown world.  This seems to create a greater openness to discussing mental health in a post-covid world. This book is about "mental suffering" which is an all-encompassing term to describe mental afflictions of all forms, both clinical and non-clinical conditions. Author Alan Noble is convinced that for most people, it is less about clinical techniques or medications to solve the mental issue and more about understanding the person's unique situation. The trouble arises when people presume a clinical solution to anything related to mental health. This will be just like a hammer solution that presumes every person is a nail. Another problem is the social stigma that comes with anything mental-related. As the author is not a medical professional, this book is about sharing his thoughts based on Anne Harrison's alternative approach to "mental affliction" that is beyond medical realms. Rather, it is acknowledging the "cultural, social, and familial circumstances" surrounding the person concerned.  The book traces the thoughts of Noble along this line. Noble begins with personal encounters with people struggling with their lives. Hiding behind their external smiling faces, many people do hide their struggles in more ways than one. Some even "choose" the path of suffering. On top of that, they choose their own prescription, thinking that mental issues are problems to be solved, instead of being understood and lived. Noble cautions us about reliance on techniques. He uncovers potential barriers such as "fear of failure," presumptions of "PTSD," over-reliance on "the language of mental health," etc., all of which minimizes the need for simple human touch. This might lead to finding the right prescription for a wrong diagnosis. The author's prescription: Do whatever it takes to motivate one to get out of bed.

Noble asks some probing questions such as:

• Why do we go through so much trouble to prolong the inevitable?
• Why is life worth this agony?
• Why put up with all this suffering?
• ...

Instead of providing comprehensive answers to these, Noble hikes with us through the ups and downs of life's terrains like a faithful walking partner. His key point: Courage to get back up especially when we are down. Getting out of bed daily is essentially a choice we all have to make. Such a choice is not some personal grit but anchored on hope. Here, Noble connects us with the need for faith in God and the need for us to respond. We might not be able to control what happens to us but we can definitely control our responses. Each of our responses will reflect the kind of faith and life principle we have.

My Thoughts

This book revolves consistently around one thing: The courage to get out of bed. This discipline essentially helps one deal with any form of mental suffering. Noble does not belittle the challenges of mental afflictions. Let me offer three thoughts.

First, I appreciate the cautions on any reliance (or over-reliance) on techniques or medications for any form of mental health. By clarifying the vocabulary used, we are better able to attach a name to the emotion we are feeling, something that many counselors would encourage us to do. The caution against over-reliance is an important one. Having one problem is one thing. Creating another problem due to a misdiagnosis only multiplies the problem. If we are too quick to presume our own mental situation, we do ourselves a disservice. Not every situation requires a rushed visit to the ER or a pill to pop. Life is hard and this awareness should be part of the library of expectations in our minds. A healthy mind is one that is not too pessimistic or overly optimistic. It is learning to make sense of the situation and if necessary, seek help. 

Second, we need to learn more about mental afflictions BEFORE it actually hits us. We all will struggle with mental suffering from time to time. For many of us, it is inevitable that life will hit us hard at some point in life. Thus, it is beneficial to be prepared, just like having a first-aid kit at home in case accidents occur. Noble shows us that we do not need to become a psychiatrist or psychologist before we can tackle mental suffering. Truth is, not everything comes under the purview of either of these specialties. Discernment is as important (if not more important) than proper diagnosis. The part about mental suffering and suicide is a complex matter altogether. Having a buddy who is willing to walk with us is also an important part of any healing process. Far too many people make the mistake of drowning themselves in alcoholism or drug addiction. Noble's brute call to "Get Out of Bed" is also a wake-up call for us to snap out of such reliance. Strengthen your grip on your own mental health with this discipline not to let the world hem us down, but to let courage in Christ lift us up, and out of bed.

Finally, Noble's thesis is a reminder of what spirituality is all about. The ancient monks and desert fathers often teach us that the spiritual life is about learning to get up every time we fall. The main thing is to make sure that the getting up is more frequent than the falling down. As Christians, we demonstrate hope by learning to pick ourselves up every time we fall. Noble ends with a bright message that we can all smile with and act upon. When we live, we live for God. Just as the apostle Paul has said in Philippians 1:21, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," this book is Noble's interpretation of this very principle. Noble has written wonderful book that is simple to the core without the bell whistles of complex mental language or techniques. If you like to read books in bed, you might even practice strengthening your mental health each time when you are getting out of bed.

Alan Noble (PhD, Baylor University) is associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University. He has written for the Atlantic, Vox, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and First Things. He is also the author of Disruptive Witness and You Are Not Your Own.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.