The Pastor with Bipolar - Introducing Dave Quak, Host of Sunburnt Souls
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The Pastor with Bipolar – Introducing Dave Quak, Host of Sunburnt Souls
Meet Dave Quak – a pastor, husband, dad, and the host of Sunburnt Souls, where faith and mental health collide in raw, real conversations. In this episode, Dave shares his journey with bipolar disorder, how it has shaped his faith, his family, and his ministry, and why he believes there’s still hope for those struggling with mental illness.
In this episode, we explore:
How Dave became a pastor and why it was all by accident
His battle with bipolar type II, anxiety, and depression
The ups and downs of manic episodes – from business ideas to burnout
Why medication has been a game-changer (and why it took years to be okay with it)
How Jess and the family have navigated life with a bipolar husband and dad
The tension between faith, healing, and mental health treatment
Why God’s kindness was revealed most in the darkest seasons
If you’ve ever wrestled with mental health as a Christian or wondered how faith fits into the messiness of mental illness, this conversation is for you.
Dave’s story is one of struggle, surrender, and ultimately, hope—a reminder that God’s love meets us right where we are, even in the deepest valleys. Tune in to Sunburnt Souls and be encouraged that you’re not alone, and there is still light in the darkness.
Amelia Rees
Hello and welcome to Sunburnt Souls. I am sitting across the table from Dave Quak, and today he is going to share with us a little bit about his story, his history, and how he came to be here. So let's just start with your name, your age, and your favourite chocolate.
Dave Quak
All right. My name is David Trevor Quak. I realise that is a terrible name, but I didn’t choose it. I am 43 years old, and my favourite chocolate is mint dark chocolate. Yes, dark chocolate. I like that you either love or hate dark chocolate.
Amelia Rees
So tell us a little bit about yourself. You’re obviously a pastor. How did you get into that pastoral space?
Dave Quak
By accident. I became a Christian when I was about 20. I was quite zealous and extroverted, which is usually the combination that makes someone a youth leader.
I started serving in a church and quickly became the youth pastor there. That was in Brisbane. From there, I ended up doing a placement for evangelism at a church on the Gold Coast. The pastor there approached us and invited us to become youth pastors on the Gold Coast.
My wife and I served as youth pastors for about eight years.
Amelia Rees
We?
Dave Quak
Oh yes, sorry—my wife and I. We’ve always been pastors together. Not “we” as in there are two of me! Then, about 12 years ago, we planted a church and have been leading that ever since.
Amelia Rees
Wow. So you’ve been in ministry for 20 years?
Dave Quak
Yes.
Amelia Rees
Well done.
Dave Quak
Thank you. 20 years. I’ve been married for 20 years as well. We have two kids: my son Josiah, who is 15, and my daughter Milani, who’s nearly 13. Life’s busy, but it’s good. They’re great kids. I’m happy with them.
Amelia Rees
All the conversations you and I have had over my lifetime have always been really real, raw, and deep. I know that’s what you want for this podcast as well. So let’s talk about your mental health journey—where it all started and what it looks like now.
Dave Quak
All right. I’ve always thought my mind was a little outside the box. That’s actually the main reason I wanted to start this podcast. Since becoming an adult, I’ve struggled with major ups and downs.
About five years ago, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I went to my GP, who’s a legend. His name is Paul, and he did a mental health assessment with me. That started me on the journey of exploring my mental health.
Paul referred me to a psychologist—an awesome guy named Sean. I saw him for a bunch of sessions, which eventually led me to a psychiatrist. Through working with the psychiatrist, I was diagnosed with bipolar type II, a condition that includes anxiety and depression as part of its symptoms.
Amelia Rees
Let’s define that a bit. Bipolar involves manic episodes, right? Everyone has emotional fluctuations, but they usually don’t last long or can be managed. From what I understand, with bipolar, those manic episodes can last anywhere from 4 to 18 days. Is that accurate?
Amelia Rees
Depending on your diagnosis.
Dave Quak
Yeah, yeah. And I don't know if I'm an overachiever, but my manic episodes could last for a month or two.
Amelia Rees
Yes, okay.
Dave Quak
Okay, so you can—
Amelia Rees
Then say you're bipolar two. Is that—
Dave Quak
Right, it is. It is. Yeah. So, in my life, I've been quite open about my anxiety and depression. What I haven't been open about until now is that this actually falls under a bigger diagnosis: bipolar type two. Both anxiety and depression can be symptoms of bipolar type two.
Bipolar type two, which used to be called manic depression, involves two ends of the spectrum. As the name suggests, you can be incredibly elated and then incredibly defeated. For me, my manic phases can last for one to two months. During these times, I fixate on certain things. For example, I might research something obsessively or become consumed by an idea, thinking about it from the moment I wake up until I go to bed.
On the positive side, if it’s a productive idea that aligns with ministry, family, or the Kingdom, it can work out well. But often, it doesn’t. I’ve fixated on things like trying to make money and made poor financial decisions. In a manic phase, you believe your ideas are brilliant and life-changing. While some might be, many can end up being destructive.
Who is the Quak Family?
My family has been incredibly gracious through this. They've endured countless “sales pitches” during my manic phases. For example, I’d plan a romantic evening with my wife, and by the end of the night, I’d pitch her an idea like, “Don’t you think it’d be great if we moved to Vanuatu?” I’d have done all the research, found a house, worked out the budget, and even figured out how to bring the dog.
Family Trip Thailand….. Mmmmmm Maybe we should move there????
When I’m depressive, though, I go to the other extreme. I feel like my ideas are worthless, and I want to withdraw completely. I think about getting a job packing shelves or stuffing envelopes—anything to avoid people. It’s a huge shift from feeling like I can change the world to wanting to disappear.
My psychiatrist diagnosed me with bipolar type two after a long journey of discussions and evaluations. Once I had the diagnosis, it was a relief. Reading about the symptoms and realizing, “I do that, I do that, I do that,” gave me a framework to move forward.
Amelia Rees
Yeah, that’s it. And realising that you’re not crazy.
Dave Quak
No, but you feel like it—until you meet another person with bipolar. Then you connect, think they’re brilliant, and start planning a business together!
The amount of dead websites, ABN numbers, and half-started projects I’ve left behind is ridiculous. I still get reminders from GoDaddy about domains I registered years ago.
My psychiatrist prescribed two medications after diagnosing me: sodium valproate, a mood stabilizer originally developed for epilepsy, and an antipsychotic called Seroquel. Saying “antipsychotic” out loud can feel confronting, but it’s been a game changer.
I’m on a low dose of Seroquel—just 25 mg a day—which helps me sleep. Sleep is critical because, during manic phases, I don’t sleep, and that just makes things worse.
Amelia Rees
So, the medications have been game changers?
Dave Quak
Absolutely. I’m so thankful to God for them. It took about a year to get the doses right, but once we did, life improved significantly. The only challenge now is sticking to the regime.
Last night, for example, I went to the cricket with my wife, who’s a massive fan. She’s the type to wake up at 2 a.m. to watch the Ashes. But I forgot to take my sodium valproate with me. By 9 p.m., I could feel the irritability creeping in. The fireworks at halftime were loud and irritating, and there was a noisy kid next to me—not mine—who was driving me up the wall.
I’m thankful for the medication, but it’s also a reminder of how important it is to plan ahead and stick to the regime.
Amelia Rees: Yes.
Dave Quak: You know, because you've got two ends of the spectrum. On one side, you have people who think anything mental health-related is just some kind of demonic force that needs to be prayed over and delivered, and then you'll be set free. On the other end, there are those who believe there's no spiritual connection to mental health—it’s purely a medical condition, and if you have the right chemical balance, you're good.
Amelia Rees: Just like diabetes—if you’ve got diabetes, you need to take insulin.
Dave Quak: Exactly. And I think there are elements of truth in both perspectives. But then there’s a whole spectrum in between that’s really complicated to figure out. In my life, I’ve seen people get healed when we pray for them, and I’ve seen people not get healed when we pray. I’ve seen people set free, and I’ve seen people remain bound.
Why does God heal in different ways?
When I first started taking medication, I was okay with it when it was for anxiety and depression. Those are more common conversations, and I think people understand them better. It’s not something that’s considered untreatable anymore, nor is it stuck in the old mindset of "just get over it." That kind of ignorance was more prevalent 20 years ago. Organisations like Beyond Blue and others have done a fantastic job helping people understand mental health.
For me, the struggle began when my treatment graduated from anxiety and depression medication to bipolar medication. That was really hard for me to share. That transition happened over three years ago, but it’s only now that I feel comfortable talking about it.
Amelia Rees: Yeah.
Dave Quak: I’ve been wrestling with why it took me so long to share. Part of it was probably my own pride. Another part was wanting to fully understand it for myself before opening up. And lastly, my life is already so open and personal that I didn’t know if this was something I wanted to share with everyone.
At the time, I had a small group—fewer than five people—who knew. Now, as it’s starting to come out, I’ve realized I didn’t give people enough credit. When people find out, they usually respond with compassion, understanding, and love—not judgment or condemnation.
Amelia Rees: It’s a massive, massive journey.
Dave Quak: Yeah. And this is the whole point—understanding that just because we’re Christians doesn’t mean God doesn’t heal in many different ways. Whether it’s through miraculous healing, medication, or using us to spread the word about God and mental health, there’s space for all of it.
Amelia Rees: Absolutely.
Dave Quak: I even think we can call medication a form of miraculous healing. We often think of miracles as instant, but the fact that a scientist in a lab—with their glasses, petri dishes, and years of research—figured out how to balance someone’s chemicals so they can live in freedom and abundance? That’s miraculous. God bless that scientist—the unsung hero no one sees.
It’s not the big pharmaceutical company getting credit; it’s the researcher who spent 10, 15, or 20 years working tirelessly. I’m so thankful for that person.
Amelia Rees: Yeah.
Dave Quak: God heals in so many ways. What I’ve found, even through some of my darkest times, is that God revealed Himself to be the kindest I’ve ever known Him to be. That was surprising.
About two or three years ago, I was manic for way too long—months and months—and I hit a wall. I burned out and fell into a really dark place for an extended period. In that darkness, I found God’s kindness in a way I never expected.
Dave Quak: I like... this is how my day existed. So basically, I'd get up, and the alarm would go off. You know, you look over, and sleep was like this escape from the darkness. And I...
Amelia Rees: Like, "I didn't even get four hours! No!"
Dave Quak: That’s right. That’s gold anyway.
Dave Quak: So, it’d be like this, I don’t know, like...
Amelia Rees: Dread of the...
Dave Quak: Day. The dread of the day, man. And I'd look at my phone and see the meetings coming up. I was still a pastor at this time. Once I hit that wall, I stopped being a lecturer, but I was still a pastor. So I'd look at my schedule, and there'd be someone to see, something to prepare—just the usual ins and outs of being a spiritual leader.
Dave Quak: And I'd be like, "Man, I love that person, but I just want to stay in bed." You know? But I also wanted to exercise my role as a pastor. These people—they're my family. When you're in a church, you don't just become a pastor; these people become your family. So I had this kind of trinity of coffee, the Holy Spirit, and grit just getting me through the day.
Dave Quak: I’d pray, "Oh God, get me through the day." So, I’d exercise my duties as best I could. And then by maybe 3 or 4 p.m., I’d be at home. I’ve got this couch—it’s a reclining couch; it’s amazing. Do you know man robes? Like, it’s like a bathrobe, but fluffy.
Amelia Rees: The fluffy robe? Right?
Dave Quak: Fluffy, yeah.
Dave Quak: So, I’d be sitting on my couch with my man robe over my head in the dark—kind of like a sensory deprivation thing—just trying to escape from the world. I’d pray, "Jesus, please, man, this is terrible. Help me through."
Dave Quak: And then my kids would get home. This was the hardest part, to be honest, Amelia. My wife is just the best mom. I’d hear her goofing around with the kids, and if I heard her hanging out with my daughter, they’d be talking about a book or something. I could picture her and my daughter having fun while my son was just kind of milling around with no one hanging out with him.
Dave Quak: It really messed with my head, and I didn’t have the capacity—this is the craziest thing—to pull the robe off my head and go play with my son. Some people listening might say, "Just pull the robe off and go play with your son," but I was cactus, man. Like, I was done. It was dark. It felt physically painful to be alive.
Dave Quak: So, I’d get through the day, go to bed early, try to sleep. I’d wake up at 2 a.m., 4 a.m., 6 a.m. Then, the alarm would go off, and I’d think, "We’ve got to do this again." It was on repeat.
How do you keep going when you feel burnt out?
I remember someone saying to me during the process—I tried to get help from mentors, and some really good guys spoke into my life—but one man, in particular, said, "Look, your brain’s on holiday, man. Your body is in preservation mode. It’s all going to come back one day. You’re going to be fine. And not only are you going to be fine, but you’re also going to be thankful to God for this process."
Dave Quak: And I was like, "Piss off! There’s no way I’m going to be thankful. This is the worst. I hate this." Fast forward a couple of years, and my family and I were on long service leave in Thailand. I went on that long service leave thinking, "I reckon this might be the end of me being a pastor."
Dave Quak: I think I've had enough. I don’t know if I have the capacity to be a spiritual leader anymore. I’m done. On this trip, a lot of the discussions Jess and I had were about whether or not I was going to continue in ministry. I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore.
I remember it was the 15th of January. I was crying out to God in this little Airbnb in Bangkok, saying, “You know what, God? I am done. I can’t do this anymore.” And as soon as I said, “I can’t do this anymore,” a sense of peace came over me. It was like God was saying, Finally, you get it.
It was as if God was saying, “You can’t do this, and that’s what’s been wrong. Part of the deficit in your life in Christ is that you think you can do this. You think it’s your responsibility. You think people are following you, that you’re their leader.”
Once I admitted I couldn’t do it anymore, it was like God said, “Okay, now you’re ready.”
A couple of weeks later, I was at home. The darkness continued for a little while longer, but one day I woke up and felt awesome. It was so weird. I wanted to get out of bed, and I got up before the alarm.
The next day, the same thing happened. The darkness had lifted. Day after day, it was the same. About five or six days later, I told Jess, “I think the darkness has lifted.” She was cautiously optimistic—she didn’t want to count her chickens before they hatched—but I could feel it.
Even though the darkness lifted, I still wrestle with bipolar, anxiety, and depression to this day. But something about that two-year period of darkness burned away the parts of my flesh I was holding onto.
Looking back, I am actually thankful for that time, even though I couldn’t see it then. During that period, God really revealed His affection for me. I had always known God since becoming a Christian, but not like this. He showed me His love, His care for me, and that He doesn’t just love me—He likes me.
He doesn’t just tolerate my quirks; He knit me together in my mother’s womb to be this way. I went from knowing about God to truly knowing Him. Now, I prefer His will to mine—not out of obligation, but because I genuinely prefer it. I’d rather hang out with Him than not. I’d rather be in His presence.
I went from wanting to hang up the ministry towel to being the most thankful person on the planet to be a pastor. That’s why I want to get Sunburnt Souls going. I know there are so many people wrestling with their mental health, who love Jesus passionately, and are trying to figure out how it all works together. How do we live fully and still be broken? It’s messy.
Amelia Rees: A massive mess. You’ve shared how this has impacted your spiritual journey. What’s been the impact on your family?
Dave Quak: It’s been amazing and horrible. There have been tears and hugs. It’s been the best and the worst.
For Jess, being married to someone with my condition has its challenges—but also benefits. I bring a lot of fun to our family. There have been times I’ve gone out and come home with a boat. Yes, I know buying a boat is the worst financial decision you can make, but I do it in the name of fun, and we do have fun.
Sometimes I’ll say, “Dad’s cooking dinner tonight,” and then show up with KFC. My family never knows what to expect, which adds excitement.
The kids are amazing—they’re vibrant and fun. Last night at the cricket, I was just thinking how awesome they are. Of course, I might be a little biased, but I think I hit the jackpot with them.
For Jess, the exciting parts are great, but the instability can be really hard. She values stability, consistency, and the longevity of our ministry at church. When I’m in a manic phase and pitching all sorts of ideas, it can create a sense of instability for her.
I’m sorry for that. I want to get better at not doing that to her. But at the same time, she’s a solid woman of God, and she can handle me.
When I’m in a low place, it’s not fun for Jess. During that dark time, she really had to step up and carry a lot—at home, in the church, everywhere. But she never made me feel condemned or guilty. She was gracious and, honestly, my pastor during those years.
As a pastor, you don’t often have a pastor for yourself. I have good friends and mentors, but not someone who can truly dissect your soul, pray for you, and guide you like Jess did. I’m so thankful for her.
How does bipolar disorder affect the family?
For the kids, having a dad with bipolar is just normal for them. It’s how Dad is. I hope their testimony one day will be that God used this, and that they always felt loved and value. When it comes to Money or whatever, but I'm generous with them, and I love them. I want to hang out with them, and I like them. You know, even a couple of weeks ago, my wife and daughter went on a road trip, so it was just me and my son. We spent a week on a reverse vegan diet.
Basically, all we ate was animal products—meat, cheese, eggs, and bacon. In the mornings, we'd get up, have a man hug, chat, and grant each other a couple of times. We'd have Casey for lunch and do our thing. He loved that. We gained a little bit of time together, watched Car Masters, and just hung out.
I think the testimony will be that Dad was fun, Dad loved God, Dad was there for us, but he was also a bit erratic. Sometimes, he yelled at us when we probably didn’t deserve it, and sometimes he was irritable. They both love Jesus for themselves, which is awesome, but I also think they’ll grow up thinking, "I get it. Dad was epic, but he had some flaws." But we love him, and we’re glad he’s in our life. I think the last sentence is the big one—that they’re glad I’m in their life.
I want that to be true. I see so many men who lose that with their kids. The kids are happy not to be in their life, especially as teenagers. They’ll say things like, "Drop me off up the street so no one sees you," or "Just be quiet when we’re in public, Dad."
Amelia Rees: So kids are still happy to be seen with you?
Dave Quak: They are. Yeah. And I love them. It’s really cool. As pastor's kids, we’ve tried not to put too much pressure on them to look a certain way or anything. Our church is really cool. The people there don’t treat them any differently than anyone else. They just enjoy their time there.
Amelia Rees: Have you brought the kids on the journey? Are you quite open with them about being medicated, saying things like, "I’m in a manic depressive state at the moment," so they understand how to tiptoe around you a little?
How should a Christian feel about taking medication?
Dave Quak: That’s a very good question because my journey with medication started with anxiety and depression medication and kind of grew from there. I was able to take them on the journey, and they naturally see me at 6:00 taking the sodium valproate.
They see me at dinnertime. So, they know I'm unmedicated, but I have taken them on the journey. My son’s a legend, but he’s 15, and 15-year-olds love to mess with you. You know how it is. You’ll just be sitting there and, all of a sudden, there’s a bucket on your head. Or they’ll put a cucumber in your drink. At 15, they’re like that, and Josiah, he’s the master of it. He’s next level, and I think he probably got that from his mother (not that I mind).
But when I’m really manic, I sometimes have to just say to the kids, "Look, guys, I can’t handle you poking me, pushing me. Just give me a bit of space."
Amelia Rees: Yeah.
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Amelia Rees: But at least you’re saying that to them.
Dave Quak: Yeah. And they’re cool with it.
Amelia Rees: Yeah. It’s communication, though. It’s just like with anything. You know, like, I know with my husband, if I’m having a low day, sometimes I’ll just say, "I’m having a low day." That way, he knows I’m not upset with him. If I was, I would say something. I may not even be able to put my finger on why I’m having a low day. He just has a mutual understanding.
Dave Quak: That’s it. Like you just said, communication. If we communicate, the people we love who understand get it.
Amelia Rees: Yeah.
Dave Quak: This is going to be an interesting couple of months for me, I think, Amelia. The church doesn’t quite understand the extent of this, so I’ve been able to communicate with my family. Now, I’m starting to communicate with my faith community. Imagine this as a pastor. You get to church at 7:30 to set up, but a bunch of people are late. Or, you walk into the church and there are cups left everywhere because whoever used the church before us just left them there. So, straight away, I’m agitated. I’m hot, right?
Amelia Rees: You’re freaking out.
Dave Quak: Cups are everywhere, and then people come. Maybe it’s alright for a little while, and I make a few coffees for people. Then the service starts, and I’m up front. I can hear the worship team playing, but I can also hear people walking in, laughing, and talking at the back, making heaps of noise and distracting everyone.
Maybe they’re not distracting everyone, but because I’m manic, I can hear them like they’re yelling in my ear. They don’t do it to be jerks. They don’t do it because they’re irreverent. They love Jesus, they don’t know they’re doing it. They come in laughing, think the worship songs are fine, and go join in.
Dave Quak: Okay. Now, our church, I want it to be fun and casual, so I'm not ever going to yell at them. It's just not my style. But when I'm manic, it irritates me, right? And then I'll be preaching. And the funny thing is, when you're manic, you can preach quite well because you've got undeserved energy.
How to hear from God when you’re mentally ill?
As long as you hear from God and aren't just saying any old thing. Which I have to be quite careful about. I make sure I do my prep, especially when I'm manic, to make sure I'm speaking from God, not from my mania. And this is where the prophetic gift really helps to soothe that, to keep me in line and ensure I'm hearing from God.
Dave Quak: So, I'll be preaching, and like I said earlier, I'll hear some kid playing with a toy, and there's a teddy there that makes no noise. But they pick up the fire engine, and then like the parent, I'll see the parent not look over at the kid, and they're just sitting there chillin'. I'm like, "Do you want to go grab that kid, or just let it distract the whole world?"
Dave Quak: And then that's what I'll be thinking while I'm still preaching. And then I'll see someone go out to the bathroom, and this is going to sound weird, but I'll know whether it's a number 1 or number 2 because, in my head, there's so much going on that I almost time how long they’re in there. And when they come back, I'm like, "Hey, did you do a poo?"
And then, someone nods off. Alright. Oh, you look at someone's face and think they're just not into this at all. And that's always a problem because when you're preaching, everybody's face looks different from what they're feeling. I used to have a senior pastor who looked angry when you were preaching well, but it was because he was listening really well.
Dave Quak: So you're like, "Oh dude, he's hating this." And then straight after church, the noise, like the first 20 minutes after church, everyone’s in a small room talking loud, laughing, which is amazing unless you're manic.
Dave Quak: And then that’ll happen, and then someone will come up to me and talk to me, which is wonderful. I want to talk to people, but it'll be like, and then while they're talking, someone else comes and stands next to them waiting for me. And I can see them out of my peripheral vision. So I'm like, not only am I getting spoken to here, I've got this person to talk to, and it'll happen maybe three or four times in a row.
Dave Quak: And nobody’s doing it because they want to hurt me. They're just doing it because they love me, and I love them, and we're connected. But sometimes I just want to get out of there. There've been times when I'm manic where I just finish the service and go out this sneaky door, get in my car, and go home.
Dave Quak: No one notices. And if I told them why I was doing it, I'm sure they'd be fine with it. I think I'm just at that place where I've been living it, and now I have to be living it and sharing it. Yes, and explaining to people why I'm acting like I am. There’ll be times when I go to a prayer meeting, and I’ll just have to step outside instead of pushing through.
Dave Quak: Now, I’ll just step outside, have a breath, and then come back. I would expect that anyone else in my position would give them the concession to do that.
Amelia Rees: 100%. So, they'll do that for me. Yeah, definitely.
Dave Quak: You know, you asked me why I haven’t shared yet. The third reason is that I probably haven’t given people enough credit. I’ve got to start giving people more credit.
Amelia Rees: Yeah. Because I think you’ll be surprised at how people react. And it’s even just thinking of different strategies. So, say, for example, going, "Okay, well, after church, Dave always goes and sits in the little back room by himself, and one person goes in, and the next person waits at the door, and then he does what by."
Dave Quak: Well, you know, I like just... just...
Amelia Rees: Man, that’s a silly example. But, you know, like just managing it so that you can give as much as you know and hear from God as well. Because when you’re speaking to someone in a church environment like that, they may be asking you a really deep personal question, and you’re just trying to focus on them without all the mess in the background. Like, how are you meant to hear from God when your mind is so wild?
Dave Quak: Like, that’s...
Amelia Rees: Right, you know? So, yeah. So, it’s actually setting up strategies to be able to enable you to do what you need to do.
Dave Quak: Exactly. And okay, so say someone came with a wheelchair rolled into church and we didn’t move a couple of chairs so they could roll into the congregation. We’d be like, "Guys, you’re being jerks."
Amelia Rees: Yes.
Dave Quak: Help them out. It’s exactly the same principle, except you can’t see. And I think that’s where we have some deficits in the way we think about this.
Amelia Rees: Yeah. So, what’s going to be your strategy then?
Dave Quak: Yeah, that’s the question.
Amelia Rees: Hopefully, you got the answer. You got the answer. Oops.
Amelia Rees: Just be like, "Oh hey, by the way, I’ve got this podcast. You guys listen to it."
Dave Quak: This.
Amelia Rees: That’s it. Full stop.
Dave Quak: Yeah, that’s right. Look, the strategy is to really start normalizing everything in my life and sharing it. Yeah. Getting guests on. I want to hear from people who have lived experience, like yourself and others. I want to interview professionals. I want to talk to people who understand mental health, who are pastors, who are even theologians or psychiatrists or whoever.
Dave Quak: I can have the conversation about faith and spirituality. You know, faith—like knowing Jesus is the best. Like knowing Him, knowing Him intimately, and having a personal relationship with Him, and it not being about what you do or don’t do, but about who you are in Christ. And I want people to understand that they can know Christ, that they can have intimacy with Him, and also have things going on upstairs that aren’t ideal and that God isn’t punishing them and it’s not a result of their sin or His.
Dispelling some mental health myths
I’d love to dispel some myths. I’d love to be an encouragement to people. I’d like to have fun. I know that sounds strange, but sometimes, like whenever you talk about mental health and mental illness, it’s like everyone just pucker up. It’s like, you know, there’s no room for jovialness. Now, look, I’m not saying this because I want to minimise the importance of chatting about mental illness, but sometimes the only way I can handle my life is to laugh about it and to be irreverent and to point out the stupidity, the fallacy, and the craziness of it all.
Dave Quak: You know, and so I want to open that forum. I want to be able to chat with people who are real and raw and amazing and crazy and messed up and brilliant.
Amelia Rees: Because we all are.
Dave Quak: That’s exactly right. That’s right. See, mental health doesn’t just affect people with mental illness. It affects almost the whole population because we all know somebody who’s struggling. Most of us, if we’re honest, are struggling mentally somehow.
Dave Quak: Whether it be...
Amelia Rees: Stress, or at some stage in their life that...
Dave Quak: Exactly. They’ll burn out from stress or whatever, overworked. We’re completely consumed with information and bombarded, like, it’s not good for us. We take no time to rest, like it’s not a healthy way to live. And so, if we could do anything to facilitate discussion around making life better...
Dave Quak: Like, just better. Better for people who are struggling and helping people actually do something with our faith, then I’m all in on that.
Amelia Rees: Yeah, yeah, 100%. And that’s what God wants for us.
Dave Quak: Us, I think.
Amelia Rees: So, you know, he wants you to find that peace, but also be true to who you are. And like you said, how he made you. There's no one really talking about that sort of balance between spirituality and mental health.
Dave Quak: I don't think there is. I've done so much research over the last few months in getting ready for this day.
Dave Quak: The mania paid off, right?
Dave Quak: So I was able to get through a lot of content very quickly. But there's a few guys in the States and there's a few guys down in Sydney and Melbourne.
Dave Quak: And there are people, but not...
Dave Quak: I don't think it's to the scale that it needs to be. You know, people are writing articles, people are doing seminars, and there's some great people around. But I'd love to push this into the forefront of the church. And I know that's audacious. But I'll rattle and knock on every door to try to get this into people's hands.
Amelia Rees: And even as a resource just for other pastors, if someone in their congregation is struggling with this, to, yeah, you know, facilitate them through the service so they can actually be there on a Sunday and enjoy it as well.
Dave Quak: Well that's it.
Dave Quak: Well, imagine this. Imagine if a church understood that if a certain person gets triggered during the service and they stand up down the back and stretch, that's okay. Like it's so rigid, right? Like, or if they have to lay down on the ground or if they have to, like, I don't know, put a blanket over the head, whatever.
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Dave Quak: You know, like, I don't know. I just think there's so many more people who would enjoy faith and community if people understood people outside the box.
Amelia Rees: Yeah, 100%.
Dave Quak: Yeah. The secret geniuses, I reckon.
Dave Quak: Sometimes.
Dave Quak: Bipolar is a superpower.
Dave Quak: I mean...
Dave Quak: Sometimes it's cripplingly so when I'm in it. But then other times I'm like, okay, this paid off. So, and I just think there's a lot of people with mental illness who have got gifts that aren't being used.
Amelia Rees: And even what that means for spiritual gifts, along with, and how that's a whole...
Dave Quak: Oh, I can't wait to talk about that. I can't wait to chat about that. And how, like all the personality assessments, like the Enneagram and all those sorts of things, fit with, you know, mental illness and faith. And there's so many topics I want to cover, I'd love to cover. I've got a friend who's a music therapist, and I want to interview her and talk about almost like, you know, with King Saul when he was tormented and he was throwing spears at people, and he was enraged and angry, and music calmed him down.
Dave Quak: You know, we've got to explore things like that. What's the role of music in mental health and spirituality in all facets? I want to get some fit people on here. Now, that's not going to be my forte because I am lazy. But, you know, I want to get some athletes on who understand this stuff and talk about the biological, you know, benefits of exercise and diet.
Dave Quak: And so many areas need to be explored. And this is...
Amelia Rees: Going to help you on your journey as well. Yeah. It is. You know.
Dave Quak: Yeah.
Amelia Rees: Awesome.
Dave Quak: Yeah. I haven't felt this excited for a very long time. It's good because...
Amelia Rees: It's your eyes.
Dave Quak: You're sparkling! I love it, I love it. I do. I was super encouraged when I first put it out, that this was starting, and I don't quite know how it's going to morph, but I was super encouraged with the amount of texts and feedback I got from people saying, "I'm in." I'm like, this is something I've been praying for.
Dave Quak: I need something like this. Let me know if I can help. Let me know if I can participate, please. You know, so I just want to thank people in advance who get behind this. I think this is an initiative that will help people. At the moment, I'm quite blessed. I got, you know, I work three and a half days a week, three days at church and half a day in another role.
Dave Quak: Gives me another day to put into this. So I'm just going to volunteer my day a week and just see what God does with it.
Amelia Rees: Yeah. Good on you. It's taken some balls.
Dave Quak: Yeah. Thank you. No, I appreciate it. It's taken me 43 years to grow. I'm so...
Dave Quak: Now. But it's time. It's time. So, yeah.
Amelia Rees: But there's nothing to hide. There's not, there's not. And I...
Dave Quak: I think it's really...
Amelia Rees: Not part of the beauty of it. It's really stepping out and being like, well, okay, what am I hiding from? Yeah. Nothing. And be confident. Yeah. That's it. I'm medicated. I've got the load behind me. What can go...
Dave Quak: Wrong? Yeah, that's exactly it. Yeah. So I... Let's see if I'm still here in a year, Amelia.
Dave Quak: We'll say thank you so much for the chat.
Amelia Rees: You are most welcome. Thank you. It's such a pleasure to, well, want to be on that journey with you and, yeah, have you share your story with me even before this. But to facilitate this for you so that you can get your message out, that's awesome. And it's an honor to be here. Interviewer.
Dave Quak: Love. Yeah. Thank you so much.
5 Key Takeaways
Medication as a Game Changer: Dave Quak shares how finding the right medication has significantly improved his life, though sticking to the regimen is crucial for continued well-being.
Balancing Faith and Medicine: There is a delicate balance between seeing mental health as both a medical condition and a spiritual journey, where God’s healing can come through medication as well as prayer.
The Long Road to Comfort: Dave reflects on how it took him time to feel comfortable sharing his journey with bipolar disorder, learning that his community responds with compassion and understanding, not judgment.
God’s Kindness Through Darkness: Despite a long period of darkness and emotional burnout, Dave experienced God's kindness, revealing how personal struggles can lead to deeper intimacy with God.
Family Impact: Living with bipolar has impacted Dave’s family in complex ways, but his wife Jess and their kids have shown resilience, with Jess playing a crucial role as both a partner and a spiritual guide during tough times.
What to do if you’re walking with faith and mental illness?
If you’ve been wrestling with mental health struggles or navigating the balance between faith and medication, Sunburnt Souls is here to remind you that you’re not alone. Through open conversations and shared stories, we explore hope and healing in the messiness of life. Visit sunburntsouls.com to connect with resources and listen to more episode. Subscribe here to continue receiving updates.
