Depression / Mental Illness

I've had many episodes of anxiety over the years. Growing up, I struggled with anxiety. Even as a kid, I struggled with it. I had a controlling mother who often yelled to express herself. I walked on eggshells in my home because I never knew where I stood. Some days, she'd be great; other days, she'd be in an angry, silent mood. I withdrew to my room and spent many hours there. As an adult, however, I used the same tactic. When my kids were little, I got angry and yelled at them. It wasn't until I gave my anger over to the Lord and fully healed from my childhood trauma that I became a more peaceful person as a parent.Having said this, overly tense or stressful situations still tend to overwhelm me. But I don't allow anxiety to win. In 2020, I had a particularly difficult bout with anxiety. My anxiety became waves of panic that I struggled with day in and day out. It became so bad I didn’t function normally. I sought the help of professionals, got medication, and used other therapy modalities to help me function normally. Today, I'm proud to say I am I'm so much better with my anxiety. The medication I once needed I don't need as often anymore. Additionally, I have had to adopt strategies that help keep me calm if I can anticipate tense situations.Here are five ways to quiet your heart when stress and anxiety take over:

But as someone who deeply cares about you, I want you to know that no matter who you are or where your journey in life takes you, you deserve help for every struggle you face.

Church training in the area of mental health support is most effective when it begins with leaders who demonstrate both the humility to cry out for help and the wisdom to know where to seek the best help.

If I were to be honest with you, depression has been a toxic friend of mine for quite some time. She doesn't always stick around or let me know she's coming, either. She generally shows up uninvited, sits right next to me, and whispers empty words of hopelessness that bring on agitation, all while depleting every ounce of my energy. Truth be told, I don't like her. Yet, I always seem to end up entertaining her when she drops in. And, let me tell you, she loves to overstay her welcome and truly enjoys putting a wedge in every one of my relationships, especially my marriage.Friend, if you have a spouse struggling and suffering from this mental illness or something of the like, let me first extend my heartfelt sympathy. While I have battled depression on and off for the last twenty years or so, I can attest that it has put quite a strain on my marriage, causing a ripple effect of frustration, confusion, and helplessness for both of us.Let me start by saying that you and your dear spouse are not alone on this journey, even though it can often feel lonely. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults will suffer from depression. That is twenty percent of Americans! Given this statistic, this is greatly impacting the quality of our home environments and causing massive emotional distress to our marriages. However, if I may reassure you, there are ways to navigate these trying times and seek hope together.So, that being said, I would like to take a moment to address this sensitive issue and offer support to you and your spouse. Because we have been there and will most likely be there again. Thankfully, we serve a God that understands the depths of our pain and the nature of our hearts, so let's lean into what His Word says and seek His love and peace.The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9

OCD is much heavier than its stereotype, and I would like to honor sufferers and their loved ones by breaking down the different Intrusive Thought categories and dismantling common OCD misconceptions.

So, to answer the original question: Yes. It is possible to pray too much! When faith gets infected with OCD, earnest believers become trapped by a disorder that distorts their thinking, controls their emotions, and directs their behaviors. The disorder's hold on their mind prevents their ability to live out a healthy, enriched, growing faith.

Each year, nature shows its beauty with the changing of the seasons. Tree leaves become grounded rainbows before they disappear, and the ground becomes blanketed with snow. The sun shines more and less, and everyone begins to adjust to the shift in the weather change. As seasons change, so can our moods, ultimately negatively affecting our daily lives. While each season may bring something to look forward to (holiday celebrations, vacations, birthdays, etc.), the shift and changes can be difficult for some to get through.Seasonal depression can develop during certain times of the year for people, and they may find their moods shifting unexpectedly. Fatigue, consuming more comfort food, or having less energy are some things people who encounter seasonal depression may experience. As we approach a shift in seasons, we must be mindful of our bodies and our state of mind and be mindful of our emotional well-being to prepare ourselves to combat seasonal depression. If you believe you struggle with this, take a look at the list below of some things you can do now to prepare yourself for seasonal depression.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Paolo Cordoni

Many characterize the current chaotic fiasco occurring on the world stage as “dark times.” In America, there’s a crisis at the border, lawlessness in our streets, wokeness instead of greatness, inflation, racial division, Marxist Critical Race Theory in schools, young children sexualized in schools and public libraries with a lie that they can change their gender. Wrong is called right and right wrong, just like the Bible told us would happen during dark times.Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isa. 5:20Sometimes, we want to stay in bed and hide under the covers hoping it will all go away, but God wants his people to be a light in this darkness. Complacency is like the morning fog that moves in silently to obscure the sunlight. Through prayers, praise, and spiritual empowerment, God will use us to overcome the darkness of this world that can envelop us in hopelessness and despair if we let it. Instead, God says inEphesians 5:10-11, “Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.”So God doesn't want us to succumb to the darkness, but instead to expose dark deeds by letting the bright Light of Jesus shine into the bleak darkness. Here are 4 prayers to help us be that light in dark times regardless of circumstances.Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/PORNCHAI SODA

A good way to prevent suicides is to remove the taboos surrounding the subject and allow people to express their feelings freely. As believers, we should want to help all people, including those who struggle with thoughts of suicide.

To my surprise, my panic attack didn’t take me out. I learned something profound that day. The attack itself isn’t the bully; it’s the fear and shame I feel during the attack that makes me avoid circumstances that threaten it.

God will get you through, bring you people who can support you, and help you to overcome any addiction. Here are seven prayers to help you deal with addictions in your life.

Mental Health recovery isn't a one-size fits all solution. It takes time. It takes adaptation. And it takes realizing that sometimes what worked yesterday for our anxiety or depression might not work today. We are incredibly complex and dynamic creatures hand-crafted in the image of God, so why should we try to limit how we can heal?

Depression is a battle that anyone – including Christians – can face. Here’s what depression is, how the Bible addresses depression, and how to deal with depression.

Prayer helps with depression; it gives us access to Jesus when we need him most. Here are four prayers that you can pray for God to move the mountain of depression in your life.

My experience in both arenas—a counseling center and private practice—convinces me that when it comes to therapy, offering unpaid sessions won’t serve anyone much good.