Hi There Guys & Gals;
It's a hot topic these days, Mental Health. It seems almost so common a topic that we ignore it and forget about it.
I had a discussion with a friend a while ago about depression and he said: "I didn't even know what was happening to me, I never thought it could happen to me and I didn't understand what was happening to me. The depression was so silent I didn't even realize it was there until I knew something wasn't quiet right with me and I went to the doctor."
Depression really is silent. I have faced many things alone and that is part of the problem, when we are depressed we isolate ourselves and we convince ourselves that no one will understand and we believe no one knows how we feel. It is so silent that the heavy weight is almost as if it just appeared out of nowhere. We have all been there at some point in our lives and some have not made it through the abyss into the light. So the question is: If I am a Christian and set free how is it possible to have depression?
Great news is, many great prophets had depression and it is depicted in the scriptures and they did overcome it, if you don't believe me research Elijah & Job and their experiences. Just because we are Christian does not mean we are immune to the world effects on our body & mind .We are human and thus experience the world the same as anyone else. Albeit, we feel deeper, have more empathy and forgive easy as is our way and with that does come the darkness with the light. But what is important is what we do when we are in despair. Isolation is not a solution its an aggravation. Seeking help is courageous.
Your mental health is important to God and to everyone around you, but unless you reach out no one will ever know your pain. We as Christians need to not only look after each other but ourselves as well. It is not selfish when you need a break, in fact God requires you to be in Shalom (Peace), so much that He GIFTED it to us. In fact God repeatedly says to lay your burdens down and Jesus said to give your burdens to Him as "His yolk is light and easy to bare." God never wanted us to be in constant stress and misery. The world we live in is so fast paced that we forget our bodies just aren't made for the high stress level and fast pace 24/7. We are exhausting ourselves beyond our bodies capabilities. We have forgotten to look after ourselves and our mind. We barely exercise and stay glued to our couches on a weekend. The fast pace life during the week completely draining us and distracting us from what is important. When is the last time you read a book? When is the last time you went for a walk around the neighborhood? When is the last time you took the dogs for a walk or even better switched off your phone and spent time in the word?
It is vitally important to look after yourself so that you can be effective at helping others. If you are exhausted you will not make the impact needed at helping someone who needs you. No one needs your attention every second of every hour (unless you are a mother to a new born, then I totally give it to you about being exhausted 24/7.)
What am I getting at? Simple and short: Look after yourself, take a break, focus on you and lean heavily on God during the tough times (He doesn't mind) and if you are in trouble and you think you might harm yourself; REACH OUT to anyone you think you can trust or go to the hospital and tell the nurses/doctors you think you are going to harm yourself and need help. DON'T STAY QUIET. DON"T ISOLATE YOURSELF. You are very much loved and there are people who care very deeply for you. There is always a way.There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
John 1: 5
"The light shines on in the dark, and the darkness has never mastered it."
Chat soon
T