I was a little leery to write about mental wellness because it's such to delicate topic but in light of recent tragedies and the fact that I literally stumbled upon
this article that pretty much had me screaming at my computer while at work, I knew it was time. Today I posted the following on Instagram about the importance of getting help for your mental wellbeing.
Sydnei Jarman, Editor in Chief of
Her Modern Life, not only pulled the sheets off of the "pray it away" theory but also incorporated practical steps towards getting the help that is needed. There are so many people that don't get help out of fear of being labeled "crazy" so they suffer in silence. Then there are people who do seek help but get frustrated and hopeless because what looked like healing for others didn't work for them.
I had the most darkest and difficult time dealing with my depression while I was in church. Not at all because I didn't have enough faith in Christ to bring me healing, but because by the time I could no longer be cute and mute about the war happening inside of me, I was spooked into thinking I was demon-filled instead of a girl who was neglecting the wellness of her mind. Contrary of how I was made to feel, I fell in love with Christ in that moment of my life because I grew to know Him personally. While dealing with extreme anxiety and depression, I came upon my favorite verse that still chokes me up to this day.
"Who [faithfully] remembered us in our lowly condition,
For His loving-kindness endures forever"- Psalm 136:23
I do believe this verse hand in hand with professional help saved me. Note that I mentioned
pro-fes-sional help but if you it eases your spirit to keep things in a biblical sense, take the following into consideration. The apostle Luke was a doctor and referenced as such. Yes, God can be your healer and lawyer, etc but He also has granted people the wisdom to be experts of that field in this natural world.
On the other hand, as far a diagnoses is considered and this is truly my personally opinion, I do believe that we are quick to diagnosis people as manic depressive or bipolar because they display signs of sadness or irrational ways of coping. Sometimes folk are just sad or bothered about a situations and need healthy strategies on getting to the root of their problem and changing their way of thinking. Of course that's not everybody but a diagnoses of mental illness isn't for everyone either and I can really go on and on about how convenient it is for other races to be label as mentally ill after they shoot up schools and churches but African Americans are
killed on site if not immediately thrown in jail...but that's for a different post.
All in all, seeking help is one of the most bravest and strongest things one can ever do for themselves. Its more important for the masses (church are carnal) to be slow to judge and quick to heal.
