Lets talk anxiety

Ok. Hot topic time. Anxiety. Lets talk about it. Frankly a lot of people in the church don’t understand mental health. Most assume its demon possession – which is a thing. But its not always the case. Some think its a simple trust thing – which is also a thing. But lets talk about what it could most probably a thing….mental health.

I’ve talked sparingly about my mental health issues – mostly cause people don’t know how to react. At first when I was diagnosed? I told the world – cause honestly we need more people to understand. But in their fears and misconceptions? People pushed me away. Still to this day those people? Don’t know how to talk about it – and end up hurting more than helping.

I know they mean well – but in a bad moment? It really hurts. It can in fact hinder my walk with the Lord. Remember me and bitterness? yeah……

Where should people start? By saying something no one would even think: I’m sorry. thats it. Just say sorry.

Cause lemme tell you something – this? No one wants this. We don’t believe you do – but we want to be encouraged like any other person with a medical diagnosis – that it sucks. We want to know you are praying for us. We want to know sympathy.

I would not wish this on my worst enemy. And I have one. There were so many times I couldn’t even trust my own brain? How even to this day walking outside of my house is something I struggle with greatly? We can thank covid for that.

But I do. I do fight. Cause I know what God wants me to do. But heres a thing others don’t realize: Not everyone is where I’m at. I remember when I was diagnosed with Postpartum depression (only to find out later that it was postpartum psychosis) – someone told me to make sure I cherish my kids.

Don’t get me started about how wrong that is (people with a postpartum disorder – are convinced they are not good enough for their kids. So they will do whatever…..whatever to give their kids the best)…..but I wasn’t any where near hearing that. I was so mad. So so hurt. So hurt. Someone had confirmed what my biggest fear – i wasn’t good enough for my kids.

We don’t need someone to fix us. That is what Jesus is for. Like someone with a diagnosis of cancer – we just want sympathy. We want love. We want someone to listen to us. and pray for us. Jesus is already working on fixing us.

¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5: 14-15