It's Real, People!

Today, and really for a while now, my body has not betrayed me. It is amazing to be able to see the sun shine and hear my kids' laughter and be able to enjoy them. To not want to sleep all day and avoid my husband. It's great to not feel so overwhelmed that I can't breathe. Today I live in a place of peace, but that hasn't always been the case. I certainly don't live my life waiting to feel the old familiar splashes of depression at my feet but I do live life aware that my body might betray me once again. And if it does I will be surrounded by a family who has loved me well through my past struggles.

I have learned how to manage what I can of my mental health. How to nurture my spirit. How to quiet my soul when anxious. How to care for my body. There is room for improvement in all these areas but the truth of the matter is sometimes the chemicals in my brain go a bit wonky and there is nothing I can do about that on my own. I have vowed to do whatever I can to avoid medication again but I can't say with 100% confidence that I will never need it again.

Why am I talking about this when I am not currently facing depression? Because I want to shine light on this topic. I am tired of people trivializing depression and not understanding that it is a complicated condition that can not be easily explained or fixed. Nor is it something to be ashamed of. Far too many people living life with mental illness, depression and many other diagnoses, are left facing it all alone for lack of understanding and compassion of others.

When one is facing mental illness there is already a sense of shame from not being able to get yourself together. Not being able to fix things. Not being able to be sane like others. The last thing a person needs to feel is alone or more shame because the general public is still a few decades behind in their approach to mental illness.

The last two times I faced depression I was surrounded by family who did everything they could to support me. They prayed for me, cared for my kids, kept me talking, were patient, held me and never let me not see the shoreline. I had friends that didn't make me feel shame but neither did they know how to support me. I appreciated them letting me be transparent but would love to have seen them walk more closely with me as I struggled.

People, mental illness is real! As real as cancer. We don't bat an eye to make a meal for someone battling cancer, but when was the last time you dropped a casserole off to someone in the throws of depression or a manic state? You would come and sit with someone's kids so they could sleep after chemo, would you come and sit with someone's kids so they could sleep from the exhaustion of facing the world when depressed? I get that mental illness can be scary, but Jesus doesn't want us to run away from the scary. We need to give Him our fears and be willing to stand with those struggling.

It can make all the difference and be a healing touch that no medicine or counseling can ever offer.