Blog
Navigating Church as an Autistic Person
What does being an autistic Christian look like, when church spaces are so often hard for me to be in? What does my relationship with God look like, when sometimes I have to fight my own mind and body just to sit with Him? Four years after my diagnosis, I’m still figuring it out. And so is the broader church, I think.
Elmo’s Wholesome Question That Broke the Internet
Elmo (yes, the red fuzzy puppet from the show Sesame Street) tweeted on the 30th of January: “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answer? Not good, Elmo. Not good at all.
6 People in the Bible Who Struggled With Their Mental Health
Each of these people in the Bible is a reminder that those of us who struggle with our mental health are not alone. But beyond that, we can also learn valuable lessons from those who’ve gone before us in how they dealt with and responded to their struggles. Let’s take a look.
It's a New Year, but I'm Exhausted
I don’t know what you’re facing. Maybe you’re looking forward to what’s coming. Maybe you’ve written the lists and set the goals and so far you’re actually sticking to them. But, if you’re like me, you’re feeling a little worn out. A little on the back-foot.
6 Ways to Support Someone Struggling With Suicidal Ideation
Nine years ago, I was in a very different place. A dark one. With my depression deepening and feeling more isolated than ever, thoughts of ending my own life became frequent. This year on World Suicide Prevention Day, my prayer is that you’ll feel better equipped to support the people in your life who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Does My Psychologist Need to Be Christian?
The aim of psychology isn’t to replace or change our beliefs in God, it’s to help us understand ourselves and our minds better so that we can live a more fulfilling life. That sounds like something Jesus wants for us, right?
My Healing From Depression Came Slowly
Depression came for me when I was 16. Not overnight, but over a period of months; a gradual descent into a darkness so deep that it consumed everything in my life. I withdrew from friends, and disconnected from church. The things I used to love doing took energy I didn’t have, and I stopped enjoying them.
If Jesus Is Enough, Why Would I Need Psychology?
“But the gospel should be enough.” These were words a younger Chris once uttered to a fellow church leader who suggested that a church member who struggled with mental illness should see a psychologist. At the time, Chris had completed two theology degrees, was working on his Masters, and pastoring the church.
What Do We Do When We’re Paralysed by Choice?
There are important decisions we all face that are wise to deliberate on, of course, like what to study, which job to take, and if/who to marry. But what do we do when we’ve prayed about it, written the pros and cons list, and we still can’t choose?
Dating Someone With Anxiety: What I’ve Learned
I’d been exposed to mental illnesses, but had never walked that journey intimately with someone. I won’t lie; it was hard. But I’m now three years (and a wedding) down the road, and have learned so much about what it means to be in a relationship with someone who struggles with their mental health.
I’m Anxious, My Partner Isn’t
It was somewhat disconcerting to begin with, being with someone who’d never felt the tumble-drier effect of a panic attack, the crippling waves of anxiety or the unexplained heaviness of depression.
Why Is Vulnerability So Important?
For me, being deeply honest about my feelings and struggles comes easily. I feel freed when I speak those things out into the open. But I know that isn’t the case for a lot of people.
4 Steps to Untangling Your Emotions
Sarah describes our relationship with mental health like a beach ball. As humans, we have a natural drive within us to avoid feelings of fear or pain. We don’t like sitting in uncomfortable emotions, and so we suppress them; we hold them under the water with all our energy, hoping they won’t come up so we won’t have to face them.
Overwhelmed by the State of the World
There’s so much going on in the world, and it can be overwhelming. Whether we’re struggling with troubles in our own lives or feeling the barrage of bad news every time we look at the headlines, peace can feel elusive – if not impossible. How can we feel peace with everything going on?
God... I'm Feeling Burnt-Out
Jordan describes himself as a “pretty chill, stoic, level-headed guy” – that is, until he faced burn-out and depression that sent him spiralling. In Jordan’s second year of paid ministry, he felt the pressure mounting.
The Labels God Gives Us
We’ve all been labelled with something in our lives. Maybe it’s a good label, like hard-worker or kind. But maybe, it’s another kind of label: Overthinker. Worrier. Anxious. Depressed.
I’m Anxious and I Know It: Mary’s Story
Mary was a little girl when the labels first appeared: Overthinker. Worrier. Anxious. She would spend hours in primary school thinking of worst-case scenarios, and admits that she can’t remember a time when she didn’t feel anxious.
A Conversation With An Anxious-Girl-Turned-Counsellor
Pip has struggled with anxiety from a young age. Today, she shares some practical ways that she’s learned to come to terms with her anxiety and use her story to bring hope to others.
3 Ways the Church Can Love an Autistic Person Like Me
I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 22. In many ways it came as a surprise, but it also made a lot of sense. Today is Autism Awareness Day, and in honour of that, I’d love to share some ways you can love those of us who are on the spectrum – not just on this specific day, but throughout the year.
Can I Have Anxiety… and Still Trust God?
I feel it sitting heavily on my chest like one of my weighted blankets. I wheeze it into my lungs, and cough out the burning taste. It is sweat; slick and salty on my skin, and a dizziness; the kind that rushes to your head and screams in your ears. It is here, I can feel it: The Anxiety.