Blog
What Not to Say to Someone Struggling With Mental Illness
I’ve recently been trying to be more open about my bipolar disorder; I want to be a voice for those with mental illnesses within the church. It’s a scary endeavour, especially when there are so many misconceptions about the illness.
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.
As a Christian Bloke, Here’s What I’ve Learned About Dealing With Difficult Emotions
Most of us have been in situations where we’ve felt the tidal wave of negative emotions–especially anger or sadness–wash over us, and carry us along. We can’t think straight. And anything we say is propelled by our negative emotions. The emotion greets us in the morning and shapes our thoughts for days.
When It Felt Like God Wasn’t Fair
Night after night, month after month, I’d cry out in prayer, asking God to help. I didn’t ask for full and complete healing from mental illness, but for Him to make it even just a little better. An incremental step was all I wanted; something to ease the pressure and burden I felt. But even that didn’t come. And after crying out for as long as I could, I stopped. God had left me.
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.
How I Learned to Find Beauty in the Chaos
God rescued me from a dark time in my life a few years ago. I was struggling with life and in survival mode, both mentally and physically. My relationships suffered because of it. I even remember admitting to my husband one day, “I’m just not a happy person.”
Asking God “Why?” in the Midst of OCD
In the midst of the peak of my OCD, there was a very deep fear that I couldn’t bring myself to face: Where was God? And why was He letting me go through this?
Help! I Can’t Stop Overthinking!
This issue of destructive thought patterns has been on my heart for some time, and I have learned that we can claim back our imaginations—we have to! The reality is, our feelings are extremely misleading and can’t always be trusted.
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?
When Your Friends Don’t Get It: The Story That Led to Anxious Faith
In a recent episode of the podcast, we turned the tables on our host James, and instead asked him the questions. He shared his journey of mental health–both his own, and his family’s–and how it led to what is now Anxious Faith. In this blog post, James shares one of the moments that was part of that journey.