Your Mental Health Does Not Cancel Your Religion Out
We are all balancing so much. Relationships, raising children, careers, household responsibilities, and our families. Not to mention trying to remain positive and hopeful during the last few years. With all of the challenges that we have gone through, mental health awareness has never been higher.
And what a great thing. It is not great, obviously, that so many people are suffering with mental health concerns. But it is a step in the right direction that more people are becoming aware of how important it is.
Struggling with mental health concerns is already a balancing act. With the stigma that surrounds it, mental health is considered taboo to speak about it. One of the biggest elephants in the room is mental health and religion.
Faith is everything. We rely on it to get us through the hardest times and rejoice when we are blessed with something great. Our lives revolve around faith and is our guiding light for so many hardships throughout life.
But at times, we don’t want to cross the line and feel as if we are betraying our faith. We often can feel like this when it comes to faith and mental health. But your mental health does not cancel your religion out.
Our Mental Health Is Not Taboo
Whether you are a person of faith or not, mental health still has some major stigma surrounding it. While it is not as bad as it used to be, there still needs to be a lot more open conversations about mental health. It’s even worse for Christians.
There are a lot of misguided attitudes towards mental illness within Christian communities. Leading to silence and the topic not talked about, at all. Why?
It’s Considered A Sign Of Weakness
For many Christians, the idea of having anxiety or depression is a sign of weakness. It’s common to hear things like, “It’s okay, it will get better, you just have to be strong!”
This is very stigmatizing and not true at all.
In order to feel better, sometimes it takes more than just being strong. Sometimes, you just don’t have it in you to be strong. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But just because you don’t feel strong, doesn’t mean you are weak.
Having anxiety or depression, or going through trauma, is not a personal flaw. It’s not because you have no willpower to just get better. Your mind is just at war with itself. It doesn’t make you less of a Christian, Catholic, or any other faith.
All Problems Should Be Surrendered To God
The power of prayer is strong. Make no mistake about that.
But, it can’t solve everything in a timely manner. It is all in His timing, but some things shouldn't be waited on. Like our mental health.
When symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD are happening, they aren’t going to just automatically go away. With mental health issues, it’s always, “You should pray about it. Give your problems to God and He’ll provide.” But, is this something you would say to someone who was going through a terminal illness or physical health problem?
It should not be any different for mental health issues. Just because you need support from a counselor, or medication, does not mean you are not a good person of faith.Remember, God puts people in our life to help resolve some of our troubles.
It’s All Just A Test
This may be the most frustrating thing to hear. That the mental health concerns we face are just a test from God about your faith.
We truly believe that God does not just give us anxiety or depression as a test. Having mental health issues is not a test to see how strong of a Christian you are. It does not mean you are less than.
If you are a Christian who is struggling to deal with a mental health concern, know that you aren’t alone and that it does not mean your religion is canceled out. Reach out through the contact form to get the support you deserve.