Mental Illnesses Archives - Turning the Page

Three Bible Verses to Reassure when You feel Stress

There are times we feel stress, but there is the hope of reassurance when we meditate on some Bible verses.

One of my favorite bible characters was someone who seemed to need consistent reassurance when under stress. He was anxious, unsure, and seemed to want to argue with God. I like that because it means he was much like many of us.

He was human, and that’s important to remember. God chose someone like us. God still chooses imperfect people to do great things. His name was Gideon. Continue reading “Three Bible Verses to Reassure when You feel Stress”

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Is my Mental Illness because of Sin in my Life?

We all have sin in our lives, but there is so much more going on than simplistic and hurtful black and white thinking. Therefore we need to learn more and grow in grace for our Mental Illness.

Let’s crack the whip a bit louder against the soul.

It’s always saddening when you hear the story of someone who believes their mental illness is because of some sin in their life. Guilt and shame lock them into despair.

The Heart condition

A little story to begin our journey.

In my late teens, I developed a heart condition. My heart would suddenly begin racing up to 140 beats per minute.

I thought it was because of some sin in my life, so I confessed every known sin, prayed and prayed, yet this condition didn’t go away, in fact, it got worse. Continue reading “Is my Mental Illness because of Sin in my Life?”

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When the Darkest of Valleys becomes a Suffocating Despair

The darkest valley can become a suffocating tomb, a hole that feels impossible to dig oneself out of, but with the help of others, a step can be made, and light can shine again.

Recently I went to see ‘Tolkien,’ a movie about the author J.R.R. Tolkien who wrote classics such as ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings.’

The movie invites you to look through the reminiscences of Tolkien as he lies in a bomb crater on the front line of the Battle of the Somme in World War One.

Tolkien has been left there in the mud with the stench of dead and rotting corpses while an aid goes looking for help. In his delirium, he drifts in and out of his past. He remembers his mother, brother, schooling, friends, and the love of his heart. Continue reading “When the Darkest of Valleys becomes a Suffocating Despair”

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Patsy Clairmont Prayed for a Disease that Would Justify her Weirdness

Agoraphobia had gripped Patsy Clairmont to the point where all she could manage was to make it to her neighborhood grocery store and safely home again. With grunt work and grace, Patsy discovered recovery.

She shares with us some of her story.

I was a mopey child, a sad teenager, and a depressed young wife and mom. Yet I didn’t realize that these were signs of someone who needed, at the least, a cheerleader and at best a therapist.

My moods became my daily life, and my sadness deepened. I was angry, fearful, and anxious. And still, I didn’t realize I needed help.

I was a natural saleswoman/storyteller, so I hid my oddness behind a curtain of convincing excuses and caustic blame.

Even I believed my behavior was other people’s doings and not in my control, which is a good way to stay stuck.

Agoraphobia Constriction

Continue reading “Patsy Clairmont Prayed for a Disease that Would Justify her Weirdness”

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Do you know where I found God? In a Prison Cell

I can hear you yawning from here. Not another Prison Cell Story. The thing is, there is nowhere you can go in a Prison Cell.

It is only you, 4 walls and a window with bars.

You could turn the radio up really loud but that only lasts for so long.

[This is a guest post from David Williams. Thanks David]

You can’t drown out the voice of God forever.

My goodness, I tried, as those who are in the throes of addiction are trying to drown her out. Continue reading “Do you know where I found God? In a Prison Cell”

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When Women with Depression Discover their Beauty

Women have a God-given beauty within them that when squashed and sullied grows a depression. When we discover Gods view of what is beautiful, then hope can blossom in a seemingly barren field.

She was 1.52m (5ft) high, never applied any makeup, no fancy hairstyle, diamond earrings or expensive gowns.

And she was beautiful. Continue reading “When Women with Depression Discover their Beauty”

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Why Male Depression feels like being Impotent and Weightless

Underneath the depression of a male is a feeling of being impotent and weightless. The man has lost connection with his potency, and the spirit has been crushed.

‘Have I made a difference’? and ‘Has my life mattered?’ are two questions that sit behind the stage curtain of many men’s lives.

With a velcroed negativity bias, the downward spiraled track, to the pit of depression can become a well-worn path.

It was when he started to recall events of some 30 years ago that I saw the emptiness of soul. He was feeling both impotent and weightless. Sure he had moved and had entered into the crisis, but the results still haunted him.

Years later he was impotent and lacked the confidence to move. Depression had clawed its way around his soul. Guilt and shame found crevices to grow in. Continue reading “Why Male Depression feels like being Impotent and Weightless”

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Pregnant and in a Wine press. How God meets us when we are Anxious

When God says ‘don’t be anxious’ it’s not a command it’s an invitation to grow closer in trust. We see a small corner of the picture, but God sees the whole.

I was living in the sense of dread. I didn’t know what the next day would bring, and my heart was pounding. Then to add to it, a friend said ‘Don’t worry, God said not to worry and not to be anxious, so stop it.’

I wish they had just said ‘It’s ok, we will get through this together.’

One of the most hideous aspects of life outside of the garden (Garden of Eden) is the sense of being alone. That something separates us from the communal security of God.

Underneath a veneer of confidence, there is a voice that says ‘You’re on your own now sucker.’ Continue reading “Pregnant and in a Wine press. How God meets us when we are Anxious”

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She prayed to God that she wouldn’t wake up in the morning

When you don’t want to wake up the next morning, pray that God may gently wake you up to the goodness happening all around you. Then soak yourself in it. Take it in and let it mindfully grow throughout your soul.

Last week I was out doing some garden work for an elderly lady. When I arrived, she invited me in for a cup of coffee in her small one bedroom unit.

Like many older people living by themselves, she wanted to talk. She told me all about her family, her children, and some of the tragedies of her life — all in half an hour.

In amongst the conversation, she said that often she would pray that she wouldn’t wake up in the morning. Continue reading “She prayed to God that she wouldn’t wake up in the morning”

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Social Anxiety? What’s That?

Ever feel like you’re all of a sudden gasping for air? Heartbeat racing out of control? Breaking out in a cold sweat? Or, clenching your teeth so hard you feel like your jaw might lock in place? These can be effects of social anxiety.

More importantly, I have friends, acquaintances, and members of my extended family who have mild to moderate social anxiety.

So, as a fellow human being who has experienced anxiety myself, I can vividly recall certain things that happened and what some people said, as a result of social anxiety. Continue reading “Social Anxiety? What’s That?”

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