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Mental Health & Faith: The Path to Healing (Part 3)

This is the final installment in our three-part series on mental health truths. If you haven’t read Part 1 and Part 2, I encourage you to start there. Today, we’ll explore the final six truths about mental health and faith that can lead us toward healing.

TRUTH #13: You don’t have to be “strong enough.”

Let’s bust a common myth right now: “God won’t give you more than you can handle” is not in the Bible. Scripture says God won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13), meaning there’s always a way to resist sin. But this has been twisted to suggest we should always be able to handle whatever life throws at us.

Continue reading → Mental Health & Faith: The Path to Healing (Part 3)
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Mental Health & Faith: Emotional Realities (Part 2)

This is the second post in our three-part series on mental health truths. If you haven’t read Part 1, I encourage you to start there. Today, we continue our exploration of mental health through a biblical lens.

TRUTH #7: Your emotions were created by God and serve a God-given purpose.

Emotions aren’t inherently bad. While they can lead to poor decisions if not properly regulated, the emotions themselves serve divine purposes. For instance, consider anger: Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity.”

Continue reading → Mental Health & Faith: Emotional Realities (Part 2)
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Mental Health & Faith: Understanding the Foundations (Part 1)

There is a lot of misinformation concerning mental health getting spread around social media. It works its way into conversations with friends, opinions shared through news outlets, and it can even be propagated from our pulpits and Bible studies. Misinformation, falsehoods, and lies keep us trapped and prevent true healing from taking place. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

All Truth is God’s truth. Christians should never fear, run from, or suppress the truth in any way. Only by facing the truth can we begin to experience true freedom and healing. In this series, I’ll share several truths, backed by Scripture, concerning mental illness. Together we can begin the journey of healing!

Continue reading → Mental Health & Faith: Understanding the Foundations (Part 1)
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RECOVER YOUR LIFE: an Anchoring Faith in Times of Trauma

Concluding our “Am I Okay?” series on mental health

Over the past several weeks, we’ve been exploring various mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Today, we’re concluding this series by discussing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, and religious trauma syndrome.

Understanding PTSD

According to studies, about 9% of US adults will experience some form of PTSD in their lifetime. While commonly associated with war or major accidents, PTSD can stem from many traumatic events. Two people can experience the same event, yet only one may develop PTSD symptoms – it’s often related to brain chemistry and neural pathways.

PTSD was first recognized by the Swiss military in 1678, though not to the extent we understand it today. Throughout history, it was often called “shell shock” or “combat exhaustion.” Like other disorders we’ve discussed, PTSD involves the over- or under-activation of certain brain structures and changes in neurotransmitter levels.

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FLY AWAY AND FIND REST: Understanding Anxiety from a Faith-Based Perspective

In our fast-paced world, anxiety has become increasingly prevalent, affecting millions of Americans each year. As someone who has experienced anxiety firsthand, I understand the challenges of addressing mental health issues with both sensitivity and hope. Too often, well-meaning people can do more harm than good when discussing these topics, leaving those who struggle feeling worse about their condition or without hope for improvement.

The Reality of Anxiety Today

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting approximately 40 million adults—roughly 18% of the population. Perhaps more alarming is the significant increase in anxiety among children and college students since the 1950s. Today’s high school students often experience anxiety levels that would have been considered severe enough for hospitalization in previous decades, yet they’re expected to continue with their daily activities as if nothing were wrong.

Continue reading → FLY AWAY AND FIND REST: Understanding Anxiety from a Faith-Based Perspective