Have you ever felt sad for no reason? Been surrounded by family and friends and felt lonely? How about at the top of the world one minute and down in the dumps the next? Felt anxiety that made it difficult to even function? A lot of people deal with these feelings day to day, and sometimes it is just a normal part of life and being human… but sometimes, when these feelings or behaviors overwhelm continuously, or make it impossible to function, that can be a sign that you are suffering from a mental illness. Mental illness isn’t anyone’s fault, and in fact many people suffer from mental illness, about one in 5 people, or 20% of the population. Half of mental illness sufferers have symptoms before the age of fourteen. Some common mental illnesses are mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety and panic disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, ADD), Autism, Alzheimer’s Disease, Alcoholism, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorders and many more. You can’t just will it away, and you may feel hopeless and alone, maybe even ashamed…. but you shouldn’t! It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and not only are your parents there for you, but myself and Autumn are here if you need anything, and most importantly, as cliché as it sounds, so is God.God sent an Angel to Elijah when he lay under the tree wanting to die, and the Angel brought him food and encouraged him. The Angel didn’t say, “Dude, what the heck? You just opened a can of Yahweh on those haters but you are so depressed you want to die?” He just was there for him, he understood, and gave him some food. Then God himself even appeared to Elijah, to help him out of the depression he was in, and give him instructions for what to do next. God didn’t chew him out, or give him a hard time. God understood, being a human is hard, and people suffer from depression, or other mental illnesses. I’m not saying that when you are down, or suffering from depression, etc, that an Angel will drop in with Whataburger (even though that would be pretty awesome). But God definitely cares about you and is there for you during those times. Times when by all logic you should be happy but aren’t. Times when you are dealing with a difficult life change, or have experienced the loss of a family member or friend.God will be there for you, just as much as he was for Elijah. You are just as important to him as a Prophet! Remember that God can “help” you in many ways, like speak to your heart, or give you the strength to talk to someone about your feelings, or the courage to get help from a counselor or doctor. God can also help you through other people in your life, so when God’s helpers come, let God work through them to be what you need during your struggles.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
~Brooke Seals
Numbers you can call ANYTIME if you just need someone to talk to:
Autumn and Brooke (713) 201-9828
Crisis Call Center
800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://crisiscallcenter.org/crisisservices.html
Depression and Bipolar Support
800-273-TALK (8255)
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.dbsalliance.org