Mental Health Unveiled

This weekend I had a conversation with the most pleasant young woman. This young woman tries her hardest to live right and be a good person but for the past 2 years, she’s been carrying a burden that continues to get heavier day by day. She couldn’t hold it in anymore so she called me with an urgency to talk. The mental battles this young woman has to fight alone on a daily basis is enough to bring you to tears. Anyone who knows me can attest that I’m quite a cry baby and extremely sensitive to other people’s feelings so you better believe that there were no dry eyes in the room.

The tears weren’t simply a reflection of compassion but as I listened to her story it reminded me of the many years I spent struggling in silence. That dark season when I couldn’t hold sharp objects because I kept seeing myself bring harm to myself. Her story brought back memories of how I feared lighting matches because the visuals in my head showed me so clearly setting the room on fire with me in it. Simply driving from point A to point B wasn’t always a peaceful experience. Everyday individuals who appear to have it all together go through extreme warfare in their minds. I am thankful that the knowledge of my life’s value overpowered the mental visuals but unfortunately, that isn’t everyone’s story. Some people find no hope or solace in faith, family, or friends and therefore feel that they’re standing alone on the battlefield of life.

I had no idea how to express myself or even begin discussing some of the things that I was going through so I would do 1 of 2 things, suppress uncomfortable emotions or completely override them as if they didn’t exist. It worked for me! I never had to confront deep issues and I can go through life as normal… as long as nothing bad happened. A pebble being tossed in my “peaceful” pond was enough to trigger resurfaced hurt, pain, rejection, disappointment, and every moment of depression. The truth of who I was couldn’t remain hidden. There came a time when I had to be free from the heaviness. I could no longer carry it and in all honesty, I was tired of “frontin.”

In this part of the blog, I wanted to include step by step practical ways to let go and finally be free because that is what I was looking for but unfortunately I don’t have a 5 part remedy to being free. I can’t think of anything because it was nothing that I actually did. It was only when I found myself drowned in the word of God and crying honest prayers to Him that the weight finally became lifted.

To avoid going back to that place I am intentional in expressing myself as much as possible. My only advice to anyone who is struggling silently (other than being open and transparent to God) will be to EXPRESS YOURSELF! Express yourself in a healthy manner, talk to someone, preferably a professional, Cry loudly, scream, write, sing, dance, do whatever you have to do but do not hold it in! Remove the stigma from seeking help, you don’t have to fight alone. My heart’s desire is that each person who battles in silence will find their voice. Talking about it is the first step to healing, you are never alone, your heavenly Father is always available to listen.

#StillSovereign

Supporting Scriptures

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Romans 8
Romans 8:18
1 Peter 5:7-9
Psalms 55:22