Support People
Find your support people
Reach out for help
When I was 8 weeks postpartum with my second baby I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and a psychiatrist told me that I wont get my mental health needs met by the church as the people at church simply might not have the capacity or knowledge to meet mental health needs, I don’t know if I agree with what was said but it made me think about who I do have in my life that is trustworthy that does have the capacity to support me in the way that I need.
I encourage you to think about who is in your life that has shown you that they do have the capacity and understanding to support you when you’re having a season of bad mental health.
A few key signs that someone will be able to support you are:
They pray for you
They listen without judgment
They can sit with you when you feel stuck in dark feelings and thoughts
Help guide you to think about what you need in your dark moments
Knowing who you can go to helps because you will not have to try work through any hard situations on your own. You’ll have a second opinion on what could help you get through it!
I have had to accept that there are people that don’t understand mental illness and don’t know what it’s like to live with CPTSD or to live with overwhelming pain and that I need to be in touch with my own needs and do what I need to do to become well, you don’t have to ignore your own needs because of someone else’s opinion!
Going to church and praying does not mean you will suddenly be healed and no longer suffer, although I do believe that God can heal in miraculous ways when it comes to complex trauma or chronic illness it might take a lot of work in order to start seeing progress in your healing journey.
In my experience it takes a combination of being involved in church, therapy, medication, prayer, physical exercise and a healthy diet, good quality sleep and enough rest to have balance mentally and physically!
In conclusion, I encourage you to seek out people that can support you and understand you in the way that you need, and to Pray to God that he will lead you to the right friends, Drs and mental health professionals as well as getting the right medication if needed.
