“What do you do when you
have anxiety and depression?” she asked. I’ve heard this question many times
before but this time I was especially touched. I had just concluded a
presentation on mental health and wellness for about 90 students at an area
high school this past Monday. The student appeared to be very fragile; almost
like a piece of porcelain,that if mishandled, would immediately shatter.
“How long have you been
experiencing this?” I responded.
“I’ve had it for 18 years,” she replied. “Hmmmm,” I thought. She did not appear to be any more than 17 (or 18 at the very least). I surmised that what she was trying to say was that she has lived with this condition most her life.
“I’ve had it for 18 years,” she replied. “Hmmmm,” I thought. She did not appear to be any more than 17 (or 18 at the very least). I surmised that what she was trying to say was that she has lived with this condition most her life.
“Are you seeing someone for this?”
I asked.
“Yes,” she replied, “I have
a therapist and a psychiatrist.”
“Good,” I said, “That’s very
important.”
At this point I was trying
to find something to share with her to help her; you know, the typical things
like exercise, mindfulness meditation, relaxation techniques, deep breathing,
and so forth.
“I’m sorry but she has to
catch her bus,” a teacher said. And that was it. She walked away.
I recall how the student
looked: concerned, and simply just sad. I felt so bad for her. This isn’t the
first time I’ve encountered a young person who is looking for answers to a
question that so often does not have a simple answer. In fact, one out of 4 youth between the ages of 13-18 lives with a diagnosable mental health condition. Each time I try my best
to offer a word of encouragement and inject a sense of hope into the
conversation. But try as I might, I often feel like I fall short of being able
to provide the youth with what they are truly looking for: a sense of relief
and the knowledge that they are going to be okay. For someone so young to be
living with any kind of mental health condition, life is filled with
uncertainty. “Will I be like this all my life?” “Why do I have to take this
medication?” as well the feeling that this battle is theirs alone and that no
one truly understands their condition.
I know this feeling all too
well because I was once that person too. But one thing that I had that some
young people lack is a sense of a Power greater than themselves. For me, this
was God. Now, I’m not so naïve to think that it was God alone that has helped
me in my recovery. There have been many elements: family, friends, support
groups, therapists, psychiatrists, exercise, and other self-care activities.
I’ve learned both from my
own personal experience, as well as from others, that recovery is very personal.
And what works for one, may not work for another. But there are certainly many
common elements. In the end, once someone finds what works it’s imperative that
they stick to this, as long as it continues to provide positive results. Mind
you, changes happen and adjustments may be needed. This is often the case,
especially over time.
When I met the young woman
at the high school, I wanted more than anything to tell her that things were
going to be okay. I know that this is what Christ would say to her. For this is
the message that was given to so many he encountered in his short life. While
he never promised that things would be easy, he did provide his followers with
a sense of hope for an existence that would be better than the one they
currently had.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our
outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For
momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far
beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but
the things which are not seen are eternal.
You see, Christ is a source of never ending
hope. Hope for a better life. Hope for relief. Hope for the knowledge that things
are going to be okay.
I so want to let the young woman I met know
that things can get better. Not that things would necessarily be easy, but that
with the proper care, support, and measure of work, her condition can improve.
As she suffers, Christ shares in her suffering. For it is through her lived experience that a better life is possible. It is my sincere hope that she finds relief from her suffering. She deserves nothing less.
As she suffers, Christ shares in her suffering. For it is through her lived experience that a better life is possible. It is my sincere hope that she finds relief from her suffering. She deserves nothing less.
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