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For many Christian women, if there's anything worse than actually struggling with depression or anxiety, it's being willing to take medication as one part of a multi-faceted healing program. For some reason, many of us believe that these medical issues are signs of a weak spiritual life or a result of sin. And while that vital part of life might be out of kilter, the fact is that depression and anxiety are medical issues can be treated. And guilt or shame or embarassment only sap the energy needed to combat these devastating illnesses.

Jesus had Dr. Luke as one of His supporters. As a woman fights seasons of depression or anxiety, we can only encourage her to be sure that there's a good doctor on her team, as well.

You can read more about anxiey and depression from a pastoral counseling perspective on my blog.

There is hope! There is healing!

Posted By: Linda Stoll | July 21, 2010 7:31 AM

I've never been judged as harshly for being clinically depressed as I was by the people at my church. If I just prayed more, read more of my Bible, had more faith then everything would be okay. What a load of crap. Now that I am in recovery and under medical supervision, I am quite vocal about being in therapy and on medication. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Diabetics take medication because their bodies don't produce insulin. I take medication because my body doesn't produce serotonin. It hasn't changed my personality. It's made me more of who I really am by allowing my true self to overcome the depression. Honestly, I simply don't care what anyone thinks. In conjunction with my doctor, and having sought God's wisdom, I do what is necessary for my mental health. How is that anyone else's business?

Posted By: V. | July 21, 2010 2:46 PM

I'm finally starting to come out of a long bout of post baby induced depression from thyroid condition. It wasn't something I could pray my way out of- I tried. I've encountered both sides, those who have been there and those who haven't.

It was so hard to see friends seemingly disappear when I needed them most, or to have a family member "disapprove" of medication. But God has already used me to minister to other struggling women. It can impact your faith and hope so I try to be open with those that need to hear the truth - time spent on medication is chosing LIFE and can be a very necessary aid for healing.

You don't have to have all the answers- just be there -by email, phone, in person, any little way to let the suffering know they are not alone.

Posted By: Rachel | July 21, 2010 4:22 PM

after my first child was born, i was given anti-depressants to treat post-partum depression. while on the meds, i became suicidal and had a nervous breakdown. my pastor's wife (who was a dear friend) came to visit me in the psych hospital, just days before i was correctly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. i felt strongly that i was not to go on meds for that, but i know what BD can do and would NEVER look down on someone else for taking them. they can help, they really can. even though it wasn't part of the journey for me, i believe it's an important tool. we wouldn't tell someone with cancer to just rely on God; we'd support them through the chemo and radiation and everything. that pastor's wife continues to bless me with her grace regarding this condition and truly believes that it's "just an illness like anything else" and i have never been ashamed of it around her. but.........

two years ago, i went through the absolute most severe period of depression and mania for many months. i was consumed by terror, anxiety, suicidal thoughts. i lost my appetite, my memory, i couldn't carry on a conversation, and even deciding with t-shirt to wear in the morning was too overwhelming a decision to make myself. i can honestly say, that during that time, i clung to God more tightly than i ever have in my entire life, and i knew He was going to get me through and use it to fulfill His purpose.

other people, however, were not nearly so gracious. i was brutally attacked on a daily basis, with people telling me that there is no such thing as mental illness, that it is the result of unconfessed sin, that i was harbouring anger and bitterness and unforgiveness. i was told i lacked faith. i was told that CLEARLY i had turned my back on God, and if i just prayed more, i would be fine. (for the record, i was spending several hours a day in prayer, and i told them that i had honestly never been closer to God and more fulfilled by that relationship and more aware of His Love than i was then.) but that abuse, i'll admit, really damaged my relationship with God for the next year or so. i was terrified of Him, and i blamed Him for all the pain and abuse i suffered at the hands of His people. it was a very lonely and painful time, an excruciatingly dark valley in my journey with Him.

but i am happy to say that now, two years after the worst of my illness, i am stable with only some very minor ups and downs, and i am once again growing with God. fear no longer holds me. and it was never the illness that hurt me; it was the treatment i received at the hands of christians around me that did the damage. but over the last year, God has gifted me with a new church and a new circle of friends who simply accept me the way i am and who love me and show me daily the Love of God, and i'm falling more and more in Love with Him every day. :) i KNOW that He never left me, that He has held me and loved me and used me through it all, that He never forgot me once. i sat down on my journey... and He sat down with me and simply waited till i was ready to stand up again. and every day, His grace, Love and beauty overwhelm me in ways i can't express. <3

for anyone struggling with bipolar disorder, i highly recommend the book "darkness is my only companion." it is written by a christian woman who has BD, and she thrashes through her own journey with the illness, what it says of God and His goodness, the role of faith, everything. fabulous book. :)

Posted By: heather | July 21, 2010 8:48 PM

Like Linda, I've been at two churches where the senior pastor was uncertain how to respond to the news that I struggle with depression. The first one wanted to know if I was on medication and if I took it regularly. DUH! The second just told me I was messed up and was messing up my family and asked me to excuse myself from ministry at his church. It's true. I've never been so hurt by people I regarded as spiritual mentors. There's much to be learned from these experiences.....I think the main thing is that the Good Shepherd WOULD NOT kick His SHEEP! Pastors, if you are reading this, spend some time getting to know us "depressed" people - you might be surprised how normal we are! For the others, shame on you! Jesus would have preferred to hang out with me! :))

Posted By: Beckie | July 23, 2010 11:26 PM

I've experienced depression personally after my baby was born and was able to seek help. However, more recently, I struggled as I watched my husband sink further and further into depression that lasted well over a year before they found a medication that worked. He is still taking the medication, and it gives him difficult side effects, but it is the only thing that has helped. I found far fewer resources for the spouse of one going through depression than I did for those dealing with it personally. Yet, this was one of the darkest, most difficult times of my life. Be on the lookout for these women too. Men rarely want anyone to know they are depressed, so I had to carry this on my own for a long time. It continues to be a struggle, and I so wish the clinical and church communities would provide a tangible way to help family members of those dealing with depression!

Posted By: Eva | July 24, 2010 3:56 PM

I've been pretty open about my own struggles with depression and use of antidepressant medications within my church communities, in part because I want to help destigmatize mental health care for others who may someday need it. I'm very grateful for the support I've received from my churches -- including bringing me meals when I was too overwhelmed to even cook for myself, on the same basis as they would for new parents or any family dealing with chronic illness. It breaks my heart to know that so many of my sisters and brothers have been discouraged by their churches when they sought the help they need, or have felt the need to hide it from their churches for fear of unfounded judgment.

Posted By: Rachel | July 25, 2010 11:15 PM

Thank you. I appreciate the candor of this post and the comments. I've struggled with mental illness throughout my life because I have Bipolar II. My pregnancies were horrible, and very few people truly know how to respond well to this. I'm writing a book about a woman who commits suicide while suffering postpartum psychosis (she's bipolar), and I've been told by marketing people to keep my own struggle with BP under wraps until AFTER a book deal. Frustrating, because I really do want to be honest about it and help others through my honesty, and frustrating because of the stigma still attached to mental illnesses.

Posted By: L | July 26, 2010 10:08 AM

Wow, it's rare that this level of tranparency is acheived. Thank you everyone for your true honesty. Our three adult daughters have all been diagnosed BP. Each one with their own set of challenges. Bless each one of you...

Posted By: Belinda Busby | July 28, 2010 1:31 PM

Hi. I also have Bipolar Type II, Borderline Personality Disorder and Obsessive/Compulsive Behaviours, all brought about by the murder of my brother, 27 years ago, that still remains unsolved. I think I have suffered every type of abuse and denigration imaginable, but the one that sticks in my mind the most was being at a Family Day at church and, upon seeing tomato sauce spilt on the ground, hearing my pastor say "Oh look, Wende's tried to commit suicide again" and actually laughed! That was over 10 years ago now, and I have never set foot inside a church again and probably never will. This leaves me "homeless" and without the companionship of othr Christians. I worship alone, wherever I am now. It's difficult, but I can't find the courage to risk THAT sort of pain and misery again.

Posted By: Wende | July 28, 2010 5:26 PM

Thank you everyone for sharing your own struggles. I think there is a profound power in honesty about some of these "hidden" challenges Christian women may face. I especially want to thank you, Wende, for sharing your story. I'm quite horrified by what your pastor said--what a painful experience for you. I appreciate your willingness to share your experience and I hope that, somehow through God's grace, you will find the strength to re-engage with other Christians in some way, be it a church, a Bible study group, or perhaps even an online community.
In my article I point out how women struggling with depression or other similar challenges feel judged by other Christians--and those of you who commented have experienced this feeling of condemnation.
What I didn't write about was the flip-side--the well-meaning man or woman who simply isn't sure how to handle someone else's depression or panic disorder or bipolar disorder. Sometimes people say stupid things simply because they don't know what to say. Well-meaning, loving people may not even realize how much they've hurt someone else in their fumbling, insensitive response to the topic of mental illness.
The reality is that the church is made up of screwed up people who continue to be screwed up--we each are broken and hurting in some way. We each need grace--both those struggling with mental illness and those who aren't and who don't quite handle it right.

Posted By: kelli Trujillo | July 28, 2010 9:05 PM

A mental state, characterized by chronic change of mood, an extended lowering of the spirit, a loss of enjoyment of things and activities that have usually made life enjoyable. A dull, tired, empty, sad even numb feeling.

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Posted By: Marie | August 2, 2010 6:05 AM

I am so grateful that my church first just dealt with this issue of depression a few weeks ago and we also offer counseling with a christian counselor to work through it!

Posted By: Linda Connelly | August 2, 2010 1:25 PM

What incredible responses! I wish I had know you when I went through my own battle with post-partum depression that lasted over 5 years. I think the best thing that friends did for me was listen and remind me of my true self. I had friends who called just to remind me what I once loved: poetry, writing, teaching, guitar. That helped me come out of darkness as much as the medication, therapy, and doctor visits. So remind our depressed friends what brings them life. Tell them what they once loved. That's the purpose of my blog project, "Live with Flair." It's how to fight the darkness everyday. http://livewithflair.blogspot.com/

Posted By: LivewithFlair | August 3, 2010 1:19 PM

Thank you all for sharing your struggles and experiences. I am a mother of two beatiful girls and also struggled with severe post partum after my second child. As for me mental illness is genetic. I discovered such after my struggle. I first went to was my family. They too thought it was a lack of faith. They felt it was just something we don't discuss. After two years I read Sheila Walsh's book. I'm not wonder woman,but God made me wonderful. That was the book that changed my life my marriage and my daily struggle. I found professional help and after three years am still undergoing counseling. What a taboo. As a healthcare professional I now help other women with their struggles. And I have slowly changed my families way of thinking. Don't give up. God has put us here to educate others on ignorance and taboos. We are here with a purpose and I praise God for my purpose. Blessings to all!

Posted By: Evelyn | August 5, 2010 7:48 AM