I’m really struggling with my mental health. What can I do besides pray?
It can be so hard to admit that you’re not doing well, that you can’t manage, and need help. Even if you’re not drowning, it can still be hard to admit that maybe you can improve an area of your life. As a Christian, the conflict can be even greater due to stigma and (quite frankly) ignorance on the subject of mental health in Christian communities. I’m excited to see the narrative changing a bit, but we still have quite a ways to go. Here are some things you can do as a believer IN ADDITION to praying.
I emphasis “in addition to” because I want us to be careful to not swing the pendulum too far. In our attempt to do better, be open and become more educated in the area of mental health. I don’t want to ever minimize the power of God or the power of prayer, worship and biblical guidance. I don’t want these recommendations to be a substitute, I want them to be a supplement. The first response to any issue is always spiritual.
Ok so we got that out of the way, here are the recommendations as promised:
1. Find a Christian therapist. Now, the recommendation is to find a therapist who either markets themselves as a believer or who you come to find out is one. Therapy is not one size fits all. Depending on your issue there may be a certain type of structured therapy that would be best, so if you can’t find or afford a Christian therapist with that expertise, it’s ok. Get what you need. Therapists are trained to be mindful of your spiritual beliefs; however, if you’re finding that your therapist is not on board with your goal of living for God, find another one.
2. It is ok to take psychiatric medication. Let me just repeat this. IT IS OK to take psychiatric medication. If you and your mental health team feel it’s warranted, try it. The trick here is not to look for medication to be “the cure,” but for it to help you improve upon your mental health. It is not inherently sinful or wrong to take psychiatric meds. If you want more information on psychiatric medication, see our blog.
3. Consider lifestyle changes. It is important to remember that your mental health is linked to your physical health. Your brain is an organ, putting good things in your body helps your brain function optimally.
4 Identify your tribe. Identify those people in your circle that you can trust and depend on. If you’re finding that difficult, churches are great places of support. There are also support groups that can provide this community for you.
5. I know the title is what can you do besides pray, but I need to remind you to not leave out the prayer part. There are so many factors associated with mental health issues. Do not leave out the spiritual aspect, it’s foundational to improving mental health. So, pray and seek spiritual guidance from a biblically sound, wiser person in your community.
Check out our resources section for more information on finding a therapist and support groups.