I fought depression for years. As a Christian, I felt helpless. I went on anti depressants and got relief but felt a stigma. Counseling with my pastor, he reassured me to follow doctor's orders and serve the Lord with gladness!
I’m in tears after watching this video. I’m 22 years old and have been depressed in secret despite perpetual and joyful service to my local church for the past 7 years. I’ve always felt alone in my feelings and have always been blown off when trying to “receive”, “fill up”. Thank you for helping me see that God wants to care for me and refill me first, so I can pour out when I have something to give.
This exact thing happened to me and I have never been able to find someone who has experienced exactly the same thing. Waking up in the middle of the night, heart racing, nightmares, literally feeling like you're dying. I cried watching this video.
Thank you for your honesty. This is the first time I've heard from another Christian woman who struggled through depression. God bless you for sharing your story. You certainly have blessed me. I finally feel heard.
mental illness...such a difficult topic for Christians to talk about it...but the Church needs to talk about it and provide resources and support. Thank you for sharing this :)
@MiriamChoi Absolutely! Here are a couple of related posts that people have found helpful: www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/hope-in-the-darkness-of-mental-illness/ www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/when-your-partner-cant-get-up/
thank you so much for sharing, this is exactly how i've been feeling for months now i feel like i have hundreds of unanswered prayers, and im in a constant state of burnout and hopelessness, even after worshipping or praying what feels like my only option is to end my life, but i know that isn't the right response and plus i know i have so much life ahead of me, just in this present moment my life just feels stagnant, in a vicious cycle of high productivity and burnout, and as though i'll feel like this forever like Shona, i am working towards becoming a doctor, as i submit my applications to medical school this year. its exhausting, and there are so many days where i just feel like i can't do anything; i have a poor habit of approaching each day with an 'all or nothing' approach, meaning i either complete a large number of tasks in a day, or, like today, i do nothing at all my mind feels incredibly top-heavy at the minute, and though i hate the process, i know this is all working out for God's glory, and i pray that this becomes a testament to His Goodness it just hurts to feel like you are not in control of how life treats you, please pray for me :(
We are definitely not in control of how life treats you. We get some control of life's circumstances, but mostly all we can control is how we react to thing. When very depressed, we don't even feel in control of that anymore. That last part is temporary though. It's just a matter of getting our bearings. Please be kind to yourself. You can't do high octane performance every single day. Your body and mind is telling you you need to slow down.
I experienced burnout and mental health in 2007. I worked all day. My employment dropped (I was self-employed). At this time I had a breakdown. Shortly before the breakdown I was skiing and hit my head on a rock. That head impact changed me quite a bit including having a "psychotic" or psychotic-like break in 2009-2011. I developed pain in my head and possible seizures. It took me a while but realized to "take captive my thoughts" and answer with "God's word". I tried medical but to this day I haven't found a plan. Just trying to "die to myself" and keep on submitting to God. I keep on recognizing I'm a failure without Him. COVID has allowed me to grow back to God. My struggles and challenges are not gone but now my ministry is in meeting individuals with mental health and developmental issues where there at; to listen and guide.
2018 July I was playing with my children and I hit my head incredibly hard coming up on a piece of playground equipment, was bleeding from my scalp and my wife put a T-shirt on my head to absorb the blood while we ran across the street home, my wife is a nurse and she decided that since I was conscious cognizant and relatively normal that I was fine, months later I was having emotional issues and breakdowns, I ended up going on Zoloft and antidepressant which created a Psychotic break. I went off the medication immediately and started meditating and changing my diet, I’ve been going through burnout for the past three years, a whole year before the pandemic I was at the end of my rope
This is so good, I've taken on more than what God expects of me and I have forgotten that God also rested. It's so good to feel the mercy of God and his peace take over the stress of striving
A very eloquently and honestly put testimony. Thank you for sharing and verbalising so concisely the experiences and practical steps you put in place to slowly overcome your burnout and depression. God bless you!
Sister Shona, thank you, even when sharing the horrors of your mental and physical state, you showed a personal and closer Jesus, a God who doesn't waste our circumstances, Thank you.
Thank you so much for this TGC ... I really needed to hear this. Thank you for sharing your experience Shona and sharing some tips on what has been helpful for you thus far.
its hard in part because people don't know what to do for you. i don't want to lie to someone and say all is well, but once they know the situation they don't ask you or avoid you. its really hard. battled depression for many years and now wife has chronic illness that debilitates her and i have kids to raise, and a business to run to pay for her expensive treatments. between depression, finances, and her illness of 2 years straight i am really, really struggling, and then on top of that, someone did us really badly within the church, and now my sleep is all messed up, and i have no time to exercise because i have to work to pay for wifes medsthat insurance won't cover. its nuts.
I needed to hear this today. I am in burnout and going through all of the same symptoms. I wasn't expecting to hear you say that you felt distant from God due to burnout, I am experiencing this and it's encouraging to know that this is part of burnout. Thank you and God bless you.
I appreciate this so much. Burnout and Depression is very real and sometimes it’s not a quick fix. It has nothing to do with a lack of love for God but what can you learn when and if it does happen?
This video is insightful done with honesty. I am blessed to have hear and receive the wisdom that she has shared through how God journeyed with her on this.
Thank you so much I have very similar experience This and the comments below have made me realise I am not alone I thought it was such a strange thing It has been very helpful and and encouraging God bless everyone and set us free
Thank you. I needed this today. I have the same experience and thoughts right now and I have realized it is burn out. Thank you for such encouraging words. God Bless.
I appreciate the video here! And everyone who has commented about their experiences and their struggles! I just want to say that I love each and everyone of you my brothers and sisters in Christ! I also want to share my own struggle here. I’m currently a senior in University entering mid-terms this week. I’m also a part time executive assistant to a Real Estate Agent and also learning social media management on the side. I’ve been working and schooling non-stop since last Fall. I’ve also been devout in my studies of scriptures and my morning and evening devotionals. But I think now at this point i’ve hit my lowest point if BURNOUT. I have so much homework to do and mid-terms to study for but I don’t have any energy to do any of that. And in efforts to find a solution I found this video. I thank God for his love and mercy. He’s always here to help us and to bring us up for his great name! I relate 100% to everything Shona has mentioned (save having kids). I’m mentally and physically exhausted. But God is greater! He is powerful… I have to remember
I am in this. I cannot seem to shake off the feeling that God did not choose me. That he doesn't love me. It didn't start out this way. Arghhhhjjjjhhhh I am so in pain and feel like I'm betraying God's love for me.
Don’t believe those lies that are from the enemy! God loves you so much. No mistake or decision you have made is not too big for god. Look at your life though god’s eyes. You are a beautiful child of god and nothing can keep you from him. Cry out to him, repent, read your bible, get grounded in a great church and hangout with other believers and watch how god will transform your life over time. Praying over you now!
I stumbled upon this video, almost ignored it. I was looking for something about depression by Andrew Murray but somehow this video showed up and I watched it. I'm going through everything exactly the way the lady is explaining hers. Glad to know the terrors arent from God but satan trying to make me feel oppressed and defeated. I'll wait for God's fuel. I so badly need it right now. Thanks for sharing your story.
There are so many women like her. A lot of it is hormonal imbalances but also obviously it’s taking on responsibility for things that aren’t your responsibility. It’s a lack of trusting God. Hugs.
If only all Christians were honest and open about their mental health. The shame is deep in Christianity I will add.... when you hear of people committing suicide, this is what they experienced.
I just got burnt out of Christianity. I lived it like it was a bunch of laws and not the whole "Jesus died for me, so I dont have to work." Yet I still dont want to come to him. I'm too offensive in that part. The morality fight just continued on, my parents and pastor kept INSISTING that I was a Christian with one even saying they heard from God that his Spirit was in me (okay, I dont agree with EVERYTHING they say). Until I... just... quit. Threw in the towel. God was searching for me, gave me "touches" of his love, yet I never truly feared him. I'm not sure if hes still searching for me, but every time I think about that, its ALWAYS bent towards myself. So I'm just gonna quit. Bye.
Your organization needs to focus on the Gospel and stop your nonsense. Your organization behaves as the Jude 4 leader in Christianity. You know it is true.
