Depression is a constant dog at my heels. Sometimes I get it to sit and stay and not bother me, but sometimes it comes barking in my face and refuses to be quieted. The Spirit pulls me up at those times and keeps me from taking the final, fatal step into irreversible darkness. I have a testimony of the light of Christ making my life worth living, even in the depth of struggle and pain and depression. Christ will always love us. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
My teen son has dealt with violent mental health since a toddler. The journey has been so difficult and heartbreaking. It continues to be severely difficult, leaving me lost emotionally. Through it all, though, I have learned so many unique perspectives to see my son with value and even potential. I still pray daily that my son can accept and understand God in some way that has proven inaccessible to him. I have learned to also pray for how I can use my unique experiences/thoughts to reach and lift those going through what I am. To do that, I have had to learn to lift myself first. Thank you for this video. So much.
It’s so hard to accept a challenge you can’t run away from. I have gone through exactly what you have. And it’s so nice to know I’m not alone. You have a voice that’s going to help so many. Thank you for your words
I've lost 3 children to mental health issues and I pray each day to have them back in the gospel life I love. It's up to the Lord, we all need compassion. 🙏
Dear sister, you have not lost them. They are not lost to their Redeemer. Each person has their own path. And God is on that path with them. He doesn’t leave them alone. Only He knows what it is to be them. Our part is to love. Very often it is necessary to “Detach from them with love,” and place them (in our hearts) in God’s hands. He will not forsake them. They are each one engraven on the palms of His hands. This is what I know now.
I used to think that people with depression were making excuses. I thought it wasn't a real thing. I thought people wanted something to blame other than their own failures and weaknesses to justify not getting things done or being lazy. But on my mission, I suffered from depression and anxiety. I thought a lot of the same things about myself, that I was just making excuses to be lazy and that I should just get to work, but I was so sad and couldn't make myself do anything. The mission president's wife sent me to the mission counselor who diagnosed me with severe anxiety and extreme depression, but I didn't believe her at first. I thought she was telling me something that would help me shift the blame away from myself and make it easier for me to make excuses. But when I did finally accept her diagnosis, it made things a lot easier. Not because I had something to blame for my laziness. But because I understood myself better and I could be more kind to myself. And I knew it wasn't because I was a horrible lazy person who just wouldn't do what I was supposed to do even when I knew I should. I was someone who kept trying to work and push through something very hard and debilitating and who didn't give up. This experience taught me not only that depression is real, but so are everyone's struggles, problems, and trials, even if I don't understand them.
I was diagnosed with depression 3 years ago and to this day I still find myself thinking those same things, that I'm just finding excuses to be lazy and not get things done. It takes practice to fight those thoughts.
I have anxiety, panic attacks, ptsd, and depression. But through the atonement of Jesus Christ, peace does come most days. I still have these issues, but my Savior helps because HE understands us and especially me. I take meds and therapy also
Mental illness is so rampant these days I know many people on medication, I myself have battled with depression, anxiety, panic attacks until I found out I had a mutation on my genes that actually is the cause of my illness which did not manifest itself until I had a major time of stress when my husband was diagnosed with cancer and died. This mutation which affects more than 40% of the population is related to the methylation paths which makes the happy neurotransmitters like Serotonin when you are positive to the mutation you don't produce much of this neurotransmitter, there are treatments that really work without the use of pharmaceutical meds which are very harmful, just find a practitioner that knows about MTHFR mutations and take it from there with some supplements that are crucial to this methylation path your symptoms will improve. I wish you well on your journey it is a very difficult path but with the help of our Lord we can conquer anything.
This is such a beautiful and real message. I can't thank you enough for sharing this and helping me realize more, the importance of seeing people as Christ sees them. None of us was sent here to fail, but none of us will escape the trials of mortality, and loving one another through these times is the way Christ would have us love each other. The older I get the more I agree with the statement that seeing people in black and white is inaccurate. The high definition view is what I will be striving for in everyone!
Thank you for saying that you weren't just healed from depression, but through christ you learned to see light even with depression and anxiety. Acceptance that i'm not just a completely broken person because of my anxiety and depression is something that I've been working on so much with my therapist. It gives me hope that with christ we can learn to accept those parts of ourselves and still have light in our lives.
I too have struggled with mental illness. I was not diagnosed properly till I was 46 years old. The diagnosis was a hard hit to me as I was in denial. But with my acceptance and a desire to learn about my illness I have completely changed. I did not have the luxury of medication that would help me. The only help for me was learning how to manage my illness. I learned that the only person who could help me was God. I began to desire to have God and the Saviour as my centre. I began a long journey back to them and it was truly miraculous. I learned that while this illness often felt like a curse, I realized that it was gift! With management I could use this illness to help others. With my reliance on Christ to help me, this illness was truly a gift! I saw my illness as a scourge that would bring me to remembrance. I changed my view as I embraced my I,ness as a way to remind me to rely on my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Yes, I still have bad days, but I know they will pass. My journey has brought me to God and His Son and I have gained strong testimonies of them and their love for me. I truly believe that this illness has saved my life. I don’t define myself through this illness. I don’t even think of myself as ill anymore. I am just grateful to be me and I am grateful for all my challenges as they bring me closer to God and keep me closer to Him. I have great compassion for others who suffer and I also try to uplift and bring hope to those who feel there is no hope due to their mental challenges. I feel LUCKY to be me and blessed to have an illness that reminds me often that God and the Saviour have the power to heal and help me...we all can find hope and healing when we turn to the Saviour and our Heavenly Father. Of this I know!
CPTSD covers both depression & anxiety. Being reminded of past dark trauma experiences, it's like a cloud of darkness sweeps over me - making all my efforts of trying to keep true to my covenants meaningless. But it's especially during those dark times that I've had to truly call on Him, trying hard to ground myself to avoid suicidal ideation triggers. The times where I've begged Heavenly Father to remove this bitter cup from Me, I've received the reassuring comfort of the Spirit reminding me - I am not alone. Looking at each day, reminding myself that I'm still breathing, I'm still standing - I am of worth. For myself, it's taken a lot of dark experiences like this in order to see & feel His Light. I've learnt to follow my heart, the Spirit, during times when my head is troubled during these mental health battles - even needing to sleep due to fatigue of an endless battle. But rest assured, I know I've drawn near to Him during these dark times - feeling Him carry Me during these trials. I can testify that He is near. Life is worth the good fight. For anyone else who witnesses people like myself experiencing mental health battles - be that friend. Listen to understand. Listen without judgement. Listen with charity.
These videos are pretty remarkable. This one and others like it are so real. We aren't living in a life as simple as black and white. There are challenges in our lives, mistakes that we'll make, and sorrows we will feel. But there is one who can lift us up. Come, Follow Him.
I have not experienced mental health issues, either depression or anxiety, so I can't relate exactly, but this helps me understand a little more those who do.
Mental illness is a real challenge for so many people throughout the world. Thank you for talking openly about your struggles. From personal experience, I know that we can be trying to do everying right and still suffer intense bouts of depression.
I feel like this video was made about my life. Thank you for sharing your story. It can get better and it does get better. Love the gospel, Heavenly Father and our savior.
pleaee prayer for my parents my father is paralized and my mom have cancer last stage please remember my father and mother in praying jesus Christ given long and healthful life to my parents Amen
Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing your personal story Julie! You are beautiful inside and out and your message of light is a blessing to me and many more who will see and listen to your testimony of our Savior and the Master Healer for each of us. May the light you share bless those who struggle in the darkness and see only in black and white. This is a great reminder for me to be more intentional in extending compassion and seeing others in color. Bless you!
Thank you, Julie! Thank you so much for sharing your story. The idea of seeing in color- seeing the whole picture in others- sounds so liberating. I feel a desire and motivation to work on this with my depression and anxiety. Thank you again ❤
I love the hope of hope works. This was very inspiring and overall such a christ filled message. All these wonderful talks provide more love and understanding for the Saviour. Thank you Sister, and to everyone who has ever presented on hope works for bringing us closer to the Saviour through your personal words and trials, or in other words, thank you for connecting us to the Saviour ♥️
Thank you for putting this video together and sharing it. Often times I felt that having compassion for others is a weakness, and holds me back from achieving my goals, even though deep down I know that it is the Christ-like way to live. Your msg validates my understanding and commitment to follow Jesus Christ despite what others around may say or do. Thank you.
Beautiful message, thank you! I often times need to check myself so that I don't see things as "black and white". It's easy to let your feelings get out of control.
In March this year, I tried to take my life because I couldn't take life with bipolar disorder and depression anymore. I lost sight of my Savior, and I'm struggling to find comfort. My parents are my strength right now, and I'm trying very hard not to see my life in black and white, as total failure or complete success. Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy. I hope I can find joy in this life.
A tool to help find Joy in this life - Take a cheap copy of the Book of Mormon, circle every instance of the word "Joy" that you find while reading it. Reflect on how it was that they had Joy in such difficult times, what did those ancient people do to obtain Joy? Alma 27 verse17-18 - "the joy of Ammon was so great ... even to the exhausting of his strength..."
Thank you so very much for sharing. I am in my late 60s and have suffered from depression off and on from my early 30s. I have been under doctors care and taken medication most of that time. My life while at times had be difficult, it had been mostly joyful. I have been deeply depressed these past two years. Doctors says COVID, the deaths of three family member, my own health issues, and retirement from a very stimulating job have contributed to the depression. It is through the LDS videos such as yours, praying, reading scriptures, getting to rediscovered the tender mercies of Jesus Christ that I can now say I am feeling so much better. I am grateful for you analogy of the TV. I will endeavor each day to see all who I meet in HD. Thank you again.
I absolutely love this. This is me i try explaining to others the love and compassion I see for others and now I have a way of explaining exactly how I feel.
I have suffered from inferiority complex my whole life and it has given me so much anxiety . I was bullied so much in school and it still haunts me to this day
What a perfect message for the World we are living in today, especially during this pandemic! I felt the Spirit so strong from the beginning to the end!
It's been two years since I was diagnosed with postpartum. I will be on meds for the rest of my life to feel "normal," but I have learned to be at peace with that. It's been a long road of finding peace through acceptance and the love of God, but I've grown more as a person in the process than I ever thought was possible!
May is mental health awareness month! Mental health is a continuum, not black and white. Self care and social support work on the day-to-day struggles, professional care is needed for psychological injuries and crises. But, Christ's support is a critical piece for miraculous healing and growth across that spectrum.
Get checked for MTHFR mutation, this is the methylation path that makes the happy neurotransmitter Serotonin when you have this mutation you don't make enough to keep things in balance, I had suffered from depression, anxiety etc until they found I had this mutation and with the help of a doctor who understands MTHFR issues I have improved so much with just some key supplements, mental illness is not just about things that happens to us it is also a chemical imbalance, an inherited mutation in the methylation paths, my entire family got tested and we all have this mutation. I wish you well, don't give up in trying to find answers to your problem with the help of our loving Heavenly Father we can conquer anything.
I have struggled with PTSD for most of my life. One of my biggest triggers was church, temple, prayer and gospel related topics. When abuse is combined with these things, there can be no healing in a religious setting. I literally throw up when I pray. I struggled for 33 years with severe panic attacks in the church and temple. How could I explain this to those who just said, You're not praying enough! Read your scriptures more! You're not worthy to take the sacrament! You're letting Satan into your life! I finally decided to stop going and persue my own spirituality. I have never been healthier. Not perfect, but a thousand times better. But now I have a new challenge: a prophet and members who think I want to sin, that I never had a testimony, that I'm weak, that I'm soul-mates with Satan. People, stop being so cruel.
@Alana Bills, we're sorry to hear about the difficult challenges you are facing, caused by members of the Church. We hope you know that in the midst of these challenges that Heavenly Father loves you greatly! You don’t have to face this alone, and you can find hope and healing through the Savior Jesus Christ. Hoping that it does not act as a trigger, we invite you to visit abuse.churchofjesuschrist.org for information about how to heal, find peace and get help. We also encourage you to seek help from trusted friends and family and professionals. Once again, know that you are loved!
Well, Christ hasn’t healed me. I’ve been living with this for 25 years. I’m glad you’ve found a way to be supported and heard and that you have a platform. I don’t have a platform. I don’t have friends. There is no relief.
Good video. I was sure everyone at church was almost perfect compared to me. Now I know everyone I meet is going through lots of problems I know nothing about. But Heavenly Father does.
Great powerful testimony I have been through personal experiences of anxiety and trauma which was instrumental in my conversion , but I love your perspective
I've not been diagnosed with anything, but I've been struggling for several years now and mental illness does run in my family. I've long suspected scrupulosity (form of OCD) and/or depression, but I'm not sure what to do. I don't really trust clinical drugs, and some have been proven not to work, and I'm also wary of psychologists. I desperately hate showing emotion and I never want people to see me struggling. I know if I talk to someone about it I'll just bawl all over lol. I can spend whole days feeling guilt and fear and hiding tears. Sometimes I get really upset that I don't seem to be able to find the peace others find in the gospel. For me I'm such a perfectionist that I beat myself up and worry intensely, especially concerning anything religious. I'm not sure what to do other than just keep trying to live and hope I'll be able to let go someday.
I had a really bad experience on my travels today and I didn't know how I ended up on the same street were I was murdered and I am blessed by my or should I say our creator 🙏 ❤ I almost ended getting into a accident 33 year's later I never expected to have such a reaction I couldn't get off the street panicked stricken I pray 🙏 and ❤ finally got a grip on the anxiety
Too self involved, you have to recognize your faults. Yes, it's embarrassing but you have own your mistakes and faults no matter how little they may seem be. I have made many mistakes and try to learn from them, or preferably learn from learn other people's mistakes, and I will make many more mistakes. I have seen mental illness destroy lives, it starts with being honest with yourself and who you are. You have want to improve, not just because the church or God wants you to or with the mindset of this will keep me from going to hell or seeking rewards, but because YOU want this...being a better human.
I am struggling to find comfort. I have obsessive thoughts and I feel as though there is something wrong with me. Just because my mom told me " You are too obsessed with the church. " But I know god loves me, even if I am like that. I am only trying to follow god and my savior, and I trying to serve others. And find faith. If I can not find comfort, I will not be okay. I lost an imaginary friend a couple of months ago. I loved him very much. However he told me he had to go away. So now I struggle with abandonment issues, and I feel scared whenever I panic. I hope you all feel okay, I know the savior is there, for heavenly father has sent him, and he is here to comfort us and to stay.
Depression is pain but pain motivates change which is growth. Scripture can repurpose people to a new truth about them. Any tool for this purpose will see the similar results.
Depression is real , it affects so many people today, only Jesus Christ and our loving heavenly parents fully understand, I know loved ones try to understand because of the love they have for us. The power to heal any sickness, addictions or deviant behavior comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know his compassion and mercy is rooted from His Charity , His pure love!
You can’t blame your Mechanic or your Automotive Technician. The inspection of choice is of your choosing. And you can’t blame the valve cap. Have a great day sister.
You shouldn't ever worry about yesterday And you need not not worry about Tomorrow What you need to focus on is today, That was the words that were spoken to me Over 60 some years ago. And with the Lord's help you make it each and every day if you trust in him and you trust in yourself, Plus it always has good advantages when you have good friends. And if you got all this then everything will work out.
boy, you think you are a bad driver? without a license, i ran a red light and broadsided another car. I broke my femur, and shattered my right heal. Christ IS the only place that brings hope, to get through and heal.
I absolutely hate myself, I can’t find a way to love myself. I’m only a sophomore in high school but I wanna end my life so badly. I feel so disconnected from my Heavenly Father and my savior Jesus Christ, I wish I could feel their love for me but I just can’t and I’m trying so hard to be good but nothing is working. I’m starting to lose hope and lose motivation to keep pressing forward. I feel so alone and so sad and I just wish I could what Heavenly Father tell me he loves me but I can’t hear him…
Hi ToadStool, thanks for sharing your feelings. We encourage you to reach out and seek help from others. Get professional help or talk to a faith leader or another trusted adult. Pray for help, and believe that you will receive it. God has not forgotten you! See the link below for additional help and resources: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/thoughts-of-suicide/why-should-i-keep-struggling?lang=eng Also, the talk linked below from Sister Sharon Eubank about seeking light when it feels dark may give you some additional encouragement and comfort: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/42eubank?lang=eng
Life has a way of being so hard, I sometimes don't know how to handle it at all! I see families in the church being happy, having miracles! I see my family, partially making decisions, I would never want them to make! I feel like there are no answers for me! I pray I ask for help from God, but my life has never been easy! Harder than I could of imagined! Satan is here to break heart's, and DESTROY families, he's here to take everything you care about away from you!
I remember someone (I want to say Elder Oaks, but cant remember) saying that some people signed up for parenting 101: easy, beginner class, but others have parenting 501 which would challenge the best of us. Don't give up. Keep going where you need to go on the covenant path. Hopefully others will follow your example, but if not, the Savior knows where they are and the True Shepherd knows how to find His lost lambs.
Hi @David victor, we're so sorry for your loss. We know comfort and healing can come through prayer and by relying on Jesus Christ at this difficult time. He loves you and can mend your heart and give you peace. www.comeuntochrist.org/beliefs/purpose-of-life/4-ways-to-cope-with-the-loss-of-a-loved-one?lang=eng?cid=42001274 We also encourage encourage you to seek the help of our Father in Heaven through prayer, and also seek help from someone you trust, such as a family member, friend, mental health professional, or faith leader to help with your mental health. Learn more here: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/mentalhealth
