Depression....my blessing

[GrannieAnnie]

I was diagnosed with clinical depression about 10 yrs ago, but I believe I've been ill all my life. My "official diagnosis" has been....clinical depression with suicidal tendencies, severe panic disorder, personality trait disorder....mmm, I think that's all...anyway, needless to say I've had a fair amount of time in my "black hole" over the years. 4 suicide attempts, time in psych wards, therapy, still take lots of medication etc....and through it all...Jesus has never let me go....oh I've wanted Him to...but nope...He just kept on holding on.

I've been well for almost a year now. I have a wonderful Christian doctor and wonderful supportive husband, family and friends. I don't mind taking medication because it helps keep me well.

I have come to see my mental illness as a blessing from God, because now I can empathise with other mental health sufferers...I REALLY know what they are going through, and I can encourage them and love them in their painful journey, just as others have loved and supported me.

Jesus will never leave you.

Love to you all. Annie

 

[Taylor43]

Welcome to the site. I can relate to you so much. God is awsome in using us and he uses us to minister. I have had a very bad childhood abused and i suffer from deep depression, pstd. You will get allot of support on the recovery forum area Glad you joined hope to get to know you and always feel free to post here

 

[GrannieAnnie]

Thank you Taylor....

 

[AWorkInProgress]

I was diagnosed with clinical depression about 10 yrs ago, but I believe I've been ill all my life. My "official diagnosis" has been....clinical depression with suicidal tendencies, severe panic disorder, personality trait disorder....mmm, I think that's all...anyway, needless to say I've had a fair amount of time in my "black hole" over the years. 4 suicide attempts, time in psych wards, therapy, still take lots of medication etc....and through it all...Jesus has never let me go....oh I've wanted Him to...but nope...He just kept on holding on.

I've been well for almost a year now. I have a wonderful Christian doctor and wonderful supportive husband, family and friends. I don't mind taking medication because it helps keep me well.

I have come to see my mental illness as a blessing from God, because now I can empathise with other mental health sufferers...I REALLY know what they are going through, and I can encourage them and love them in their painful journey, just as others have loved and supported me.

Jesus will never leave you.

Love to you all. Annie

I hear ya,

Thats the way I look at it, I have a good understanding. If things I learned to be free of it can help people, I share with them. Understanding problems have helped a lot, then I apply God's wisdom.

Don't worry thou, I know there is a purpose for medical prescriptions.

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

I was diagnosed with clinical depression about 10 yrs ago, but I believe I've been ill all my life. My "official diagnosis" has been....clinical depression with suicidal tendencies, severe panic disorder, personality trait disorder....mmm, I think that's all...anyway, needless to say I've had a fair amount of time in my "black hole" over the years. 4 suicide attempts, time in psych wards, therapy, still take lots of medication etc....and through it all...Jesus has never let me go....oh I've wanted Him to...but nope...He just kept on holding on.

I've been well for almost a year now. I have a wonderful Christian doctor and wonderful supportive husband, family and friends. I don't mind taking medication because it helps keep me well.

I have come to see my mental illness as a blessing from God, because now I can empathise with other mental health sufferers...I REALLY know what they are going through, and I can encourage them and love them in their painful journey, just as others have loved and supported me.

Jesus will never leave you.

Love to you all. Annie

Hi Annie,

It was so encouraging to read your post! I was thinking the same thing this morning.

Although I'm not out of the woods fully yet, it has indeed been a learning experience, one that we can relate to and share.

If there is one thing that I can take from experiencing this illness, it has been the focus of my prayers for others. I rejoice to being more specific in my prayers for those hurting and then seeing their improvement when I log on or speak with them.

Likewise, it stirs me with so much love to literally feel everyone's prayers when I had been brought to my knees some 5-6 months ago.

I actually also thought about James 1:2 where it says "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds..." This morning I considered all of our potential with the authority given to us by Christ, to cause the enemy to afflict us to the degree that he does with clinical depression. My husband inspired me with this when he use to talk about his old military career. He explained that your enemy's ultimate aim in warfare is to take out first those who are considered the biggest threat to them.

Just this morning, I reflected back to what he'd said together with James 1:2 and the verse finally made sense. Once we realise how the Lord sees us, then we can appreciate just how much the enemy does not want us to get better and his desire to "take us out".

The ability to empathise and intercede, to encourage and to lift up, to always be there, is indeed a powerful weapon against this disease.

Thank you for such an uplifting OP.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

Well thank you all, especially you Lotuspetal...I never thought of it in a "military" way before, I never thought of myself as being such a great "enemy" of the devil, but I guess I could look at it that way. It feels odd thinking of it that way though....I sure didn't feel very strong during the fight...and wouldn't have made it without Jesus. And I know I'll have to be on my guard for the rest of my life....

I've had lots of support during my illness, my medical people have been wonderful, but hearing from other 'Christian' sufferers is really the best. God Bless you all, Annie xx

 

[GrannieAnnie]

OOOPS...sorry Lotuspetal, I've just realised you aren't Christian, but that's ok....I love you anyway...hee hee hee...me and my big mouth...foot in mouth disease... forgive me...Annie

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

Well thank you all, especially you Lotuspetal...I never thought of it in a "military" way before, I never thought of myself as being such a great "enemy" of the devil, but I guess I could look at it that way. It feels odd thinking of it that way though....I sure didn't feel very strong during the fight...and wouldn't have made it without Jesus. And I know I'll have to be on my guard for the rest of my life....

I've had lots of support during my illness, my medical people have been wonderful, but hearing from other 'Christian' sufferers is really the best. God Bless you all, Annie xx

Amen and no problem at all Annie

Like you, I didn't quite see the military analogy until I'd realised one of my giftings which - in my case - is to pray/intercede for others.

To explain, in a military operation (according to my husband), each side would send out a surveillance squad to assess the opposition. These spies would make a judgement on who needs to be inhibited first during the battle to give the side an advantage. My husband explained that this was the reason why we tend to start with airstrikes during a military operation. It's basically to take out the essentials from the opposition.

With us and in line with Ephs 6:10-18, when we are afflicted, the reasons behind it (on a spiritual warfare level) is quite similar. Each and everyone of us are a significant threat to the principalities in this world, even though we may not see or be aware of it. We are commissioned to bring the Good News to all nations. If satan can take just one of us out or inhibit us to where we may not be able to edify each other, then he believes he has succeeded (when he hasn't).

Even this morning, I felt a heaviness on me, but as soon as I began to praise the Lord and remind myself of who I am in Christ, the heaviness literally left me.

As we all know clinical depression, can affect even the most simplest things such as praying, concentrating on something like reading the Bible etc.

Praise the Lord though that we can be strengthened by Him to rise above these flaming arrows and realise that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

OOOPS...sorry Lotuspetal, I've just realised you aren't Christian, but that's ok....I love you anyway...hee hee hee...me and my big mouth...foot in mouth disease... forgive me...Annie

Ahhhh Ha! But Annie, I am a fellow believer in Christ, but it's ok, the cross is safely wrapped in the scroll that's why you didn't see it .

For more info, check out the Messianic community on CF when you get the chance.

God bless you, sis

 

[HannahBanana]

I was diagnosed with clinical depression about 10 yrs ago, but I believe I've been ill all my life. My "official diagnosis" has been....clinical depression with suicidal tendencies, severe panic disorder, personality trait disorder....mmm, I think that's all...anyway, needless to say I've had a fair amount of time in my "black hole" over the years. 4 suicide attempts, time in psych wards, therapy, still take lots of medication etc....and through it all...Jesus has never let me go....oh I've wanted Him to...but nope...He just kept on holding on.

I've been well for almost a year now. I have a wonderful Christian doctor and wonderful supportive husband, family and friends. I don't mind taking medication because it helps keep me well.

I have come to see my mental illness as a blessing from God, because now I can empathise with other mental health sufferers...I REALLY know what they are going through, and I can encourage them and love them in their painful journey, just as others have loved and supported me.

Jesus will never leave you.

Love to you all. Annie

That's exactly how I feel about my depression as well. And that's also the reason that I chose to major in Psychology...I want to be able to help others who are in my same sort of situation, because I feel like I really would be able to offer a "been there, done that" viewpoint to them.

 

[stacii]

There are so many blessings that I've received through going through my depression and anxiety. I can't even count them. Praise God for them! And praise Him that I'm actually at a place in my treatment where I can recognize the good in all of this.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

I'm really encouraged that others see their depression as an opportunity to see God working in their lives too.

And sorry again lotus....I'm not really familiar with a lot of different Christian denominations...