Medication for Me

Mental health is essential.  We are instructed in Scripture to care for our bodies and to steward them well.  This is not only our physical body, but also being aware of the state of our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

I’ve been learning a lot lately about life and the unique journeys that we are each on.  With each passing day, I am realizing the importance of giving yourself grace.  That we cannot be there for or care for others without first taking care of ourselves, this is not selfish. This is Biblical.

As I come to realize and learn to give myself grace, I seek to embrace all aspects of my journey.  The ones that look pretty and well put together, but also the ones that may be messy and/or broken.  I’m thankful for what I've learned through the tough times.

For this season of life, I am not ashamed to say I take medication every day to help aid in my fight against anxiety and depression.  It is by no means a solo fix.  Along with medication, I am putting in the work to grow and mature.  I believe that God has a plan for me.  I believe that God has brought a counselor, a doctor, and the community I need for this season.

Much like a football or baseball team needs each player to serve a unique purpose, it’s the same with life for me.  I need family and friends to cheer me on.  I need a church family to do life with.  I need a primary care physician to help manage my physical health.  I need a godly counselor to help guide me in wisdom as I put the pieces of my sometimes-complicated life puzzle together.  All serve a unique purpose.  I could not do life well if I were missing one of these elements.  I do not take any of them for granted.

Medications for mental health have a bad reputation.  It appears in this day and time that the stigma that mental health carries seems overall negative.  It’s incredible to me because this world appears to be overrun by more anxiety and depression than it ever has before.  

I’ve begun to realize that taking medication is not the end-all, be-all.  It does not lessen my significance as a person or as a Christian, no matter what others may say or think.  The same is true for you.

Realizing for the first time in my life that I am enough, just as I am.  Good and bad.  Broken and messy.  Happy or sad, or somewhere in the middle.  In God’s eyes, I am loved just as I am.

I am amazed by the change in my life as I realize I am loved, cherished, and adored by the King of Kings.  For this season, and maybe for the next, I will take my medication as directed.  I’ve come off some, while others have increased over the past few years. I will continue to breathe in and breathe out the advice of my counselor, physician, family, and friends.  I will be thankful, and I will continue to fight for my life with all that I have.

The same is true for you today, no matter where you may find yourself on this journey of life.  You are loved, and you are seen by the God who created this world.  Breathe in that peace today and be proud of yourself and all that you are accomplishing every day.  Don’t count yourself out of the game yet.  There is still so much yet to achieve.  

“Behind every strong person is a story that gave them no choice.”