depressed friend, I am here for you.

Depressed Friend, I am Here for You.

Dear depressed friend, I’m not going anywhere.

Numb. Sad. Defeated. Hopeless. 

When depression hits, it hits hard, trying to devour its latest victim.

Depression feels like you’re drowning, sinking deeper and deeper into the water with small particles of fractured light above you. The pain has no comparison.

It steals all the joy, purpose, and motivation out of your life like a powerful vacuum.

When you feel consumed with anxiety, bring it to Jesus.

“Deep breaths, Kelley. You’ve got this,” I said to myself. 

“Inhale. 1-2-3. Exhale. 1-2-3.”

For the last decade I’ve experienced everything from mild to moderate anxiety, to full-blown panic, but never when flying – until now. 

That’s the tricky thing with anxiety – and any mental disorder for that matter – sometimes there’s a circumstance that triggers it, but not always.

Three Challenges for Parents with Mental Illness

“You are calm. You are in control.” These are some of the positive things I say to myself when I’m in the middle of parenting or disciplining and feel like my emotions might erupt like a volcano.

Toys might be soaring through the air. Doors are rattled. Tempers ready to burst. Fists clenched tightly. The tension in the environment is so high, it permeates the entire house. I can start to feel it in my body; something isn’t right.