What would one drag on a joint hurt? by Jason Gomez as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon I glanced at my watch: 6:55 p.m. I couldn’t believe there were only five minutes left in youth group. For as far back as I could remember, I’d been connected to these people. Flashbacks of retreats, church lock-ins,…
Tag: Mental and Emotional Health
Learning From Scars
His blood — not ours — bringsfreedom from harmful habits. by Shelbie Mae For weeks I had tried to ignore the scars and open cuts on my sister’s arms and legs, but they stuck out like molehills burrowed into smooth grass. When a knock sounded on my bedroom door, I knew it was she….
Saving Ophelia
A woman discovers how God works from the inside out. by Kimberly Davidson Ophelia, in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, illustrates the destructive forces affecting young women. Ophelia is a typical girl, footloose and fancy-free. But she loses herself in adolescence. She falls in love with Hamlet and lives only for his approval. She doesn’t have a…
Never Forsaken
God is with us when we feel most alone. by Mary Bair I sit in another office with cool, “restful” colored paint, muted lighting, and nondescript art on the walls. A desk, bookshelf full of books, chairs — always more than two so I can choose to sit where I feel “safest” and most…
Held in Dark Places: My Life with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
It takes time to heal from the inside out. by Sally Gosen Case I am no hero. I am just an ordinary woman who did what an ordinary person would do in a difficult time. You won’t find me listed with war veterans. I’ve never fought a fire or rescued anyone. There are no…
Dare to Defeat Depression – Resources
Help for Depression Many excellent resources are available in your community and on the Internet. Dr. Ivan Goldberg has a questionnaire to determine if you are depressed and need to seek help. Take it and receive scored answers at Mental Health Net. Counseling Christian Recovery International: “Helping the Christian community to become a safe…
From Black to Bling
Reflecting the image of Christ. by Jennifer Young As I clasped the flower necklace, slipped on my pink wedge shoes, and threw the bright green purse over my shoulder, I took one last look in the full-length mirror and smiled. I was looking at a new reflection — a reflection transformed from the inside…
View From a Cracked Mirror
Finding God when the bottom falls out. by Patty Knittel I lay on the bed, staring at the camera perched in the upper corner of the room and wondering what the people on the other end were thinking about me. Are they concerned that I haven’t left the room yet this morning? Have they…
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
You can help someone survive the fearsand extremes of manic-depression. by Nancy Hagerman Christy (not her real name) wept as we spoke on the phone. She is bipolar and deeply depressed. “I feel nothing. I can’t worship, and I know Jesus doesn’t love me anymore. At prayer meeting they told me if I had…
When God Whispered
by Beth Swain “I know you’re frightened about being hospitalized, but remember that God cares about you. Here is a Bible verse that has helped me cope with dark times. . . .” I crunched my friend’s kind note into a tight ball and threw it to the floor. Sunken on the couch, I…