There is a mentality I’ve encountered repeatedly in the mental health world. And it’s this belief that there are some things that you must live with. This is true to an extent. You could have a disorder or a disease that requires medication. I am not negating the amazing benefits of medication or treatment. But then, I think there is an area of mental health, specifically depression and anxiety, where this mentality does not satisfy me.
I believe that depression and anxiety can be 100% curable. I believe that there is a life where these things not only don’t weigh you down but are completely out of your system. I have struggled with depression at varying levels on and off for the majority of my twenties and early thirties. Yes, it was hard. Yes, at times it was unbearable. But by the grace of God, there have also been many spans of time (sometimes several chunks of years) where depression and anxiety were not a part of my life. It was a total healing. A radical freedom that I’ve tasted and seen and know to be real.
I think if we want to heal, we must first believe that we can heal. We must believe and have faith that healing is possible. What are we striving for if we believe the place we want to live in doesn’t even exist? There have been times in my life when the depression came back. The heaviness, the emptiness, the loneliness. There have been days and months when getting out of bed was an arduous task. Times when I’ve woken up in the middle of the night, writhing in anxiety. But there have also been days of utter bliss. Moments of peace that sustain me through every storm. For me, that peace has always been Jesus.
It is possible. Truly! A depression and anxiety-free life is possible. You can be a new person. You can change. You can grow. You can be happy. You can have joy and laugh again and smile to the point you don’t even realize you’re smiling. You can be so happy to the point you forget you were ever sad before.
Don’t lose hope. Take heart. Keep going. Peace and joy – these are not children’s fairy tales. They’re real. I know. I’ve experienced it. Getting past anxiety and depression may be a very long struggle. It may take months or years. But joy is not lost. If you only have the strength to hold onto one thing – let it be hope.
Hopeful Song Blog 