“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
Sometimes we feel like we finally have a steady grip on things. We’re juggling home and balancing kids, school, and married life when suddenly the unknown comes flying at us. Change happens, causing fear, worry, anxiety and overwhelm.
Is it time to stop trying to control what we can’t control?
We may feel like we’ve been carrying a heavy tray loaded down with a multitude of “things”. If one more thing gets added to an already-more-than-we-can-carry load, we’re just going to implode! Our despair causes us to drop everything!
I remember a time feeling like this- my to-do list felt so long that I was ready to crumble. Instead of trying to do just one small thing on my list, I was so overwhelmed and distracted, I couldn’t do any of them!
After visiting with a counselor about it, she described my symptoms as seasonal depression and offered the suggestion of trying an anti-depressant.
Back then I was apprehensive, but after a year of despair and hopelessness, I was ready to try something- anything- to make things better and provide some sanity.
When women suffer from depression, quite often feelings of guilt and shame accompany those sad feelings. Guilt is feeling like we’ve done something wrong. Shame is thinking we are what’s wrong. The enemy knows our weakness and uses guilt and shame to his advantage.
As Christians, although we may be seeking the Lord, we often put additional pressure on ourselves, believing we should be able to handle things on our own- without medication.
After all, we may assume, if we were really trusting God in all things, we shouldn’t/wouldn’t have these feelings, right? Nope. Not true. Get rid of that guilt, shame, and the should’ve, would’ve, could’ve’s!
If we’re going through a season of sadness, especially if dealing with loss and grief from betrayal trauma, it’s possible taking an antidepressant could be beneficial.
Hormones often become imbalanced when we get low. Serotonin levels change, and medication may help us get over the hump- over the place where we’re stuck.
Speak with a counselor or therapist to get a professional opinion. I’m not advising whether you should or should not go on medication, but only to cause one to realize it may be an option.
After a divorce, I took an anti-depressant while simultaneously getting professional help from a therapist. It proved to be a huge blessing and helped me get out of the pit I found myself in. It’s something to think through and pray about. God remains sovereign- even in this. He sees you, He knows you, and He knows what’s best. You can rest assured with God’s help, you are going to be ok.
Please remember getting help is not a sign of failure. Speaking with a therapist may be all that’s needed, but just perhaps, we may need more, in the form of medication, and that’s ok.