You’re not going crazy. Seriously.
Just because you struggle with mental illness doesn’t mean you are “crazy,” “insane,” or any one of the other multitude of labels that often are inaccurately placed upon sickness of the mind.
The truth is, mental illness comes from the same place as physical illness, the sin curse that is present in our lives. It is a part of the process of dying that we all enter from the moment we arrive to this life.
Unfortunately, many who have mental illness are very hesitant to talk about it because they know that there are people who will not take it seriously and will perhaps even mock them.
Why has such a stigma been placed upon mental illness? I think that the answer to that question is the fact that many people simply do not understand it, they don’t know how to deal with it, or they don’t want to deal with it, so they just write a mentally ill person off as being “crazy.”
That’s crazy!
From a theological perspective, being mentally ill is no different than a person suffering from cancer, heart disease, or any other malady of the body.
The practical difference is that mental illness can affect our perception of what is going on around us. It can be deceptive, confusing, and can cause a person to withdraw from interaction with others. It can cause a person to lash out, give up, break down, and can even have a negative effect on their physical health.
If you are suffering from mental illness, you must make sure the condition doesn’t fool you. It might convince you that everyone is against you, that you need to isolate yourself to protect yourself, and that there is no one who cares about you or is willing to listen to you.
Those are lies. Don’t believe them
Go to someone, a biblical therapist, your pastor, a friend you can trust, anyone.
You may have to take the first step, because the truth is, others may not realize your struggle. The symptoms are, at times, hard to detect, even by those who know what to look for. Ask God to lead you to the right person and to give you the grace to talk to them.
Your mind may seem like a misty darkness or a fog. God’s love is capable of penetrating the darkness. Give others the chance to let God’s love and grace enter your life through them.
To quote the late Coach Jimmy Valvano, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
There is help and there is hope. Even if you feel like you are going crazy, you aren’t.
Seriously.