Just like we care for our physical bodies, we should also care for our minds. When someone breaks their bone, catches the flu, or develops heart disease, no one questions whether they deserve medical care. Yet when someone struggles with anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or another mental disorder, people are often told to “get over it” or “think positive.”
You’re still dragging, even though technically you slept. Your stomach won’t settle, although you ate. Your chest feels tight, though you can breathe just fine. Your mind is foggy, except for the flood of memories—little flashes of hospital rooms, unanswered calls, holidays that don’t look the same. You’re not exactly sad—but something’s definitely wrong. You’re not “being dramatic.” This is grief in the body.
Sometimes all someone needs is a listening ear and a caring heart. You can become a hero by providing these things to people who are hurting or going through a mental health crisis. Not long ago, I comforted a woman who had lost a child by suicide.
If you are anything like me or know someone like me, you didn’t know what a mood disorder was until you were diagnosis. This diagnosis can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. A quick Google search will tell you that 1 in 5 people struggle with their mental health. However, people who don’t struggle with these issues may not notice anything is wrong with someone else, as a mood disorder doesn’t always display physical symptoms.
Unforgiveness doesn’t just affect your emotions—it weighs on your body, clouds your mind, and disconnects your spirit. Discover how forgiveness can improve your mental, physical, and spiritual health—and why practicing it daily might be the healthiest habit you’ll ever form.