Came, Saw, Conquered: Mental Health Edition

The fight has been anything but easy.

When I started my counseling journey years ago, I was far from the woman I am today.  I was withdrawn and isolated, fighting battles inside that no one knew.  I was losing sight of who I was and what I wanted in life.  Depression and anxiety were taking over my life.

But they weren’t the end.

I’ll be the first to tell you, the healing journey was tough.  It was hard work.  There were a lot of days I didn’t want to put in the work to improve anything.  It all seemed more daunting than I wanted to pursue.  I wanted to get out of the blah I was living inside, but it felt as if I couldn’t find the energy to begin.

But God.

This isn’t the first time I’ve shared about my counseling journey.  I’m passionate about it because I know where I came from and where I am now.  I remember all of the days that have led me here.

I persevered through all of the homework.  Some of it was worse than school homework.  There were a lot of weeks in which I spent not just one evening after work, doing a counseling session, but several.  A lot of days spent working through trauma and grief.  Days spent rewiring my thought patterns.  Teaching my brain that I could in fact take a minute and give myself time to respond.  Understanding that anxiety is normal in life.  It’s when it continues beyond the normalcy level that it can and will cause more unwanted symptoms.

The journey has been about showing up and giving myself grace.  I had no choice but to do both in order to heal.  Otherwise I wasn’t sure if I was going to be around for a future to enjoy.  It was a slow and arduous process but I’m stronger today because of it.

I never thought there would come a day in which I could say that I graduated from regular sessions and difficult homework.  But I did!  Again, it was and is only because of God.

I can now celebrate the hard work and I thank God for walking with me in the darkness.  There were a lot of dark days but God was faithful.  I was surrounded by the right people and mentored by a godly counselor who didn’t let me give up.  There’s no way I could have done it alone. 

I write all of this to encourage someone out there that you matter.  Your mental health is important.  You can do this, no matter how hard or daunting it may seem.  It’s about putting one foot in front of the other and making the choice to show up.  It’s about reminding yourself as I learned, to give yourself grace.  

Don’t let anyone look down on you or discourage you.  There isn’t anyone who understands one-hundred percent of your story but there is still hope available. Counseling is worth it.  Jesus is worth it.

I may not be doing regular counseling sessions right now, but I’ve learned to check in when my soul needs it.  I value the medicine that in this season helps me manage day-to-day.  I’m thankful for the resources that I have in my back pocket and how I have learned to think through situations and emotions that used to crumble me.  

You can, in fact, do this.  Yes, it may be hard.  There may be dark days but there is light on the other side of the storm.  One day you’ll be able to look back and say, I came, I saw, and I conquered.  And friend, you’ll have every reason to be so very proud.  Share this hope and encouragement with someone who needs it today.

Proverbs 19:20-21

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.