New Year’s is a time for new beginnings, but for some people, it can be really hard. As someone who struggles with depression, I can share that I have gone through many New Years where my heart is just not in it. I don’t feel like going to a New Year's party, meeting up with friends, or faking a smile for the entire day. Maybe you are also facing something similar this year. Depression steals your joy, but you feel too drained to fight back.
The first New Year’s I experienced severe depression was when I was fourteen-years-old. I was struggling with an undiagnosed eating disorder, anxiety, and depression. What my mother thought was “intense emotions” was actually several mental health problems that needed help. Mental health is much more talked about in the modern day; however, when I was growing up, nobody ever talked about it. In other words, nobody really knew what a mental health illness was or what it meant for the quality of your life.
Through this five-day Bible study, I want to offer you the help that I did not receive. While this Bible study will not cure you, it can be a helpful tool to use as you are walking through the upcoming New Year. As always, I encourage you to seek out help from a mental health specialist, your primary care doctor, and a therapist to discuss any symptoms you are facing. Medication management and therapy can truly do wonders for most mental health concerns.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/max-kegfire