MINDING OUR MENTAL HEALTH
Psalm 18:1-6
PART I: BREAKING DOWN STIGMAS AROUND MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
I. INTRODUCTION
Minding My mental health.
II. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
We all have mental health. Just as poor health can lead to physical illness, poor mental can lead to mental illness. The National Institute of Health states that mental health includes our emotional, mental, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act and make choices and treat others. Emotions in the bible include, anger, anxiety, fear, grief, Hope, and Jealousy all connect to our mental health.
Philippians 4:6 NKJV
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Psalm 30:5 NKJV
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Proverbs 15:18 NKJV
A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
Proverbs 24:5-9 A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; 6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety. 7 Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate. 8 He who plots to do evil Will be called a [a]schemer. 9 The devising of foolishness is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
III. WHAT IMPACTS MY MENTAL HEALTH?
The way I think, the way I make choices in the moment and in the long term.
1. Long-term and persistent stress (were built to handle short levels of stress like a car pull-out)
• Problematic when it’s extended leads to depression anxiety
• Physically it can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems
2. Traumatic life experiences: situations threatening your life or sense of safety. This impacts a person’s ability to cope. Feelings of distress fear of loss of control
• Ex. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, car accidents domestic violence, divorce, bullying, and even covid 19
3. Physical Illness & Injury: impacts adults and students athletes
4. Family History- the stigma and shame of it.
5. Other factors: discrimination, lack of support services, economic status, drug and alcohol
Trauma is unique to each individual
Ephesians 4:21-24 21. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
IV. MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS ARE AMONG THE MOST COMMON HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
The National Institute of Mental Health states 1 out of 5 adults in the US has a mental health disorder. There were over 58 million people in 2021 that was diagnosed with a mental health disorder and only half of those individuals sought out professional help.
Depression and anxiety is the most common disorder in the US
V. MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Difference between sadness and depression.
We all feel sadness it’s only temporary. Sadness is Natural reaction to human pain. Depression can be debilitating that affects eating, sleeping, working, and relationships.
A. Signs Of Depression
Signs of depression include sadness, anxiety, empty mood, loss of pleasure and interest in activities, sleeping too much or too little, problems falling asleep, unexplained weight gain or weight loss restless irritability, dizziness chronic pain difficulty in concentration hopelessness, feeling worthless, and the worse self-harm and suicide
B. Signs of Anxiety
Anxiety can be natural ( alert of danger, boost of unexplained energy to solve a specific task)
Anxiety disorder is excessive fear, easy fatigue, being on edge, headaches ache difficulty controlling feelings worry about the future.
1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
C. Destroying the Stigma
There is hope care and treatment are available. What is stigma? A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person. Negative discriminatory attitudes that others have about mental illness. Mental illness is not a weakness that is a sign of stigma. Calling someone a coward or you don’t have enough faith, just get over it. These can play a major stumbling block. It can cause social isolation. Low self-esteem. The individual feels they are not enough.
CS Lewis says, “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart is broken’.
What’s next:
Normalize mental health therapy for a checkup like your physical checkup.
God has anointed individuals like doctors
Isaiah 61:2-3,7 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to [a]heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To [b]console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” 4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
Educate yourself and your community with free resources that can educate you for the strength of it. Once you know better you can do better.
If your living with the condition
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. You are special
Psalm 2:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.