Disclaimer: This article is simply my personal experience and is not intended to replace any medical advice that you are receiving. Depression is real and what works for one person may not work for everyone. I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ and I struggle. I struggle with Anxiety, trust and depression. I am hopeful because of the struggle, it means I have not given up, It means that I continue to battle. It means that God is not done with me yet. #TheStruggleIsReal Sunday, I found myself in the battle. I did not know why I was immobile, unable to move, feeling heavy and sad. All I knew is that by 4pm, after a day of isolating myself from my family, their activities and conversations, I could either continue to lay down or I could get up and FIGHT. I chose to fight. I chose to move through the heaviness, to move through the sadness and the weight of my unknown grief. So, I got on my dancing shoes (my trail-runners) and I hit the mountain. My husband joined me. My husband, who also did not know the source of my sadness, walked with me, he hiked with me and he ran beside me quietly as we hit the trails. And then it happened, around mile three, I could feel the weight lifting and my eyes open to see the light of the new day. Then, by our fifth mile, I felt like a brand new person. Depression has a way of creeping in unexpectedly, lurking and crouching, hoping that we will continue to lay in it, continue to listen to it and believe what it has to say. Depression thrives on immobility. As someone that has struggled with depression most of my life, I know that in the intricacy of how I am made, that I may continue to struggle with it until I am called home to heaven, sometimes alone, sometimes with someone walking beside me, sometimes with some saying (after a few days) "Get up off the couch and move!" I believe that there is truth to what the medical field has said regarding the benefits of exercise to combat depression. There is something in the way that we are designed that allows movement to re-set us and help us to dig ourselves out of the funk that we can be in. For those of us that struggle occasionally and those that struggle often, know that there is hope. Sometimes, we fight alone, sometimes we fight with someone beside us, sometimes we fight with the aid of medication and sometimes....no, ALL THE TIME we fight with the the Lord at our side. The Lord says that we can cast all of our cares, even when we don't know what they are, upon him. The Lord, who says that His yoke is easy and His burden light, calls us to take His yoke on us. The Lord will never leave us or forsake us in our sadness or in our struggles. Our Lord, who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imaging is by our side. Today, if this is you, fight. Fight to move. Fight to lift your eyes up to the source of life and light. Fight to get up. You got this, because He's got you! As one who remembers, I love you in the Lord, Mia For more information about depression help medically and spiritually, check out this article from Relevant Magazine: CLICK HERE Disclaimer: This article is simply my personal experience and is not intended to replace any medical advice that you are receiving. Depression is real and what works for one person may not work for everyone.
16 Comments
Rachel
12/30/2015 08:05:09 am
I am so happy to read this today. Had a similar experience this morning.
Reply
Mia Koehne
12/30/2015 09:58:51 am
Thanks, friend. Glad you got up and moved to! Love ya!
Reply
Tara
12/30/2015 09:36:39 am
Thank you for this. :)
Reply
Mia Koehne
12/30/2015 09:59:27 am
My joy. We are not alone, thank God!
Reply
KATRINA
12/30/2015 02:22:13 pm
Thank you for being transparent and vulnerable in an age where such action can be costly. You continue to pour truth and grace and compassion into others as you share the journey you have walked. The more of a threat you become to the schemes of the Deceiver, the more he will attack, and I am SO encouraged, that you got up and ran!
Reply
Mia Koehne
12/30/2015 04:27:50 pm
I love how we can move in all different ways...sometimes by removing ourselves. Thanks's for your insight and for sharing a glimpse into your life and struggle. Blessings, Kartrina!
Reply
Elizabeth
12/30/2015 02:33:09 pm
Thank you!
Reply
Mia Koehne
12/30/2015 06:18:24 pm
:) My joy.
Reply
MD Sosnicki
12/30/2015 04:04:35 pm
Mia, you are very correct. The struggle is real, and it is science - it is how we are designed. Depression comes to us in a lack of serotonin. Serotonin flows when you feel significant and important. You can increase serotonin simply by having coffee or tea outside in the sun for 20-30 minutes. The sun starts the process. Also, by exercising, in any form, you release endorphins which specifically relieve anxiety and depression. I have suffered on and off for most of my life, and I've learned what needs to happen. It doesn't stop it from coming to me, and I have those days when I can't get moving. But I've also learned that I don't need to move to talk to Our Lord. And for me, the only way I am finally able to move is by talking to Him. He moves me. He is in control. In Him, I find my peace.
Reply
Mia Koehne
12/30/2015 04:32:25 pm
Thanks for sharing. I think coffee and sun sounds fantastic!
Reply
Cry
12/30/2015 09:09:15 pm
Thank you for this post
Reply
Mia Koehne
1/3/2016 08:37:29 pm
Love you girl!
Reply
Madeline
1/2/2016 07:08:30 am
I love you friend! Thank you for sharing the thought process and feelings so clearly. God gave me so many revelations through you by reading this. He is our power source and we do need to be reminded, before we try to "dance around" without power!
Reply
Mia Koehne
1/3/2016 08:38:14 pm
Amen!
Reply
Donna
1/2/2016 07:09:55 am
Super timely post Mia. Thank you. Ptayers of gratitude for your ministry!
Reply
Mia Koehne
1/3/2016 08:39:02 pm
Thanks so much. God's timing is perfect! Praise God!!
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
The BlogA collection of writings from a life based on the truth that about midnight anything can happen. AuthorAs an imperfect servant of the Lord, I often feel I am fumbling my way through life, looking upward for guidance and outward to love. So, I write about it, to break up the noise in my head. Categories
All
Archives
May 2024
|