Mental Health Moment - Give the Lord Something to Work With
As many of you know, I have written a book about living joyfully with depression and anxiety. I am a mental health advocate and I speak up for those who suffer. I also want to be an example of being mentally and physically strong. This week I have needed to look in the mirror and advise myself. I know the guidlines of health and self-care and have a top ten check list to help remind myself of important practices. They are: 1. eat healthy 2. sleep well 3. exercise each day 4. utilize thought control 5. practice self-compassion 6. express gratitude 7. control my breath 8. share my goodness with others 9. pray always and 10. take my medication daily. These are basic health practices for me. Since being on my mission I have been so busy I have let a few of these items slide. I can feel the difference and I have to regroup and make my mental health a priority. I don’t want to crash.
I am one of many missionaries here in the California Santa Rosa Mission that has what we are calling a “mental health challenge.” This is kind of an umbrella term for everything from temporary situational depression to depression as an illness.
Mark and I have been told that our mission along with other western state missions are sent more missionaries who have reported experiencing depression and anxiety growing up. This is because as a mission we have sunshine, and we are fortunate enough to have resources such as a therapist and a psychiatrist that the missionaries can see free of charge. This is a great blessing for missionaries needing that support.
Missions are wonderful and amazing experiences. Missionaries return home after their service physically stronger and more spiritually mature. Yet, missions are also a lot of hard work, and they can be like a pressure cooker for these young adults with any underlying issues whether they be spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical. Each day there are schedules to maintain, rules to obey, training to follow, standards to live up to, companions to get along with, new people to introduce themselves to, and disappointments to manage. I admire the courage of all the young people going on missions as they know it will be very difficult at times. It can be especially difficult when faced with a mental health challenge.
Earlier this week after consulting with a missionary, their parents, the therapist, and doctors Mark and I came to the difficult yet correct conclusion to have this missionary return home so they can get much needed additional health care and support. This missionary served well and was brave to serve as long as they did. This missionary was extended an honorable release and I know the Lord has accepted their beautiful offering.
I am a believer that God, our Heavenly Father is aware of those who suffer with depression and anxiety and has inspired therapists, doctors, researchers, and scientists to provide answers to help us overcome these illnesses and find wellness. As a mission leader I have now instigated a mental health moment in all of our missionary training sessions. There is so much I can teach our missionaries! I can show them how to enjoy good mental health. One of the topics I can teach is “Giving the Lord Something to Work With.” Let me explain.
Before our mission Mark and I were given blessings by Elder David A. Bednar, an apostle of our church, where we were promised good health. After the blessing he admonished us, “if you want the Lord to bless you with good health, you have to give the Lord something to work with.” For me, I know that is doing my best to carry out my top ten basic health practices that I listed above. Of course I am not perfect at doing them all the time. Yet I know that every effort I make pays off.
Today, knowing I need the Lord’s blessings I decided to think about how I can “give the Lord something to work with.” Mark and I sat down went over our schedule and our “to do” lists. We consciously pulled back and prioritized things, so I can stay healthy. For instance I am going to be sure there is time to exercise and eat well. Cutting back on my list of things to do is hard for me because I want to do everything and admitting I can’t do it all is difficult. The bottom line has been asking myself. “What is it I choose?” Do I choose to be healthy or not? I remind myself that taking care of myself will allow me to care better for our missionaries. I know that it is by doing the little things each day that the big things, the Lord can help me with, will be made possible.