Women, Mental Health, and the Lord
Updated: Sep 13
Jade, mental health issues are rampant these days for everyone. I want to focus on women, however, because I am a woman and you will become one. I have suffered from several mental health issues during my time, and when you get older you will be privy to what they are, but I am doing everything in my power to take care of myself, for your and my sakes. I had to make the difficult decision to stay on mental health medication during my pregnancy with you, and I even went to a maternal fetal medicine doctor to confirm that that would be ok. Even though there may have been unknown risks, the risk of me not being on them would have been too great. And yes, you cannot always take the risk of doing that, but I asked the Lord to guide me during this situation because I did not want any harm to come to you, or myself. I even signed up for a psychiatric medication pregnancy registry, so that medical professionals could learn from my decision.
See, I have been on medication for so long and I have experienced how detrimental it is to switch or come off of medication suddenly, even under a doctor’s care, so I knew better than to do that. I have been stable for years as well to this point, and I didn’t want to risk instability even if certain doctors were suggesting I come off for your sake. There was no proof either way, because they do not do tests with psychiatric medication on pregnant women; doctors just assume the worst will happen. I have also found that I have had to be in charge of my own mental health journey, as only me and the Lord have my best interests at heart. I have had doctors send me home with family when I was completely unstable due to the care that they suggested, and did not take any further responsibility for me as their patient.
I tell you all this to say that you are going to have to be responsible for your mental health journey as well. The main trigger for any past episode I have had was stress, so it is important you keep your stress levels down. I will do everything in my power to make sure that stress is minimized in your life, but I cannot guarantee you will not face stressors. My writing, now that I am doing it again, has become such a therapeutic tool for me to emote and get out how I’m feeling about the things that are going on around me and to me. This helped me when the relationship between me and your father was ending, right before I found out I was pregnant with you. I was overjoyed that you were here, but the immense stress I experienced during my pregnancy with you, because of the end of that relationship with your father, was only tempered by the love of God, our family, my coworkers, my Bible study group of women, and the pregnancy center counselors (especially one in particular). Going to therapy and talking to a therapist and having my feelings and experiences validated also really helped me “keep it together” while I carried you. I was able to work all the way up until the week you were born (about 38 weeks-full term), and I did not experience any post-partum depression or psychosis after your birth. In fact, I experienced immense joy.
However, your father filed for divorce while I was on maternity leave from work (about three weeks after I gave birth to you), and even though we were already separated, I felt physical symptoms of stress for at least two days when I received the papers. I had to go to God, my friends, my family, and my church to cope. God in particular gave me a strength I had never known, and I was able to return to work right before you turned six weeks. I was grateful to have a job to return to.
I tell you all this not to disparage your father, but to let you know that women these days carry a load that lends itself to mental health issues popping up and taking control of their lives. If you’re not careful and do not take your relationship with God seriously by giving your stress to Him, you are going to be open to anything that the devil wants to use to exploit the situation. We have to take care of ourselves spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally, and learn of what God says about taking care of our minds. I have a few verses to go over with you:
II Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
[7] For God has not given us spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear is the main driving factor of stress and mental health issues. Whether it’s fear of being alone, or fear of something going wrong; you cannot let fear drive the vehicle of your mind, or you will crash into a ditch. Experience has taught me that even in my worst states God was with me, and He allowed my previous experiences to as well as the love of others to make sure that you came out healthy, happy and whole. But had I been afraid due the situation I found myself when I was pregnant with you, things could have turned out much different. It’s time you learned you learned about spiritual warfare.
Ephesians 6:10-20 (NKJV)
[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; [18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— [19] and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Read this passage carefully, because this is real life. An attack on your mental health is a spiritual attack, and you have to do whatever the Lord leads you to do to combat it. If you have to take medication, or go to therapy, or hound doctors until you reach a level of stability and comfort, do it. DO NOT give up fighting for your mental health. This brings me to what happened to Lindsey Clancy, the labor and delivery nurse who is on trial for allegedly killing her three kids due to having a mental health crisis. Why are other women rallying around a woman who may have allegedly done that? Because stress for women in this US society, and definitely around the world, is real. It’s apparent that she was seeking help before that happened, and she is not the only one who “fell through the cracks.” So many women are experiencing or have experienced some type of mental health issue due to stress. We work, we have children, we take care of children, we take care of our husbands or significant others, and we sacrifice our own wellbeing to do so. We’re considered the “lesser sex” even though we do so much to hold this society together. And in the kingdom of God, “the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16).
Jade, do not think less of yourself if you experience any mental health issues, whether because of genetics or due to stress. The Lord will guide you through any difficult times as he has done for me, and in the process I have learned about His kingdom as well as how the devil operates on a spiritual level to bring down the children of God. God wants to use our testimonies to help others so they may not have walk through what we have walked through. And if you do find yourself in some spiritual storms, I am living proof that God can give you peace in the middle of them, so always know that you are loved by Him. I love you too as well.
