~by Ariane I recently attended the viewing of a sweet newborn baby. As I watched the parents of this infant shed tears of sorrow for the unexpected and untimely loss of their baby girl, I tried to comprehend what they might be feeling. I thought of the various challenges that they would continue to face as they learned to cope with their loss. My heart ached as I quietly and respectfully watched this good father, carry the tiny casket holding his precious baby, into the funeral services. Knowing that I couldn’t take their pain away, I struggled to find the right words to express to the distraught parents, and I prayed that they would find a measure of peace and comfort through the difficult grieving process. As I have taken time to ponder upon this brief and sorrowful moment, I’ve recalled many times the vision I have etched in my mind of this father carrying the tiny casket which held his precious baby girl. I’m sure for this father it didn’t take a great deal... Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘Depression’ Category
Forward with Faith: “I’m grateful for my depression”
~by Cheryl The other night at the dinner table, we were talking about gratitude. I explained to our five children that gratitude for things we love is easy; but what about gratitude for things we don’t really like? I asked everyone to name one thing they were grateful for that on the outside, would seem ludicrous. What were they thankful for that was hard but had inadvertently blessed their lives? Homework. Cleaning the house. Bedtime. Their answers didn’t come very quickly, but when they did, it was obvious to see how they could be a blessing. Finally, it was my turn. For me, the answer is easy. I’m grateful for my depression. Depression is not fun. It’s not easy. It’s slow to strike, slow to diagnose, and sometimes it’s slow to eradicate. Like my asthma, depression never really, truly, honestly, goes away. It lurks. Depression enters the mind, slowly leaking into the heart and soul. During my darkest times, I would feel nothing. I would be motivated... Read the rest of this entry »
Is there a better way?
It never fails. The weekend comes and my goal is to ensure that when we wake up Saturday morning, there is nothing that needs to be done. All the laundry is caught up, dishes are caught up, counters cleaned off and organized, everything is placed where it is supposed to be. Yet, something magical happens. [...] Read More →
Battling Clinical Depression, “Finding the Light from Within”
Editor’s note: Ariane has created a blog where she talks about dealing with clinical depression and anxiety. She kindly consented to us sharing one of her posts here at Mormon Women. “Finding the Light from Within” (the first in our “Forward With Faith” series) ~by Ariane As we journey through life, along the way we discover through various personal experiences, the learning and growth that is required of us to become the type of person that the Lord intends for us to become. As we experience both the struggles and the victories, we can gain valuable strength and knowledge that will add to our character an extra measure of strength and understanding. It is my hope that through sharing my experiences with clinical depression and anxiety, that I might in some small way be able to make a difference in the life of another who is carrying the same burden, and that along the way each of us will find additional faith, hope and strength as we trust in the Lord and... Read the rest of this entry »
Mormon Woman Writes about Struggle with Depression in Poem: “Descending”
~by Marsha Steed Keller Sometimes we do it all. Sometimes we think we can do it all, and sometimes the ‘all’ falls into a pile of broken dreams, shattered promises and difficulties at our feet. Once I had it all, and then one day I woke up to the realization that nothing I thought I had existed any longer. Now that I have a degree in Psychology, I realize I was in a major depression, but at the time, I just thought that I wasn’t ‘good enough’ and needed to ‘try harder.’ I hung on with my bare fingernails teaching Seminary and clinging to my sanity through gospel study. It was a slow and painful personal climb back to joy. It took at least a year and at the end of it, my marriage was a casualty. That thin glimmer of hope was what I clung to, what pulled me from the depths of my personal hell back to the light of faith and wholeness. I wrote this at the time, and even as I read it from the present where I have returned to a solid foundation and a joyful life,... Read the rest of this entry »
Book Review–G. G. Vandagriff’s Novel Pieces of Paris
When Bad Things Happen to Good People: One woman’s journey to overcome the effects of abuse and addiction
~by Candace I know this is the true Church of our Savior Jesus Christ and that we are led by a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. My story: My life challenges started at a very early age. I was eight years old when I was first molested. He was a friend of the family and I had a child’s love for him. He broke my heart and severely injured my spirit. Unable to tell my parents, my trust of people around me was shaken. I became very insecure and frightened of life. When I reached my teens, my insecurities and lack of participation in school activities became evident and a concerned counselor started drawing me out and I felt comforted by his concern. But, once again my life was jolted when he betrayed my trust. One day he offered me a ride home. I accepted his kind gesture. I soon realized he had other intentions. We took a ride into the hills near our town and the unspeakable happened. Once again I was shaken to the core and afraid to go to my parents. I had no idea how to deal with any... Read the rest of this entry »
Healing from Depression Through Jesus Christ
Today, I’m posting another outstanding YouTube video from Seth Adam Smith. Depression is a topic that concerns many people of all faiths, in all parts of today’s world. Carrie Wrigley is a powerful speaker. The quote below comes from Seth. “The Lord hath anointed me…to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…to comfort all that mourn…to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” (Isaiah 61:1-3) In a world filled with differing—and oftentimes, conflicting—philosophies on depression, low self-worth and mental health, Carrie M. Wrigley, LCSW, offers profound, gospel-centered counsel on healing through Jesus Christ and the power of His Atonement. Citing examples from the scriptures and quotes from modern-day apostles and prophets, Carrie Wrigley highlights the hope for “them that sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42:7)... Read the rest of this entry »
First Person: Seasons of My Life
~by Cheryl Cheryl says this about herself: I was born to Canadian parents, raised in Idaho, and graduated from BYU. Since then, my home has been in Provo (except for one wonderful year in the Bay Area, California). I have one amazing husband (eleven years and counting), five fabulous kids, and although I struggle with depression, I seriously have one great life. I’m tall. I love. I write. It happens to me every winter: I forget what it is like to walk on the grass in my bare feet. My body recoils at the bitter cold and I content myself with a life indoors. Spring is far away, summer is a myth; only the memories of autumn linger in my mind. Come springtime, the memories of warmth will take hold and before summer arrives I will already be planning a hike, a picnic, an early morning walk. The irony is how repetitive the cycle tends to be. Over and over again I forget summer, only then to forget winter and cold during the hot August air. This is not quite unlike the ease in which I... Read the rest of this entry »
Nehemiah, Katrina, Indonesia, Haiti, and Rebuilding Our Lives
On January 12, 2010, and at 4:53 pm (Haitian Local Time), a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated the nation of Haiti. A region being referred to as the poorest country in the Northern Hemisphere. The response to this catastrophe is phenomenal. Prior to this, on December 26, 2004, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused a Tsunami that [...] Read More →
Nehemiah, Katrina, Indonesia, Haiti, and Rebuilding Our Lives
On January 12, 2010, and at 4:53 pm (Haitian Local Time), a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated the nation of Haiti. A region being referred to as the poorest country in the Northern Hemisphere. The response to this catastrophe is phenomenal. Prior to this, on December 26, 2004, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused a Tsunami that [...] Read More →
In A Depression With Chronic Illness
Question: “I suffer from chronic illness and depression and was put on disability because of it. In other words, I get sick very easily. A couple years ago I had endometrial cancer and the illness has grown worse this past year and 1/2 and the depression too. I recently lost my brother in November which hasn’t helped and living in Alaska and a non-supportive family and ward. Sometimes I don’t even dress until about 2 o’clock and do my housework then! I used to have all kinds of energy and be very social. I also have a bad foot and it hurts to even walk. I was hoping to move to Oregon so I could be in a climate with a lot less winter. The rent is so much cheaper than Alaska and I thought I could at least get a small house with a yard and a bicycle. I know a lot of my depression is from living in Alaska in a remote area with no a lot to do. Plus, I’ve had some people in the ward and area where I live who’ve not been so nice to me, including women living me stranded... Read the rest of this entry »