Faith & Mental Health

@Captain24 thank you for your beautiful post.

Like you I was raised going to church. My Nana was a devout Christian and she was the one who showed me what faith really is. Even when she was in end stage cancer she was at peace and I've never forgotten that.
Mum made me go to church every Sunday, even when she didn't go and my brother was never made to go to church. I used to resent it but I have always believed in God.

I was born again in 2005 and I have strayed off the path so to speak a few times, but found my way back about 8 years ago.
I was lucky to have a very good friend and workmate (she and her dad baptised me) who also lived with MI and she said that when she was first diagnosed it was a relief, knowing that there was a reason she felt the way she did.
I thank God for my MI, I believe He can use us to reach out to others who may be suffering a crisis of faith because of their mental health.

Thanks for your post once again, I am so glad to meet you! 😍🙏

@Dimity @Shaz51 @Captain24 @tyme @Jenn4 @Appleblossom and apologies for anyone I may have missed.

Here is a verse for today, my prayers are with y'all 🙏

My family were not Christians @ENKELI . As a child, I went to youth group with my two sisters.

Over the years, I went each week, but like many, I wasn't very interested, but just kept going because I didn't want to let people down.

When I was a teenager, let's just say things changed. I came to know the Lord and this is when things turned around. I found solace and peace in reading the Word. Even today, the word comforts me a lot.

@ENKELI, there were times I questioned my faith because of my mental health, but now I just see that it was part of His plans.

@tyme God had you in His sight from the get go 😊

I have questioned my faith a lot over the years, and last year I came close to walking away from God. I couldn't understand how He put me in such a position but then I remembered that He had given me a prophesy that I would not remain friends with ex friend. I still miss the kids desperately and when I saw ex at woollies the other day and she looked through me I cried. But I know He has a reason for everything and I can only lean further into Him and start reading more faith based books plus do more Bible study.

The one thing I dislike about my MI is the lack of motivation. No matter how much I pray I still struggle trying to get motivated to do a lot of things.

I'm glad you have faith, and I'm glad I get to chat with you 🤗

We all have our life journey and I'm a firm believer that all things happen for good to those that love God. Romans 8:28

What I'm saying is that we cannot always compare our journey with others. He has a plan for each of us. @ENKELI

Very true @tyme , @ENKELI , we all have our own journeys

And sometimes we can't see an answer to " why " years later 😍

@Dimity , @Captain24 , @Jenn4

Hi guys,

This is my first message on these forums. I hope I get it right..

Feel free to correct me😅

So I live with CPTSD and coexisting diagnosis.

I was bought up in a strict religious home with family violence and sexual abuse.

All my family live with mental illness and it was my job to take care of them and anyone else who entered our home.

My father always wanted to die and go to heaven, so that his suffering would stop. I think the same thing.

I leave my home to look after people and return home to plead God to take my life.

I know caring for people gives me meaning in life. However, I'd prefer to rest in heaven with no more psychological suffering.

Does anyone else think this way?

I'm alienated from my son due to his father's family violence.

I have tight boundaries on my family of origin as they believe their abuse was normal and i should forgive and get over it.

Through these life lessons I have also stepped away from bad relationships and I have no one left.

Hey @Bessie78 welcome to the forums, glad you found us. Thanks for sharing your story with us, sounds like you've walked a difficult road, and had to make some tough choices about your relationships. Moving away from toxicity and abuse can be one of the hardest and loneliest roads to walk.

I think it makes sense to desire peace, and feel that dying might be the way to find it. It's not an uncommon way to experience suicide ideation - to seek not death, but relief. If these thoughts and desires ever get too overwhelming there's always support available:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 or Crisis Chat

Suicide call back service: 1300 659 467 or online counselling

Samaritans: 135 247

If in immediate danger: 000

You can also always give the SANE line a buzz (1800 187 263 Mon-Fri, 10am-10pm), can be really helpful to just be able to chat to someone, get stuff off our chest. Do you have any professional mental health support at the moment?

Hope you find what you're looking for here, and of course don't hesitate to reach out if you wanna chat - you can tag me anytime (when responding, use the @ symbol and a drop down will appear, and you can choose their name. If their name isn't there, you can type it out and it should then appear for you to select, then it will show up in blue, like this: @Jynx). You're not alone 💜

Hi @Jynx

I'm safe.

Just chronic thoughts of desiring death.

(I'm not where I used to be).

Plenty of mental health support in place.

I'm also a mental health carer peer worker.

I just wondered if there were people who had a Christian abusive upbringing who struggled with the same thoughts.

Thanks for letting me know @Bessie78 and that's super cool you're also in peer work!

Alas, I can't speak from personal experience for this one, but one of my partners has had a massive history of religious trauma, and I know just how much it can have an impact. I'd have to ask him if any of his suicide ideation was similar.

We've got a little space called Christian Chat, if you wanted to make a post over there? Either regarding this topic, or just to introduce yourself! Up to you 😊