These posts on dealing with depression and anxiety arise from our own experiences seen though the lens of faith in Christ. Our hope is in His promise of (eventual) full deliverance from the suffering and brokenness we experience in this world.

6 Ways to Love Someone With Anxiety or Depression - The following is a guest post I wrote for Anne Marie Miller’s website on June 16, 2014. It was republished by ChurchLeaders.com. I wanted to share it with you today, here on Average Us.—Lon You’re probably familiar with this passage of the Bible written by the Apostle Paul: Love is patient and kind; love does … Continue reading 6 Ways to Love Someone With Anxiety or Depression

Seven Truths About Suffering That Bring More Comfort Than Knowing “Why?” - “Why?” “How long?” That’s what we really want to know. We want God to answer, to give an account of Himself. “How long will the pain last?” “Why did he leave me?” “Why did she die so young?” “How long will I be unemployed?” “Why won’t they leave me alone? “Why me? Why now? Why … Continue reading Seven Truths About Suffering That Bring More Comfort Than Knowing “Why?”

10 Useful Things You Can Do When Someone You Love Wants to Dig a Hole — And Die In It - Is suicide a problem, or a solution? For most of us, the thought of digging a hole and lying down in it to be covered up with dirt is terrifying. But there came a time for Dawn when it was a solution she longed for. [photo by ill.have.another via Flickr] Let me tell you about … Continue reading 10 Useful Things You Can Do When Someone You Love Wants to Dig a Hole — And Die In It

The Best Natural and Spiritual Ways to Manage Anxiety and Depression - The love of my life suffers with anxiety and depression. If you have ever experienced them, you know suffer is the right word. And often, you don’t know why you’re suffering. Dawn occasionally experiences physical pain or crawling skin. Sometimes she can’t focus. She cries a lot. Sometimes life overwhelms her. She may struggle to make decisions. … Continue reading The Best Natural and Spiritual Ways to Manage Anxiety and Depression

Surviving When Suicide Seems Like a Friend - A few months ago I posted 10 Useful Things You Can Do When Someone You Love Wants to Dig a Hole–And Die In It about Dawn’s struggle with depression. In that post I shared the story of how Dawn came to the point in her life where she began to see suicide as a solution, not … Continue reading Surviving When Suicide Seems Like a Friend

HIS PAIN, my pain - Living with depression has deepened my love for Jesus. There are times I have sat hugging my knees in my chair weeping from the intense pain of depression. (Those of you who have experienced depression know what I mean.) My soul cries out to Jesus, thinking He really doesn’t understand what I am going through. … Continue reading HIS PAIN, my pain

Why God Gave Me Panic Disorder - Panic Disorder is the label psychologists give you if your natural fight-or-flight response keeps going out of whack. And it’s part of the package God gave me when He created me. Call it a thorn, if you like. (I realize that’s a controversial statement that begs for explanation, but for now I’ll just refer you … Continue reading Why God Gave Me Panic Disorder

Hoping for Heaven; Content with Spring - I love spring, and here in Georgia you can see and feel and smell that spring is near. I love seeing the cherry trees blossom, the daffodils bloom and the robins hopping around in search of worms. Best of all, I love to see my willow tree bursting with that fresh, spring green. Winter Into … Continue reading Hoping for Heaven; Content with Spring

Stabilize Your Mood With Protein - Hello, Average Us readers! This is Dawn… Do some foods affect your mood in weird ways? It happens to me all the time. I, like others like me who struggle with depression and anxiety, have to be extra aware of how food choices make me feel. While food can neither cause nor remove anxiety, I … Continue reading Stabilize Your Mood With Protein

Living With Mental Illness Is Hard - Living with mental illness as a mother is even harder. When I first became deeply ill, I did not realize the impact it would have on my children. At the time, I thought I was doing a pretty good job of hiding it. But, I have discovered they saw more than I thought they did, … Continue reading Living With Mental Illness Is Hard

Lost, But Not - As I write this, I’ve been enjoying a season of peace and quiet in my mind. I have felt relatively “normal”. But today I’m want to share some thoughts I wrote a while ago when I didn’t feel normal that paint a picture of what depression can feel like. Lost Depression makes me feel lost … Continue reading Lost, But Not

Being Angry With God - You know what amazes me? – that God loves me. Darkness As readers of Average Us know, I experience recurring cycles between what I call “feeling good” and depression. During the depression cycles, I feel all sorts of dark, awful things. I lose control of my normal thought processes. I feel pain inside and out. … Continue reading Being Angry With God

On Hating and Loving Depression - I know what you’re thinking. How can someone love depression, right? I’ll get there; but first bear with me while I vent… I Hate This I absolutely loathe living with anxiety and depression. I hate how it affects my mind, my emotions, my enjoyment of life, my physical senses, my eating habits – well just … Continue reading On Hating and Loving Depression