Women of F&W Series: Deborah E.

At what moment did you realize you needed healing —mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually, etc.?  

I needed mental and spiritual healing when I realized I lost my hope. And when I say lost hope, I mean I had no thought, urge, or expectation that my circumstances were going to change nor that God could do the impossible. When I wasn’t looking forward to what was to come, when I wasn’t expecting anything to change, when I wasn’t looking for God to move, that’s when I knew I needed healing.

Based on challenges or struggles you were or are facing, how has faith helped you find strength in your healing journey?

In the midst of my mental health and spiritual challenges, finding my faith again helped me to keep putting one foot in front of other. The tricky thing with depression and anxiety is that it’s largely an internal battle of the mind, so when you are able to take a step—any step—it’s such a huge milestone towards progress. So in the times when I have very little to nothing, my faith, the literal size of a mustard seed, is what helped me take one step in front of the other. At first they were tiny, but they got bigger each time I walked out on faith or God miraculously showed up. Faith kept me moving, whether it was a crawl, walk, or run towards Him.

How have wellness practices contributed to your healing journey?

Wellness practices are so vital to mental health and spiritual recovery. A lot of times the symptoms that arise are often related to issues with caring for physically needs—a lack of sleep, little to no exercise or eating, a lack of boundaries, no work/life-balance or room for joy—all those things are connected to my physical wellness. So when I started to prioritize getting at least 7hrs of sleep, eating my daily meals (healthily—I love fruit so much I could be a fruit), listening to my body and rest/seek joy when necessary, and going to therapy, it started to really help with my symptoms. I also made a lot of lifestyle changes (where I went, what I doing) to match my slower journey to healing. I also wouldn’t be afraid to consider medication if necessary; it’s not the path for everyone, but for the right person it can make a world of difference.

Share an affirmation, scripture, or words of encouragement for the women navigating their healing journey.

The scripture that kept me going in this time was 2 Cor 4:16-18.