Lord, we come to you today and ask that anyone, any family suffering from post traumatic stress, experience your unbelievable, powerful love and understanding. We call to mind those past events that caused us hurt and heartbreak and we lift them up to You, Lord. We ask You to take them, to carry them for us. Where we were wrong Lord, we ask you to show us. Where we could have done things differently Lord, we ask that You reveal that to us too. We want to move forward and be the light in the world that You have called us to be. We love you Lord!! Have a beautiful day!!!
Today we want to take a moment to share the essay that our youngest daughter wrote regarding a community issue. She chose the topic of mental health. She is 13 now. She has adrenal insufficiency and from about 18 months old until she was about 10 years old her body required her to eat on an at least every 2 hour basis, which meant that she needed snacks at school. She also has a sensory processing disorder and is dyslexic. All of these things combined caused her to exhibit symptoms of depression beginning around 2nd grade. She did not understand why her body was different from everyone and why she had to work harder then everyone else. We had several talks, mostly after many angry outbursts and tears, that eventually led us to an understanding that we wanted to change our mindset and our approach to what seemed to be obstacles in her life. Instead of looking at the negative sides of these issues we wanted to focus on the positive --- the pieces that were making her stronger.
Here is the beginning of her story to getting stronger:
Get Help for Mental Illness
Many people struggle with mental illness that impacts their lives and the lives of those around them. A few years ago, I watched my family start to fall apart because my dad has a mental illness and was not getting help. It is important to get help, so that you and the people that you love can have a better life.
Going to counseling helps you to get better. You can talk your problems through. You can learn how to cope with your problems. For example learning how to breathe through an anxious time. You can learn how to talk to the people around you. For example, your counselor might ask your mom or dad to come to a session to talk about something that is bothering you. They can help you find the words and even practice talking.
A counselor gives you someone to talk to who will keep your information to themselves. Knowing that your information won't be shared gives you a sense of relief and makes you more likely to open up. Knowing that a counselor will keep your information to themselves is also important because you don't have to be scared of something bad happening.
Some people might argue that you don't need to go to a counselor to get better, but it is important to feel safe in your environment and in your life. It is important to feel safe because your anxiety is down. You won't be scared and will be calm and focused. When you are calm and focused, you are able to get more done.
In conclusion, if you are experiencing problems, go see a counselor immediately. Your heart and your family will appreciate it!
Ya'll have a beautiful day!
All My Love,
Jen
To view 30 Days of Prayer to Heal PTSD - Day 1 click here.
To learn more about Get Strong with Jen! click here.
