Last October, I started seeing a counselor (we'll call her "M" here). My awesome sister had been seeing someone for awhile as she struggled with her own demons, but I always thought you had to have "real" problems to see someone.
Never in my life had I been so wrong.
In our society, and especially in Christian culture, seeing someone for counseling/therapy means you're crazy and there's something wrong with you. And you're obviously not being faithful to the Lord, because He wouldn't let you suffer like that and should be enough to "fix" you. As I've continued meeting with M, I've come to see more and more that this stigma is just that - a stigma - and it needs to be done away with. We've sectioned off health into different categories, and don't admit that they are all intertwined with each other. Your physical, spiritual, emotional, and, yes, mental health are all connected and affect each other. Being mentally healthy is one of the most important things you can do for your friends, family, and most importantly, yourself. Its influence on every area of your life, health, and the decisions you make every day is astronomical. And while God is certainly enough, He also gives us doctors (including counselors and therapists), medicine, and other tools for a reason. We live in a broken world, and there are many different people who have been gifted in different areas in order to bring about restoration.
While I grew up in a mostly loving family, I've come to recognize that we all made mistakes. My parents are far from perfect. My family is far from perfect. There are definitely things from my experience growing up that I want to be different for my children. But that's the great thing about life. If you want to change, you can. It's hard work. There will be blood, sweat, and tears (okay, maybe not blood). It will be an uphill battle and you'll likely want to give up more than once. But it is so worth it.
