The news has been filled with rhetoric about the Supreme Court’s decision to return decisions regarding abortion back down to the states. Those who don’t support abortion prefer to be called ‘pro-life’ rather than ‘anti-abortion.’
But that’s a discussion for another day.
In 2009, during the worst of the recession, my job became so stressful that I had to take a leave of absence. While on leave, my son was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Sleepless nights and tearful days were the norm. I experienced panic attacks on a regular basis. My rheumatoid arthritis flared up and I was in constant pain.
I cried in my doctor’s office as I tearfully told him all that I was going through. He prescribed an anti-depressant.
I resisted taking it.
Shouldn’t I, as a committed Christian, be able to ‘faith’ my way through any situation? Was I relying on pharmaceuticals rather than God?
My doctor responded this way: “If you had a broken leg, wouldn’t you want it to be set and then put in a cast?”
I nodded.
“You have a chemical imbalance in your brain due to the stress you’re under. Think of this as putting your brain in a cast.”
Okay, so he didn’t exactly say that, but you get my drift. What he wanted me to know is that a chemical imbalance is no less real than a broken leg. Something was broken and it needed to be fixed.
The antidepressant, anti-anxiety medication worked. I no longer had middle-of-the-night panic attacks. I no longer wanted to die because of the unrelenting pain from swollen joints. I experienced peace. I experienced relief.
I’ve seen a few books and articles recently about how Christians shouldn’t rely on medicine for mental healing. I disagree. Sure, faith in God is still important. But taking medication doesn’t invalidate your faith. My faith in Jesus is still the most important part of my life.
Every person must make their own decision about their own mental and physical health. As for me, I am in support of “anti.”
Jane S. Daly is the author of two nonfiction books and five novels.
Jane is addicted to coffee, purple pens, and her husband, not necessarily in that order. A self-proclaimed introvert, she enjoys the solitude of riding shotgun in Rigsby, her 37-foot motor home. But when they pull into a new campground, her favorite thing is to make new friends and find hangouts featuring local musicians. Her fantasy involves writing lyrics for country music songs and hearing them played on the radio. In the meantime, she’ll stick to writing novels. And seeing as much of the country as possible.