Aging sucks. Even more so when you’ve never quite had a love affair with your body. All of a sudden, the curves you always hated aren’t just soft—they’re wrinkling and sagging, too. It can be difficult to make peace with the situation. In fact, it...
I’ve been dealing with anxiety and depression long enough to know that they can cause problems even in the healthiest relationships. In fact, I’m certain they were central to many break-ups I’ve had over the last 20 years. I get scared. I get clingy. I...
Not religious? It doesn’t matter. The Bible is a treasure trove of promises meant to heal fear, anxiety, and depression—issues we’ve been battling since the dawn of humankind. In fact, part of the reassurance I get from reading the Bible is in knowing I’m not...
Growing up with social anxiety was more challenging than most people would ever understand. Every day, my “wins” (or in many cases, losses) were things that most people would never even think about. I would do--or endure--almost anything to avoid a social situation. There were times—i.e....
For some reason, God is not always presented as an ally for those dealing with mental illness. In the past, many Christians have been forced to believe—or at least accept—the idea that prayer is the only thing that can heal depression or anxiety. We’re made...
During the Olympics, we often hear stories of committed parents who drive their kids to practice every day at the break of dawn to help them become champions in their sport. These parents are amazing. They are dedicated and loving. But I’m not sure we...
This past week, I saw my dad for the first time in 20+ years. What his visit confirmed for me was two-fold. One, words are the most dangerous weapon you can use against a child. And two, the person who hurts you the most may...
I struggled with anorexia from the time I was 10 until I was in mid-20s. I had a hate-hate relationship with my body that made romantic relationships incredibly challenging. Even the idea of having children—allowing my body to blow up and house another human inside...
I was married for nine years to someone with depression and social anxiety. At first this seemed like a good fit. After all, I had spent most of my life managing my own depression, anxiety, and anorexia. Finding a partner who understood the challenges of...
By the time my husband and I decided to separate in 2014, I had already been battling depression for 25 years. I was a tortured kid to say the least. I never felt liked, or loved, or worth it. At age 10, I turned to...
