By Nancy Virden (c)2024

Claiming to know exactly how someone else feels is similar to making a bet without knowing the odds. Missing are facts with the potential to significantly alter the outcome. No one knows how another feels because our experiences are unique. Individual pasts and awareness inform how we respond to life’s stressors.

This is why, “I know exactly how you feel,” fails to help. Once wheeled by a large, intimidating male orderly from the behavioral health ward to radiology, a passing woman recognized that I was under guard. She said, “It is going to be okay. I’ve been where you are.”

Severely depressed and suicidal, her words fell on resentful ears. How dare this stranger imply she knew my reasoning or pain? It felt invasive, and dismissive, as if my private suffering was judged by the outside world and deemed to be slight.

Tempting though it may be to blurt platitudes, replacing them with meaningful statements of support is more effective. Try, “I may not fully understand, but I’m here to learn and support you.” “You have a long road to recovery and I am with you,” is a second positive option.

This, by the way, is how the Father God of the Bible treats his own when they struggle. He said to not lean on sin and temporary things such as money and sexual sin but to trust him when temptations and trials are hard. Mental illness is hard. Despair is hard. We can turn to the One who promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Psalm 27:13-14

I remain confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or for a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

_{HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, COPYRIGHT © 1996, 2004, 2015 BY TYNDALE HOUSE FOUNDATION. USED BY PERMISSION OF TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC., CAROL STREAM, ILLINOIS 60188, PER BIBLE GATEWAY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. RETRIEVED FROM HTTPS://WWW.BIBLEGATEWAY.COM/}