When You've Lost Your Mind

Since recovering from an anxiety disorder I have thought a lot about how I ended up in that place and how to avoid experiencing that again. There’s probably 3 things I’ve adjusted in my life that give me the confidence that I wont...

I know what I have control over and what I do not. I used to believe I had a lot more influence over people. That if someone was in a difficult situation I could do or say something that would pull them out of it. The emphasis being on “I”. Obviously a lot of our words/actions impact other people but there’s so much more going on below the surface of people’s thoughts that’s usually incomprehensible. Not ‘crazy’ but ‘different’ to what we assume. Lol. I can probably count on one hand how many times something I’ve done or said has actually changed anyone’s original course of action. And those times most definitely came out of listening to God and just confirming something He’d already told them.

I know what I can handle and what I cannot. I used to believe I had a lot more tolerance and the ability to handle more stress than I do. I used to think that if I noticed something that needed attention it was up to me to do something. Inevitably I would stretch my resources - time, finance, emotions - between multiple situations and people, only to disappoint them all in some shape or form. Yes, all of them. Again, I’ve discovered that as I spend time listening to God and getting a clear sense of what He’s shaped me to put my resources into, moment by moment, those people and situations have gained so much more than ever before.

I know that I need to laugh and I need to breathe. Sounds obvious? I kid you not - the way I used to function was the opposite. When my heart started beating faster and my mind started racing, I responded with action - go, go, go! These days I am far more active when I’ve had a good laugh and am feeling at peace. When I’m experiencing depression, anger, fear, and a sense of being out-of-control, I've found the opposite comes straight from the Holy Spirit. Rather than take action in those moments, I know I need to stop and tap into Him. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control...all the good stuff…

Less of me and more of Him feels so much better than losing my mind. Believe me, I’ve been there.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23 NASB