A Healthy Mind by Simon Cairns

Paul states in 2 Timothy 1:7:

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Mental Health is something we hear a lot about in our society nowadays. According to the latest statistics around 1 in 4 people have a Mental Illness at any one time, with around 3 million Australians currently dealing with anxiety and/or depression.

There are numerous theories and thoughts around why people suffer from mental illness. However, we know that things such as breakdown of relationships, traumatic events and the misuse of alcohol and other drugs can all play a part. If you know someone, or you are battling with a mental illness one of the primary keys for recovery is to seek support, both personal and professional. Tell someone you trust and ask for practical or emotional support, as well as support in prayer. It’s also a good idea to speak with a GP or Psychologist if you feel that extra support would be helpful.

The following are some other tips for a healthy mind:

·         Stay connected with others: Isolation is guaranteed to make you feel worse.

·         Exercise: Even a short walk can have huge benefits, especially in these colder months.

·         Practice mindfulness: This is just taking the time to enjoy the little things, such as listening to your favourite music, enjoying a piece of cake or playing with your dog or children.

·         Be gentle with yourself and set small goals: It takes time to work through the difficult things of life.

We can all get knocked around by life’s challenges. Sometimes the enemy of our soul can give us a hard time. However, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. As Jesus said in John 10:10 that,

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.”

By Simon Cairns (who works fulltime in the mental health industry).