I take medication for depression and anxiety.
Before I dive into this anymore, I would like to preface with a few statements:
1) Depression and anxiety do not define my life, but they are parts of my life.
2) I am not ashamed to be on medication. I believe not everyone needs medication, and not everyone needs it long term, but I do believe some people need it and need it long term.
3) I don’t believe it is in anyway against the Word or the Lord to be on medication.
4) Medication doesn’t fix everything, and it isn’t full-proof.
This is really hard to be open about because for a long time, I was ashamed that I needed help.
Anyways, I want to share what it’s like to have a chemical imbalance with medication while being on the World Race.
The Race is your new life for 11 months. You develop new habits, continue in old ones, and get into a rhythm. You will still have bad days, whether you have a chemical imbalance or not. And even though it looks differently, it’s still real life.
You have to adjust your medication to time changes, which sometimes makes you go through funks or weird unexplained moods. (Tip: plan ahead, prepare, pray, and inform your team.)
Be open with your team about it. Explain to them what it looks like for you because everyone is different.
It’s hard sometimes, just like in real life because the Race is real life.
The hardest thing I have had happen is this: I had an anxiety attack while riding a taxi van. I haven’t had an anxiety attack in at least 2 years. They aren’t common, and it’s really awkward for me when they happen. We had just been through team changes so the only person who knew what to do on my team was in the row behind me. So, I told my friend next to me. It took me a little while because words are hard, but eventually I calmed down and could explain what happened.
Depression, anxiety, and the other chemical imbalances out there are real, but God is so much bigger than any of them. I know it sucks sometimes, but I also know that I don’t have to go through it alone.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
God is with you on the bad days and so is your team.
Don’t let this stop you from answering the call that God has placed on your life.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
God will bless you so much more than you can imagine for your obedience.
