This is the message on most web sites seeking to help people with mental health issues.
When you are in that dark place it feels like you are on your own. It's the darkness that seems to blackout all feelings that someone is there and it leaves you feeling isolated.
The truth is that 'you are not alone' despite how you feel. That is why it is so vitally important that you take the hard step of picking up the phone and connecting with someone.
It's good to talk to someone.
People often say that it's lonely at the top. When you are a leader you may find yourself surrounded by fellow workers and colleagues but tough calls are needed and you find that you are the one who needs to make the call and that whatever the outcome from that decision the buck stops with you. Most of the time that works fine, after all, that is part of what leadership is about. However, I have found that when you struggle with your emotional and mental health it is so much more difficult to make the right decisions. There are days when your mind is scrambled and you feel emotionally broken, yet you must lead and lead well.
Wisdom tells you to stop and rest awhile. Find someone that you can talk to and share how you are feeling. Wisdom says go to your GP and get some help. I didn't do that. I just carried on and on hoping that I would get better. Praying that these dark periods in my mind would stop. But they never did. It wasn't until I could no longer function properly, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that I got help.
There were significant people in my life who loved me and cared about me, especially my family.
They were very supportive and encouraged me to seek help. I had friends who prayed with me and for me.
I received amazing support from my GP.
I also discovered that I was not alone. There were others, just like me, who suffered from poor mental health and who were church leaders.
One of the reasons why I have launched blackdogcollarpastor.com is because I wanted to put something out there for people like me. A place where you can find help and support and where you can hear of others who have and are struggling with poor mental health.
It is not a self-help site. There are many excellent ones out there that will give you good advice and sound resources to use. I will soon post on our resources blog.
At blackdogcollarpastor.com you will meet friends who are in church leadership.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE- THERE IS HOPE-LOOK UP CHILD