I'm back after 9 days in lovely Samara, Costa Rica.

I tried to remember to invite God to everything and was leaning in to hear His voice.

Join me as I share some spiritual and not-so-spiritual memories from my amazing trip.

Of all the episodes from this series, this last one pulls at my heart the most. I spend more time on stigma in this episode than any of the others. It is a sad topic, but it is the truth of what’s going on in our churches.

I also am forthright about the harm in the approach many take in counseling, an approach that has much truth but is mixed with very little mercy, grace, or heavenly wisdom.

I begin this episode by briefly going over the 6 key things that God used to bring me to stability from suicidal depression and bipolar.

I spend quite a bit of time talking about how we all handle stress differently. For some, stress becomes illness and disease. For others, it leads to mental symptoms. We all respond to stress differently based on a variety of factors.

We all have a different reserve of strength and health. This reserve, or lack thereof, affects how vulnerable we are to the consequence of life’s stressors.

When it comes to trauma, I address how some biblical curriculums teach that any negative effects from these traumas reveal a spiritual problem. I don’t believe that is a balanced or realistic perspective and explain my thoughts on this teaching.

I address the division, harm and discord the devil has been successful in achieving among the body of Christ.

I emphasize that no matter the origin of any mental or physical battle we face, God’s Word and renewing the mind is part of the answer.

Toward the end, I give my final thoughts, including identifying the real enemy, the father of lies. And I encourage folks that even if they don’t see eye to eye with their leadership on the topic of mental health, we can still have a wonderful relationship, stay teachable, and receive the blessings God will give through our leadership in other areas.

I end this episode by highlighting our Savior, as He spent His last hours in the garden, heavy with physical, emotional, and spiritual pain, yet fully trusting and without sin. He again, is our example in all things.

I am not a mental health professional, but I am a suicide attempt survivor and speak from first-hand experience of living with a mental illness called Bipolar Type II. If you are having an emergency, please call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Information on this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice or as a replacement for professional care but is for educational purposes only.

Download your free mental Health Resource Guide Here https://jenniferskaw.ck.page/resourceguide2022

Coaching: Book an appointment with Jennifer https://calendly.com/jenniferskaw/50min?month=2024-05

Email Jennifer jennifer@jenniferskaw.com

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Online Bible Study www.thedivingdeepbiblestudy.com

This is part 2 of my discussion on counseling. Today I reveal my concerns about both secular and Biblical counseling. Neither one can be blindly followed and neither one needs to be automatically excluded.

I point out that none of the counseling types are intentionally trying to steer you away from truth, but I do highlight things you need to be aware of in both secular and Biblical counseling that could be harmful.

I especially highlight the harmful Biblical counseling that says you must accept who your heart wants you to be while it emphasizes the sin rather than the provision of our new identity in Christ.

I warn that if you are not an avid student of Scripture, you will have a lack of knowledge and may fail to see where your counseling, whether secular or spiritual, is steering you out of alignment with God’s Word.

I give advice on what the spiritual outcome of your counseling should be. I advise you on the confidentiality level of the different counseling types. I talk about the availability struggles you may have finding a counselor.

I talk more about the harmful blanket statement that mental health battles mean you are not right with God and use my own self as an example of how my failures this week with anxiety and depression does not mean I completely failed or that I was overall simply not right with God or living in the world as the stigma states.

This episode definitely provides a lot to chew on and think about!

Next week I will bring one more episode on this topic of mental illness before resuming back to my normal content.

I am not a mental health professional, but I am a suicide attempt survivor and speak from first-hand experience of living with a mental illness called Bipolar Type II. If you are having an emergency, please call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Information on this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice or as a replacement for professional care but is for educational purposes only.

Download your free mental Health Resource Guide Here https://jenniferskaw.ck.page/resourceguide2022

Coaching: Book an appointment with Jennifer https://calendly.com/jenniferskaw/50min?month=2024-05

Email Jennifer jennifer@jenniferskaw.com

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Online Bible Study www.thedivingdeepbiblestudy.com

The discussion on counseling will cover two weeks. In today's episode, Part 1 on counseling, I start by giving a bird’s eye view of the different kinds of counseling that is available in both the Christian and secular community. I talk about price, credentials, availability, and what kind of confidentiality you can expect amongst the different counselors. I talk about mental health professionals that specialize in a specific area and why that may be beneficial to you.

I discuss how counseling is a relationship where you have a say in your care. You and the counselor get the freedom to communicate your needs. You are not “stuck” with a counselor that isn’t working for you. You have the freedom to discontinue working with them if they end up not being a good fit. I talk about how you can communicate your needs with a secular counselor to facilitate a relationship that helps your needs get met in a way that aligns with your faith.

I end Part 1 addressing some of the all-or-nothing statements regarding counseling. These statements are harmful and may keep someone from getting the care they need to be safe, live a better quality of life, or even stay alive.

Part 2 will air next week, June 4th.

I am not a mental health professional, but I am a suicide attempt survivor and speak from first-hand experience of living with a mental illness called Bipolar Type II. If you are having an emergency, please call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Information on this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice or as a replacement for professional care but is for educational purposes only.

Download your free mental Health Resource Guide Here https://jenniferskaw.ck.page/resourceguide2022

Coaching: Book an appointment here https://calendly.com/jenniferskaw/50min?month=2024-05

Email Jennifer jennifer@jenniferskaw.com

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Online Bible Study www.thedivingdeepbiblestudy.com .

Website https://jenniferskaw.com/

My plan today was to talk about all things counseling… secular, spiritual, and Biblical counseling.

But God has given me more homework. More studying and reading one more book before He has me address this topic. The topic of counseling is serious and causing a lot of division in our churches.

It’s even possible that lives have been lost based on counseling that was in error.

God has challenged me to fine-tune my beliefs, and to be very careful about presenting information until I have researched it fully and present it as truth.

I believe this is a challenge He has for all of us. Our beliefs should not be founded on emotions, our own agenda, the fear of man or on tradition but founded on truth. It is something we need to continually evaluate ourselves on, but especially as we spread opinions and beliefs on these topics around mental illness.

This episode is an honest update on the behind-the-scenes preparation for these episodes as I continue to study for the remainder of Mental Health Awareness Month. There will be at least two more episodes, possibly three, on this topic before we return to our regular content.

Do you have something you want me to address? Let me know. I am open to your feedback or questions! Email me at jennifer@jenniferskaw.com I am not a mental health professional, but I am a suicide attempt survivor and speak from first-hand experience of living with a mental illness called Bipolar Type II. If you are having an emergency, please call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Information on this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice or as a replacement for professional care but is for educational purposes only.

Download your free mental Health Resource Guide Here https://jenniferskaw.ck.page/resourceguide2022

Coaching: Do you need guidance from someone who loves the Bible AND has a mental illness? Book an appointment with me! https://calendly.com/jenniferskaw/50min?month=2024-05

Email Jennifer jennifer@jenniferskaw.com

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Online Bible Study www.thedivingdeepbiblestudy.com .

Website https://jenniferskaw.com/

Is taking drugs for mental health reasons a lack of faith? Not in my opinion! The month of May is Mental Health Awareness month. I don’t normally talk exclusively about mental illness on this podcast, but I am taking the entire month of May to specifically address this topic.

Not only are people suffering and dying, but unnecessary division is being caused in our church communities against those that are struggling.

There is much harm being caused from stigma, a lack of knowledge, a judgmental, pious spirit, and passed down beliefs that have no scientific backing.

There is also a lack of knowledge amongst those suffering. When we don’t know the power and promises of the word of God, we become victims to our minds and thoughts, remaining powerless over them.

I don’t claim that the word of God will erase mental illness, but I have proved in my own battle with bipolar and suicidal depression that including scripture in the battle for the mind is of paramount importance, and for me, was lifesaving.

This month as we discuss mental illness, I will address stigma, counseling, medication, suicide, and so much more.

Do you have something you want me to address? Let me know. I am open to your feedback or questions! Email me at jennifer@jenniferskaw.com I am not a mental health professional, but I am a suicide attempt survivor and speak from first-hand experience of living with a mental illness called Bipolar Type II. If you are having an emergency, please call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Information on this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice or as a replacement for professional care but is for educational purposes only.

Download your free mental Health Resource Guide Here https://jenniferskaw.ck.page/resourceguide2022

Coaching: Do you need guidance from someone who loves the Bible AND has a mental illness? Book an appointment with me! https://calendly.com/jenniferskaw/50min?month=2024-05

Email Jennifer jennifer@jenniferskaw.com

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Online Bible Study www.thedivingdeepbiblestudy.com .

Website https://jenniferskaw.com/

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness month. I don’t normally talk exclusively about mental illness on this podcast, but I am taking the entire month of May to specifically address this topic.

Not only are people suffering and dying, but unnecessary division is being caused in our church communities against those that are struggling.

There is much harm being caused from stigma, a lack of knowledge, a judgmental, pious spirit, and passed down beliefs that have no scientific backing.

There is also a lack of knowledge amongst those suffering. When we don’t know the power and promises of the word of God, we become victims to our minds and thoughts, remaining powerless over them.

I don’t claim that the word of God will erase mental illness, but I have proved in my own battle with bipolar and suicidal depression that including scripture in the battle for the mind is of paramount importance, and for me, was life-saving.

This month as we discuss mental illness, I will discuss stigma, counseling, medication, suicide, and so much more.

I am open to your feedback or questions! Email me at jennifer@jenniferskaw.com I am not a mental health professional, but I am a suicide attempt survivor and speak from first-hand experience of living with a mental illness called Bipolar Type II. If you are having an emergency, please call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Information on this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice or as a replacement for professional care but is for educational purposes only.

Download your free mental Health Resource Guide Here https://jenniferskaw.ck.page/resourceguide2022

Coaching: Do you need guidance from someone who loves the Bible AND has a mental illness? Book an appointment with me! https://calendly.com/jenniferskaw/50min?month=2024-05

Email Jennifer jennifer@jenniferskaw.com

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Online Bible Study www.thedivingdeepbiblestudy.com .

Website https://jenniferskaw.com/

Have you ever felt your day was uneventful with nothing really happening in the spiritual realm?

Maybe you felt nothing was accomplished, you didn’t grow, or God seemed quiet and distant.

Thankfully, scripture tells us that even on the most mundane of days, God does behind-the-scenes miracles on a constant basis, and is always making our day spectacular!

Even if you spent your whole day sick in bed, God was doing a plethora of beautiful things for you!

In this episode, I give you lots of scripture promises.

Plus, in a very hodge podge way, I share how God has been working in the past 10 days. Maybe my blessings can bless you too! I hope so!

The blog post where all these promises for a mundane day can be found is below.

Blog Post – Not Such a Mundane Day

https://jenniferskaw.com/2019/11/mundane-day/

Don’t forget to email me ideas for Mental Health Awareness Month! jennifer@jenniferskaw.com

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Online Video Bible Study Curriculum www.thedivingdeepbiblestudy.com .

Coaching https://calendly.com/jenniferskaw/50min

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Email jennifer@jenniferskaw.com

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Website https://jenniferskaw.com/