God + Prozac: Thoughts on Medication and Faith
By Hannah Brenchner
Someone reached out to me a few months ago and told me she didn’t think I was living in the full power of God because I take medication for my depression. That she had depression herself and God instantly healed her. And that, if I would just trust God more, he would heal me.
I talk openly about medication on my platforms because 1) it played a vital role in giving me my life back after going through severe depression and 2) I want others to know it’s okay if you have to seek out this option. There’s a stigma regarding mental health, especially within the church, and that stigma is only amplified when we start discussing medication as treatment.
Her message didn’t really annoy me or hurt me. I really believe this is her truth and she thought she was helping by sharing it. I’ve been in a public online space for 10+ years. I have thick skin and I’ve had all sorts of hate spewed in my direction. I’ve wrestled with God and I’ve done so much work to fuse my faith and mental health together.
For me, the message sort of just rolled off my back. I knew in an instant it wasn’t true. But I could not help and think about others out there who would be undone by a message like this landing in their inbox. Those who are still seeking. Those who are questioning their faith. Those with a perception of God being dismissive and passive. A message like hers might be the very thing to tip the scale and send them bolting in the other direction...read more
