For many years I have struggled with emotional wellness. Depression and anxiety were a part of my daily life for quite awhile. Darkness crept in and led me on a journey through the wilderness. God met me there. Make no mistake. He was right there with me.
But through that time, I have learned and grown and God has shown me new glimpses of Himself that I would never have known had I not walked through the valley.
In this video, I share more of my personal story as well as 6 of the most helpful tools I have in my toolbox for emotional wellness!
6 Tools in my Emotional Wellness Toolbox
God’s Word
God’s Word truly is a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path! We find encouragement, comfort, wisdom, correction, and the power of God’s Living Word each time we open the pages to study, read or pray through it.
One of my favorite tools for studying God’s Word is this Bible Study Methods Course: 7 Ways in 7 Days! It is a video course with a video for each of the 7 methods of Bible study plus workbook pages for each as well!
Prayer & Praying The Scriptures
Sometimes we don’t have the words to speak. Praying God’s Word has transformed my prayer life. I no longer have to worry if what I’m praying is in alignment with God’s Word or that I won’t be able to thick of what to say. I pick up God’s Word, the Psalms is my favorite place to start, and I read the Word of God out loud, and slowly God transforms my heart as I pray His words back to Him.
I have monthly plans for praying the Scriptures if you’d like to print these off for your own personal quiet times. There are plans for praying for your children, praying for your husband, praying for teachers, praying verses of hope, and more.
Food
Food is medicine. At least that is what I’m learning. Not that I eat well 100% of the time but I am learning. I am much healthier than I was in 2016. I’m taking baby steps and feeling SO GOOD.
I currently am listening to It Starts with Food and this book is SO GOOD. I seriously wish everyone could listen to it! If you want to know more about WHAT food does inside our bodies and brains, listen. If you deal with anything like inflammation, allergies, skin issues, obesity, fatigue, and on and on…they cover ALL of this. I am really enjoying the audio book as I don’t think that I would do well reading a book like this myself.
Exercise
Exercise is another one that has been SO hard for me. But, here I am, the end of March and have been exercising consistently 3-4 times per week since the first week of January! I am actually ENJOYING it, too.
For me, what has helped me to enjoy it more this time around is 1) meeting friends to exercise with 2) having the blessing of a gym/work out room at our church free to use 3) meeting friends with KIDS for mine to play with 4) a personal trainer friend giving me exercises to do and weight training as well 5) feeling myself getting stronger 6) seeing my stress levels more manageable.
I have lost 12 pounds so far since the beginning of the year by eating better and exercising regularly. Feeling good is one of my biggest motivators right now. My emotional wellness affects my life so much!
Small Group & Church
My small group is one of the greatest blessings in my life. They are my people. They love me for who I am. We learn together. We grow together. We grieve together. We do life together.
We were made for relationships. Do not forsake meeting together. If you don’t have a church family, please start looking today and just get involved. Don’t look for the perfect church, you won’t find it. We are all just a mess! But find a place where you can serve and love and be loved in return. With God’s help you can find it! Even if you have to invite people over to your own house to find it!
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25
Essential Oils
Did you know that one of the MAIN benefits of using essential oils daily and consistently is improved MOOD!?!? I mean, come on. Could there be any better gift for me? Created by God Himself? He placed Adam and Eve in a garden and this was the ideal and perfect setting. These days we aren’t outside enough to reap the benefits of all the plants and oils in creation. So, these precious little tiny bottles and diffusers help bring God’s creation right into our homes!
I use several oils regularly that all help with the wellness of our family and my moods and emotional wellness. If you want more information or to join our team (all under the leadership of Dr. Edie Wadsworth) let me know! We have an amazing team and IT MATTERS what team you join! We have classes, facebook groups, regular video teaching, fun give aways and more within our Oily Sisterhood!
I have several videos on my YouTube channel where I talk about what oils I use and how I use them if you want to watch any of these.
Let’s hear from you! What are the tools in your emotional wellness toolbox? What helps keep you and your family well! What is one thing on this list you would like to try?
3 Years Off of Anti-Depressants
I would love for you to read an update now that I have been off all of my anti-depressants for 3 years and am thriving. God has been so good to me. My mindset has changed. My health has changed. We are never truly hopeless if we have Christ. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us giving us the power to make the steps necessary to BE TRANSFORMED.
I Also Have Depression And Anxiety! You Are Talking About The Toolbox, Last Time I Seen My Therapist, She Told Me I Need A Toolbox!
I Want So Much To Have A Friend, Who Is My Best Friend, Who
Would Call Me Want To Know How I Am Doing, Do Coffee, Encouraging One Another! Really Being Accepted At The Church We Go To!
I Need To Exercise, I Want To Lose 100 lbs! I Want A Part Time Job 20 Hrs A Week, In An Office, So We Can Get Out Of Debt! Not Caregiving For Clients Who Are Down Right Mean For Minimum Wage! I Don’t Really Have Any Tools In My ToolBox!
Glee, I’m so sorry you are in such a hard season. I am praying for you tonight. My advice for you is baby steps. Choose ONE THING to start that can improve your health and wellness and begin tomorrow morning! <3
Candice, thank you so much for sharing this. This was so beneficial for a family member that I have that has really been struggling with depression. I am going to use these tools to help her. I also appreciate you sharing that confrontation is hard for you. It is for me also and I did not know if there was something that really helped you with this issue. Also, which oils did you use that were beneficial? Thank you again for being transparent with us! I LOVE all that you share and am so thankful for you!
I to suffer from anxiety and depression. I have been on meds for years.
I am disabled and walking was my therapy . I can’t walk much.
It is beautiful here in east Tn. I just can’t enjoy it. I love the Lord but I am always in
pain or depressed so I don’t go to church very often . Hurting , confused and depressed in Tn.
I have been blessed by your mercy is new blog. God rescued me from the deep dark pit of depression four years ago in three steps: (1) Word of God IV, (2) a church family, and (3) finding my “ministry” which is still in the works. I can confirm through my experience that God showed me to read the Word, pray the Word and write (!) the Word. Each step has been around 9 months which impresses upon me the birth period for a new creature! I know that God has a work for me but I have not figured it out yet. However, I am learning to “wait” on God and I am patiently doing that. One other thing God revealed to me is that I don’t have a lot of time. While I am 69 years old and have less time than you because of the natural age process, I somehow don’t believe that is why. But one thing I am sure of: He will reveal it in His Perfect Time. May God bless you in this good work.
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