Anxiety

Mental Health: How to Cope After Losing a Job

by Dawson McAllister

It’s never easy to cope with job loss – and it’s even harder if you’ve been fired or laid off unexpectedly. Most people experience grief after losing a job, just as they would after any other significant loss.

It can be jarring to feel the intense, negative emotions that come with unemployment. But there’s no need to feel guilty for being sad, angry, or anxious about the future. You’re not alone in your feelings or your circumstances.

The important thing is to have a plan for dealing with your feelings in a healthy way so that you can move forward to the next opportunity.

Most people experience grief after losing a job, just as they would after any other significant loss. Click To Tweet

Take a Break

In the days right after losing your job, it may be tempting to exhaust yourself with job searching. You may also feel immobilized by depression and anxiety.

It’s important to take a break to lower your stress level. Make time to rest, hydrate, and eat well so that you can keep your focus sharp and your energy up as you get ready for your next steps.

Don’t forget to stay active in things you enjoy. Getting exercise and keeping engaged in your favorite hobbies are simple, effective ways to decrease anxiety. The endorphin boost makes it easier to maintain a positive attitude.

Find an Outlet

Often, one of the most upsetting things about losing your job is losing your peer group at work. But the good news is, they weren’t your only outlet. When facing unemployment, you can reach out to family, friends, or a mentor you can trust. Having someone to talk to is a great way to process your feelings and makes it easier to maintain a positive perspective.

7 Ways to Support a Friend or Loved One with Depression

Make a Plan

You’ll need time to adjust, but making a plan for moving forward ensures you don’t stay stuck. Career experts suggest:

Make time: Set aside time to job search (and separate time for other important things in your life). Schedule your job search as you would your work.

Join a Job Club: Job clubs and career centers are a great place to update your resume and cover letter, refine your job search techniques, and perfect your interviewing skills.

Network: Connecting with others is a great way to find your next job opportunity. To make it easier, you can attend networking events with friends.

Keep the Faith

Things can seem bleak after losing your job, But there’s always hope. God will never abandon you and he rewards faith during difficult times.

“Now faith is being sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you do not see. . . Anyone who comes to HIm must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:1, 6

If you have an existing mental illness, the sudden changes that happen when you lose your job makes things even more difficult. It’s always important to avoid places and situations that could trigger addictive or harmful behaviors, but it’s good to be especially careful during this time.

When keeping the faith gets hard, don’t give into despair. TheHopeLine is here to help We can help you talk things through and plan for your success. Are you ready for a new beginning?

If you are struggling with depression, no matter the cause, to find out more and get help, check out our free eBook on Depression!

Are You Depressed and Emotionally Exhausted? – EP 26

There Is Hope for Depression

Overwhelmed and Depressed

Have you noticed there are many people who struggle with deep emotional issues? They are often sad and miserable and can stay that way for months, even years. These people are depressed. Depression is described as a prolonged unexplained sadness which affects everyday life.

If you are depressed, you may feel trapped beneath emotions of overwhelming sadness and hopelessness. Maybe you lack the motivation, energy, and strength to face life’s many challenges. The good news is there are many people who have won this debilitating emotional battle.

Join me as I talk with Samantha, Melissa, and Cody each who are in some way seeking to cope with their depression. I’ll also speak with Dustin who is creatively reaching out to people he knows are depressed.

Are you depressed and emotionally exhausted? There is hope. @DawsonRadio #depression Click To Tweet

Emotionally Exhausted

Samantha is 17 and just transferred to a new school. She knows a few people but can’t play sports and feels she can’t be herself. She just reunited with her real dad and her step-father doesn’t know.

Most who are depressed are carrying too heavy of a load and over time become increasingly drained and weary. Because they are downhearted, it is difficult for them to identify what’s depleting their emotions. It’s like their emotional batteries are slowly but surely being drained.

Samantha has big issues draining life from her. She needs to identify and prioritize big things that are pulling her down. For example,

She transferred to a new high school. That would be a big adjustment for anyone, let alone someone at 17 and in their senior year.
She loves sports but can’t play them this year because she changed schools.
Changing schools would be more than enough but there’s more going on in her life. She just reunited with her birth dad and her step-father doesn’t know a thing about it.
To make matters more complicated, she doesn’t get along with her step-father. In fact, they hardly ever speak.
She feels it’s her against the whole family.

Samantha has been hit with a double whammy, a lot of stress at her new school, and family pressures at home. No one should have to face that kind of exhausting stress. Is it any wonder she’s depressed? Samantha needs to turn to God like she never has before. Only He can give her the energy she needs to face her challenges. My prayer for her is as she reaches out for help, God will replenish all she has lost and more. He said in Jeremiah 31:25: “For I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”

Depression Setbacks, Don’t Give Up

Melissa’s been dealing with depression for about 7 to 8 years now. She was getting better but now is going downhill, since her therapist was murdered.

In any situation, where a person needs to change, there will be setbacks and even major roadblocks. In Melissa’s case, she was starting to make progress. Her counselor was truly helping her but then shockingly, was murdered. Now, Melissa wants to give up and throw the progress she has made away. Melissa should ask herself what would her therapist, if he were alive today, advise her to do? No doubt would say, “Hang in there, don’t give up. If you were making progress before, you can make it again.”

It’s God, who can reach down in Melissa’s life and give her the strength to seek help once again. The Bible says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5b My prayer for Melissa is although there have been tears, even weeping, joy will come into her life, the kind of joy only God can give.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. #Psalm30 #NeverGiveUp Click To Tweet

Worthless, Rejected and Depressed

Cody says he does alright fighting the depression back for a little while, but it always comes back. He’s felt a lot of rejection in his life. He first was rejected when he was 8 and his mom left him with his aunt. He doesn’t want to keep fighting and keep trying to prove he’s worth something to somebody. He’s tried to kill himself before, but his sister kept him from it 2 or 3 times.

As in Cody’s case, sometimes you get to the point, where you just have to hang on. You tell yourself, I’m not going to quit, no matter how hard it is.

Cody needs to give himself a break. He has a core belief that he’s worthless. He’s been blaming himself for this depression since he was a child. His mother, in her own dysfunction, helped drive that lies deeper into Cody’s heart by abandoning him when he was but 8 years old.

Feels Like He Doesn’t Belong

Now, after all this time, Cody feels like he doesn’t belong anywhere. Add to that heartbreaking issue, Cody also has financial problems which seem more than he can bear. He feels like a broken man and will need every bit of courage to overcome what has been pounded into him.

He already tried to kill himself and has thought about it a lot. Suicide is not the answer. Instead, may he find the victory over the dark clouds and may God touch his life and heal him.

King David cried out to God at moments of despair. He said, “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.” (Psalm 69:1-3) “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:5)

There is hope! If you are depressed, there are people God has put around you who will help you!

There is hope! If you are depressed, there are people God has put around you who will help you! Click To Tweet

Letters Helped Others with Depression

I got the chance to talk to an amazing, inspirational guy, Dustin. Dustin’s friend lost her brother in a car accident, so Dustin wrote her what he calls, “feel better” letters. When she got depressed, she could read one of the letters and feel better. Dustin has now written over 100 encouragement letters for others dealing with depression.

Dustin has his own struggles. He’s been homebound for 6 years because he has Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome where the collagen breaks down in the body and the joints won’t hold together anymore. Instead of being bitter towards God about his own struggles, he’s reaching out to others. What a powerful example he is. People who are depressed and reach out to help others find a whole new energy.

Did Today’s Episode on Depression Get You Thinking?

Jesus Christ said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

I have to say it again. If you are depressed, there is hope!!! God is near to those who are crushed in spirit. He wants to heal your emotions. God wants to help you and He has put people around you to help you. Ask the Lord for help and strength and then look around and see who God has put in your life to help you. Also, check out our many resources for help with depression.

Resources for Help with Depression:

Check out my eBook: Understanding Depression.
Check out: Verses of Hope When Struggling with Depression.
Check out my blogs: Feelings of Depression, To Those Who Feel Worthless, and How Can I Find Hope?.
Need to talk to someone about how you are feeling, then: Chat with a HopeCoach at TheHopeLine.
Need prayer? I believe God wants to change your life and mine, through prayer. If you need prayer and would like to have someone pray for you, go to the ThePrayerZone.com and check it out.

One last thing,

My podcast, our website, everything we do is entirely listener supported. If you’d like to help us to continue our work, please make a gift right now at our Give Now page.

Remember, whatever you do, Never Lose Hope!
Dawson

How to Deal with Verbally Abusive Parents: EP 25

Are You Trapped in a Cycle of Emotional Abuse from Parents?

Overwhelmed by the Verbal Abuse

The words of an abuser can cause all kinds of agony and can set one on a lifelong destructive course. In this episode, I speak with Lance, who’s verbally attacked by his parents. I also talk with Sarah who endures verbal abuse at least twice a day trapped in the car with her dad. And the most difficult conversation I had is with Tameka, whose father emotionally and verbally abuses her. He calls her names and puts her down every day. If you need help dealing with verbal abuse in your family, then this one is for you!

Trying to Avoid the Conflict with Parents

Lance’s parents get angry at him for stupid reasons. They call him names and he says, “It’s getting stupid.” Lance gets so stressed by his parent’s abuse, he forgets his responsibilities and messes up even more.

Like Lance, most victims of verbal abuse feel put down, afraid, hurt, angry, confused, and helpless to do anything about the situation. In this case, Lance tried to get away from the abuse by hiding in his room, trying to avoid the conflict.

The words of an abuser cause all kinds of agony. It can set one on a lifelong destructive course. The Bible does not mince words when talking about a destructive tongue. It says, “The tongue is a fire. It is full of wrong. It poisons the whole body. The tongue sets our whole lives on fire with a fire that comes from hell.” James 3:6 In spite of this graphic description, the verbal abuser seldom understands or cares about the havoc he or she is causing. Most are full of rage and have no idea the damage being done.

The words of an abuser cause all kinds of agony. It can set one on a lifelong destructive course. Click To Tweet

Lance is afraid of his parents. They use vicious words to control and hurt him. Lance is stressed at what his parents are doing which causes him to forget what they are trying to say. It’s a vicious cycle. They verbally abuse him, he stresses out and forgets what they require of him, so they abuse him more. Then he forgets again, they get angrier and lash out.

Minimizing the Emotional Abuse

On one hand, Lance understands they hurt him, on the other hand he minimizes what they are doing to him. I challenged him to get out of the house and he responded by saying, “Their good parents besides that.” Just because they are good parents the rest of the time, doesn’t change the fact that their verbal abuse is horrific and causing incredible damage. It’s like someone who has been beaten within an inch of death to say of his attacker, “It’s okay that he almost killed me because most of the time he’s really nice.”

Lance doesn’t have an advocate or someone to help him with his problems. His abusive parents have beaten him down and he doesn’t know what to do but just knowing someone cares will help him tremendously with his tragic situation.

A Father Full of Rage and Verbal Abuse

Sarah is in a very difficult situation. She and her sister are in the car, with their father for 10 minutes, twice a day, to and from school. Their father is extremely angry. He’s full of rage because of the divorce and who knows what else. Attacking the girls verbally is irrational but in some ways it must make him feel better, even though he’s doing great harm to his victims.

The wise King Solomon has given incredible advice to someone who is forced to be around another one full of rage. Solomon’s advice is to go soft and quiet when an angry person acts out. He said in Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”

When Sarah becomes gentle and humble with her words, she can help soften her father’s harsh and angry words by not letting him get her upset. After a while, the father will run out of things to say. He will see love and wisdom demonstrated during their drives to and from school. God’s love is powerful. It can do some amazing things, even turn Sarah’s father into a changed man.

We all ought to pray for Sarah because she needs tremendous patience. With it her soft approach will help change her father’s attitude. Solomon wrote, “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” Proverbs 25:15

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” Proverbs 15:1 Click To Tweet

Stuck in an Awful Predicament of Abuse

Tameka’s father has been emotionally and verbally abusing her for 6 years. He calls her names and puts her down every day. Tameka feels she can’t take it anymore and is starting to break down.

Tameka is stuck and needs help to find a much better situation. She needs to get away from her abusive father. The Bible tells us about King Saul, who was David’s mentor but also his authority figure. Saul had the right to put David to death and anyone else under his dominion. Saul fell away from God and was determined to kill David because he was jealous and hateful towards him.

David had to go to someone who could protect him and that someone was a man called Samuel. Samuel was a powerful man. He was both a prophet and judge over all of Israel. The Bible goes onto to say, “When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.” 1 Samuel 19:18

Tameka, like David, is under the authority of her father. Before attempting to leave her horribly abusive situation, she needs to hook up with safe people who will protect her. She definitely needs our prayers for strength and courage as she reaches out to others.

Let us all pray, God will change Tameka’s father, so he will turn from his vicious ways. The Bible says, “A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.” Proverbs 16:27 May God stop him in his tracks, may he turn to Christ to forgive him and find a whole new life of love and support.

Did Today’s Episode on Abuse Get You Thinking?

Verbally abused people are all around us. May God help us identify them and offer support that will help them heal. If you have been verbally abused, I want to encourage you to go to a place called ThePrayerZone.com. There you will find encouragement and prayer that will start you down the road of healing. Our hearts are with you. God says, “He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.” Psalm 102:17

Verbally abused people are all around us. May God help us identify them and offer support to help them heal. Click To Tweet

Resources for help with EMOTIONAL and VERBAL Abuse:

Check out my eBooks: Understanding Hope, and Understanding Forgiveness, and Understanding Self-Worth.
Check out my blogs: Hope for the Abused, What is Verbal/Emotional Abuse?, and What is Abuse?
Check out this story of hope: I Hated My Life…Your Show Saved me!
Need to talk about verbal abuse in your life? Sign up for an Email Mentor, an online coach who will email you and come along beside you to offer support.
Need prayer? I believe God wants to change your life and mine, through prayer. If you need prayer and would like to have someone pray for you, go to the ThePrayerZone.com and check it out.

Would you consider doing something for me?

If you like this episode and think someone else might too, please share it on Facebook and Twitter.

One last thing,

My podcast, our website, everything we do is entirely listener supported. If you’d like to help us to continue our work, please make a gift right now at our Give Now page.

Join me for my next episode on depression. In this episode, I speak with Samantha who finds herself emotionally exhausted. I also get a chance to talk with Melissa, facing a serious setback after her counselor is murdered. Then, I realize that Cody has a core belief, he’s worthless. Lastly, Dustin shares how even though he’s got some debilitating health issues, he’s reaching out to people who are depressed and encouraging them. From this episode, I hope you gain encouragement and are able to get help by learning from other’s experiences.

Remember, whatever you do, Never Lose Hope!
Dawson

Breaking Free from Self-Harm

This guest post is written by Amanda Turner, the founder and head writer of Breaking Free Indeed. Her hope is that by sharing her own story and the truths God has shown her, others might not feel so alone on their own journeys and can also find help in these truths. This passion grew from seeing how God freed her from the struggles that she felt so trapped in and redeemed the brokenness that she once thought could only be hidden at best.

Never Again. One Day at a Time.

“Well, it’s been two weeks…but what about two months from now? Will I make it that far okay? ‘Three months free’, ‘One year free’, sounds impossible…How do I know I’ll even be able to hold out a day more?”

It seems like just the other day I wrestled with those words. It’s amazing how quickly time moves. More than that, it is amazing how dramatically God transforms.

The Day I Gave Up the Fight to Resist

May 27th, 2015 was the day I gave up. After almost a year of living under intense depression and anxiety, I didn’t know what else to do. I felt lonely, panicked and overwhelmed. Hiding in my bedroom, I decided the nearest sharp object to me was the answer. I didn’t care anymore that I knew I wasn’t supposed to do it; all I cared was to drown out these feelings, and cutting seemed like the most promising way.

I had found myself thinking about it many times before. I could picture it in my head and feel the itch of it on my skin. I always told myself I wouldn’t ever fall for it though. For one, I didn’t have the guts to actually cut my skin, that’s gross, and besides that, it was obviously just crazy to do. Yet those thoughts and feelings persisted. I tried drawing on myself as a substitute to cutting, but at the end of the day I was still frantic and still had no relief. My resolve wore thinner and thinner. Anxiety and heartache can take you to places you never imagined you would go if you allow it to, and I was tired of fighting.

After thinking about it for a while, it didn’t sound so radical or drastic to do. It almost even sounded logical. I needed a way to release these feelings trapped inside of me. So when that night came, and I hurt, but I couldn’t cry, and I felt like I had nowhere to run, and I forgot the God who had carried me through the past trials of my life, I turned to a blade instead.

Pulled Down and Swallowed Up

At first it seemed good, I had done something about my pain. There was a level of satisfaction in that. But it quickly left. What had I done? Didn’t I promise I would never go here?! I had failed, and I had lost everything. The memory of what I had done to myself only made that night darker as I tried to fall asleep, and the following day just became even more anxious and painful. I told my parents what happened, and I promised them never again.

A couple weeks later, life got too busy to deal with, too overwhelming, too many thoughts and too much pain inside because I knew I was a failure at everything. How could I get away? Will it ever stop?? I remembered cutting myself before…I wasn’t supposed to do that…but no point in fighting now really is there? I had already lost. I had gone there before. This was my life now it seemed. So be it…

I cut myself again several times over the next week or two. And I made sure not to let anyone know this time. Not one single person. I couldn’t last very long in between cutting…while I felt better as I was doing it, that feeling stopped so quickly after I was done. It was like being pulled down into a vortex that just swallowed you up. Quick, slippery, frantic, swirling, falling, dark, helpless. But even as much as I hated it, I was determined to run full on into it. If I dove in deep enough maybe it would finally be enough to get me away from everything.

Interrupted

My plan was good to go, until it got interrupted by God. June 28th, 2015, we left for Jackson, MS, so I could go to Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Dance Intensive. I was staying on campus this time instead of with my family in a hotel like I had the years before. I figured this would work well actually, because there would be no one to stop me during those two weeks.

However, as my parents left and I stood there alone in the dorm room, I felt something deep down inside, buried under my stubbornness but still alive and steady, assuring me I had to let God change my heart here during this camp. Before that voice faded, I wrote a note to myself saying, “Whatever it takes. Do it!” Sometimes staring at those words was the only thing that made me hold on, and I almost gave up several times, but in my moment of crisis God always showed up with a reminder of His love for me.

Letting Go of My Need to Control

When you’ve been living your life trying to control it all yourself, it is painfully difficult to remember how to surrender and trust God to have the reigns, but it is necessary and it is worth it. He will pull your fingers open as gently as you allow Him to.

I didn’t notice it happening, but God changed me drastically during those two weeks in Ballet Magnificat’s intensive. At the end of my time there, I wrote out what God had shown me about anxiety and my desire for control over my life and emotions. I was seeing then that I could go to Him when I was anxious and overwhelmed and He would hold me. I was realizing that I could dump my emotions – even the ugly ones – on Him and that He could heal the hurt better than any cover-up trick I could try, if only I would trust Him to take care of my heart in His way and His timing. He is my Shelter from the craziness of this world and the craziness of my heart. I needed to remember these things.

Could I Stay Clean?

Coming back home, I worried about what would happen when real life hit again. Would I make it? Would I break again? I didn’t want to break; I actually wanted to get better now. But I was still so tired and worn down from my previous battles, did I have the ability to actually hold out and make it when things got hard? I looked online at people sharing stories of self-harm. They talked about how they had gone seven months without cutting, or three years free from it. It felt somewhat depressing. I had barely made it two weeks without cutting and many times I felt like it would kill me to keep fighting it. How could I ever reach seven months??

Today, I can give you that answer: you get there one day, one moment, at a time. You get there, not by resolving to last for however long without messing up, but by submitting in your heart to give up your will and your way and to run to God in every pain and bump that you face. You walk hand in hand with Him moment by moment, day by day, and then one day you stop and look over your shoulder in amazement because…

Now I Celebrate

Today, June 28th, 2016, I celebrate one year free from cutting! It was not impossible. I could not have gotten myself out of it, but with God, all things are possible. It is not us working our way out but simply being open and surrendered to His work in our hearts that brings us freedom and lasting victory.

God promises us this in the Bible:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” – Matthew 19:26

God Understands Your Pain

For those of you who struggle with cutting or self-harm, either that the thought keeps chasing you or that you feel stuck going back to it, please know that God understands your pain and He is the only true Healer of our hearts.

You may be able to trick your brain for a short time by hurting your body, but in the end it is only hurting your heart further. By giving up on running from your pain, and instead facing it and bringing it before Jesus, He can offer a deeper, truer, comfort and He can mend the brokenness. His love is deeper than your skin, just like your pain. He can reach you more fully than a blade can. The relief won’t feel the same as cutting does, but it will be more complete and long lasting if you wait patiently at His feet and keep coming back to Him.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

Breaking Free

To anyone who struggles, whether it be with self-harm or something totally different, whatever sin it is that you feel like you won’t be able to stay away from, that you are doomed to be drug back there forever, that you don’t know if you really do have the strength to get past: you really can make it. You can break free. You can leave the old patterns and lies behind. You don’t have to keep going back, and you don’t have to fear messing up again once you stop.

Yeah, you may trip, but God understands and has compassion on you. He won’t condemn you. You can instantly run back to Him for a hug when you do mess up. But also, you don’t have to trip! If you simply focus on keeping your gaze locked on Him, you won’t have to worry about sin suddenly pulling you down. He will keep your feet from slipping and will teach you to walk in His will. It is possible for “never again” to really mean never again, if you lean on your Savior’s strength and not your own.

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” – Psalm 18:30-32

“Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” – Psalm 94:17-19

-Amanda

This post was originally published here.

Don’t Let Your Pain Go Unseen – [Video]

UnseenFilm.org

This Short Film is Sure to Leave an Impact

This 25 minute film is sure to impact you in some way and is well worth watching. It explores the unseen pain of depression. If you or someone you know struggles with depression or suicidal thinking, parts of this film may be very relatable for you. If you want to grow in compassion for those who struggle, you will receive a valuable perspective.

The film begins with Owen contemplating taking his own life and his grandfather discovering him.

Owen is overwhelmed with hopelessness and sadness. At one point he says, “It’s exhausting. The worst feeling ever. Not being honest about how you’re feeling. And then you feel like you just can’t do it anymore.”

Owen’s grandfather has his own grief he’s still dealing with, but he also has deep wisdom. He explains to Owen, “Whatever you feed will win the fight.” He tells him how you can feed your internal wolf of hope or the wolf of despair. You can believe the lies despair tells you… you have no worth and no one will miss you. Or you can believe the hope you are loved and are worth the fight. Feed the hope!

How to Help Someone Who Is Thinking About Suicide

The way the grandfather tries to help Owen is not perfect. This film is not a case study with step-by-step instructions on how to help someone who is suicidal. The grandfather has his own flaws and hang-ups, but he does involve himself in Owen’s life and attempt in his own way to help Owen. The film gives us a good starting point for talking about suicide and helping those who struggle.

We’d like to begin a discussion here and receive your input. We’d love for you to leave a comment and share your thoughts.

It’s frustrating the grandpa doesn’t ask Owen directly what he is feeling. Why didn’t he ask the question, “Are you thinking about harming yourself?” Research tells us that asking the suicide question isn’t going to make someone more suicidal or make them want to act on it. It actually helps them.

Also, the grandpa should have gotten him formal help in addition to throwing away the pills and telling him to come to lunch with him. It was good the grandfather chooses to stay with Owen, but it is also vital to highlight the importance of seeking help from a hospital, especially in an acute suicidal crisis.

Finally – the whole healing journey is not told here. Formal counseling in addition to informal support from family and friends is an important step in the process.

However, the power of the film stands in the message that you are not alone in your internal feelings of hopelessness. Share them with someone and you may be surprised what they have gone through themselves.

Unseen Film – Keep the Discussion Going

We’d love to keep this discussion going. Here are some questions to get you started:

If you were the grandfather what would you have done differently to help Owen?
Do you need to have all the answers to help someone?
What did the grandfather do well?
Why do you think the grandfather kept his secret for so long?
What was your biggest take away from the film?
Did you like the film? Why or why not?

For more discussion check out this Conversation Guide

Finding Hope

We can’t leave this discussion without also sharing there is tremendous hope in knowing that God is with us and has a plan for our lives. This hope gives us something to hold onto even when times are tough, and it helps us combat the lies of despair. We have the assurance that we are not alone, that we have worth and a purpose and that we are deeply loved by our heavenly Father. If you want that deep hope for yourself, please learn more by downloading this free eBook on Understanding Hope.

For additional information about Unseen and other resources, please go to www.unseenfilm.org

If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. For a list of crisis centers around the world and additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page.

How to Deal with Anxiety: EP 20

Anxiety Is Real and Can Be Overwhelming

In This Episode:

We all get nervous, worried, stressed, and fearful from time to time. For example, when speaking in public, going through a financial hardship, or when having trouble in a difficult relationship.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about a looming event or something with an uncertain outcome. Having some anxiety is normal but for others, it becomes so frequent, and forceful, it takes over their lives and affects their ability to function. In this episode, I talk with Iva, Allison, and Matthew, each of them have had high levels of anxiety.

A Deep Plunge into Anxiety

Iva is dealing with an anxiety issue. He has no idea why he’s anxious. He’s taken a deep plunge into anxiety and feels there is no way out. He’ll be in class and for no apparent reason will start sweating, shaking and can’t breathe. Then has to lay down in the nurse’s office until he feels better. He doesn’t understand where the anxiety is coming from.

Iva is not alone, there are many people who have serious anxiety issues, 18% of all Americans suffer from anxiety. Many have no idea why they have such anxious feelings, which alone could make one feel even more turmoil. They usually don’t have much patience and understandably so. The anxiety can be so intense, they want relief and they want it now.

Any person who is struggling with anxiety, needs encouragement and support from others, who will empathize and pray with them as they face their daily battles. And walk with them through their own personal nightmares.

You are not alone. 18% of all Americans have an anxiety disorder. #anxiety Click To Tweet

God Can Give Us a Deep Sense of Peace

God can give us a deep sense of peace as we work through our issues. God says more than just, “Don’t be anxious,” or “Get over it,” but tells us our prayers and petitions are the keys to opening the door of overcoming our anxiety. The apostle Paul wrote,

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

I have high hopes for Iva, in spite of his struggle, he has not given up. His parents love him and support him, even though they don’t know what to do. Knowing they are there for him can be a great help. Truly Iva is tormented. May God show him the way to find the peace that passes all understanding.

Overloaded with Emotional Trauma

Allison has a lot of drama in her life, giving her tons of anxiety. She grew up in a dysfunctional family where her and her father were very close and her mom was jealous of their relationship. Now, her parents are getting divorced and Allison feels it’s her fault.

Allison is way overloaded with emotional trauma. For her to get help, she has to reach out and face the truth. Her anxiety attacks are a secondary issue, as horrendous as they are. They serve as a wakeup call. She must discover the triggers which cause her to spin into these anxiety nightmares.

Allison is coming to realize what some of these triggers are:

A broken relationship with her mom
A sense of false guilt and shame about her mom
Her dysfunction family
A boyfriend whose violated her trust
Way overloaded with her jobs
Her father being gone

She’s carrying too much weight, and she’s crying out for help. There’s only so much medication can do. It can help but it’s not an end-all. She’s going to have to go deeper and deal with her issues, one at a time. As she does that, the load will start to get lighter and she will experience less anxiety.

Go deeper to deal with issues, one at a time, and the load will start to get lighter. #anxiety Click To Tweet

Suffered from Anxiety Attacks

Matthew has suffered from anxiety attacks and even thought at one time he might die. He has no peace about anything. It took away all his energy. Then he discovered where to find strength and rest and he found them in Christ Jesus. He was worrying about everything and trying to carry everything on his shoulders. He’s learned to give it all over to God. From time to time, he still gets nervous but it’s been years since his last anxiety attack.

Finding Peace

Matthew has found his personal peace with Jesus Christ. With Christ’s love and power, he’s able to help others deal with their anxieties. He still struggles from time to time but nothing like it once was. Jesus explained what Matthew needed to do. He said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

Worrying and carrying everything on your shoulders is overwhelming. Give it over to God. #anxiety Click To Tweet

Did Today’s Episode Get You Thinking?

God can give us a deep sense of peace as we work through our issues. God says more than just, “Don’t be anxious,” or “Get over it,” He tells us our prayers and petitions are the keys to opening the door of overcoming our anxiety

Resources for Anxiety:

Check out my eBook: Understanding Anxiety.
Check out my blogs: How to Deal with Anxiety, You Can’t Just Toughen Up, How to Overcome Social Anxiety, How To Find Sanity In An Insane World, and Mental Illness is Not Mental Weakness.
Check out these stories of hope from people who have struggled with anxiety: She Struggled with Cutting and Anxiety, Megan’s Struggle with Anxiety Disorder, My Social Fear, and Madylon’s Story: My Life Has Been an Emotional Roller Coaster.
Need to talk about your issues? Sign up for an Email Mentor, an online coach who will email you and come along beside you to offer support.
Need prayer? I believe God wants to change your life and mine, through prayer. If you need prayer and would like to have someone pray for you, go to the ThePrayerZone.com and check it out.

Would you consider doing something for me?

If you like this episode and think someone else might too, please share it on Facebook and Twitter.

One last thing,

My podcast, our website, everything we do is entirely listener supported. If you’d like to help us to continue our work, please make a gift right now at our Give Now page.

Join me for my next episode all about identifying toxic relationships. A toxic relationship will suck the life and energy from you. It contaminates your self-esteem and your happiness. In this episode, I talk with Ashely about all the toxic, hurtful things her messed up boyfriend does to her. Then I talk with Kelsea, who’s boyfriend is sucking the life out of her causing her to be confused and miserable. Lastly, I talk with Jess. He and his girlfriend keep going back to the destructive parts of their relationship causing confusion, hurt and chaos in their relationship.

Remember, whatever you do, Never Lose Hope!
Dawson

Just Breathe [Video]

Resting in God’s Peace

Listen to this song by Jonny Diaz and remember to just breathe. Life can be so stressful, especially if you are struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness, anger, abuse, addiction or any other tough issue that we hear about everyday on TheHopeLine. Sometimes it is important to remind ourselves to “Just Breathe”. Find hope for stress and anxiety at the feet of Jesus. God is inviting you to come and rest and just “be”. When chaos is calling, turn to God and His peace will overcome.

Carmen’s Deep Self-Esteem Wounds: EP 6

What to Do When You Hate Yourself.

In This Episode:

At one time or another, we’ve all been disgusted with ourselves and wallowed in the world of self-loathing. You might not have said, “I hate myself,” but no doubt you have believed horrible lies about who you are. These lies are called false beliefs. They are misconceptions resulting from incorrect reasoning.

Did Today’s Episode Get You Thinking?

Have you ever said a false-belief to yourself, such as: “I hate myself,” “I’m a failure,” or “There’s nothing to love about me?” These negative self-beliefs are lies. Don’t buy the lie, buy the truth. You need to learn and accept the truth and you will be set free. The ultimate truth comes from God’s word and putting His truth against the false beliefs. Try this simple formula:

First – Identify the lie.
Second – Search God’s word for his truth.
Third – Replace the lie and begin to dwell and think on the truth.

Resources for what to do when you hate yourself:

Take a look at my blogs: Why Do You Hate Yourself, Five Things to Think and Do When You Hate Yourself, How to Respect Yourself More, Protect Your Heart From Negative Self-Talk, and 5 Amazing Reasons Why You Matter
For more help with relationships, download the free eBook: Understanding Self-Worth and Self-Hate
Need to talk about your issues? Sign up for an Email Mentor
Need prayer? We have people that will pray for you at ThePrayerZone

Would you consider doing something for me?

If you like this episode and think someone else might too, please share it on Facebook and Twitter.

One last thing,

My podcast, our website, everything we do is entirely listener supported. If you’d like to help us to continue our work, please make a gift right now at our Give Now page.

The next episode is on forgiveness.

Remember, whatever you do, Never Lose Hope!
Dawson

60 Thoughts Someone With Anxiety Has in the Morning [Video]

Is Anxiety Holding You Back?

Have you found yourself thinking thoughts similar to those shared in this video? Do you struggle with these thoughts of anxiety? Our friends at The Mighty created this video based on experiences shared by their contributors. Here at TheHopeLine we encourage you to cling to the thoughts at the end of the video…”You are enough. You will get through today. Breath slowly. You are enough to be loved. This will not control you. You can do this.”

If you struggle with anxiety, what thoughts race through your mind? Please feel free to leave a comment below.

RELATED BLOGS

How to Deal with Anxiety

Mental Illness is Not Mental Weakness

Shelby’s Struggle with Anxiety

You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are

We were not made to keep up, we were made to be free.

Rebekah Lyons wrote this book from her own experiences. She gives honest insight into her life’s challenges; discussing her fears, insecurities, and her constant striving to be accepted and loved by everyone.

We think we need to act like everyone else.

We think we need to look like everyone else.

And we think we need to be liked by everyone else.

Rebekah learned early in her childhood that she wanted to be liked, accepted and so she earned love by working hard to fit in. Her worth became tied to her accomplishments.

She explains that when our worth is tied to what we do then we start to believe we are not worthy of love unless we earn it. What she has learned in this journey we call life and her message to others is: We were not made to keep up, we were made to be free. Our worth is enough, not because of what we do but because of who we are.

Then we asked Rebekah, “How did you get to that point of feeling free?”

Rebekah talks about her broken heart from rejection and discusses how God told her, public affection will never heal private rejection. And her prayer became: “God, heal my broken heart.”

It’s not what you do, it’s who you are. @rebekahlyons Click To Tweet

God Rescued Her

When Rebekah moved to Manhattan, 7 years ago, she started experiencing anxiety and began having panic attacks. She tells us how the anxiety affected her and how she dealt with the panic attacks:

Talking-about-anxiety-and-panic-attacks

God says, perfect love casts out fear and He has not given us a spirit of fear. @rebekahlyons Click To Tweet

Rebekah had a moment where she was on the beach by herself, dancing in the wind and she describes it in the book: “I felt a glimpse of the freedom God longed for me to live into, a reckless abandon blooming into unencumbered joy.” We asked Rebekah if she thought it was possible for everyone to feel that reckless abandonment and unencumbered joy? Here’s what she said:

Joy is not the absence of darkness but confidence that the darkness will lift. @rebekahlyons Click To Tweet

Rebekah had many people say to her, “You’re writing my story.” Rebekah says it’s not just her story of struggles but it’s God’s story of rescue.

How to Deal with Anxiety, You Can’t Just Toughen Up

Tania’s Story: Not Believing in Myself

In the book, You Are Free, Rebekah Lyons invites you to:

Overcome the exhaustion of trying to meet the expectations of others and rest in the joy God’s freedom brings.
Release stress, anxiety and worry, to uncover the peace that comes from abiding in His presence.
Find permission to grieve past experiences, confess areas of brokenness, and receive strength in your journey towards healing.
Throw off self-condemnation, burn superficial masks and step boldly into what our good God has for you.
Discover the courage to begin again and use your newfound freedom to set others free.

How To Manage College Stress

by Dawson McAllister

Are you overwhelmed with classes, a job, and a social life? Are you wondering how to manage college stress?

The college years are certainly a time in your life to look forward to….the freedom, dorm life, expanding your mind, constant contact with friends, social activities, studying what interests you most, etc. But let’s be honest, college is stressful. To have successful college years, it is important to learn ways to manage college stress.

Overwhelmed with classes, a job, and a social life? Managing stress is important. @dawsonradio Click To Tweet

Believe me, I get how hard it is. I get many calls from college students on my radio show about how “stressed-out” they are. College requires a lot of changes that affect many areas of our lives. Alyse called concerned about her relationship with her boyfriend which seemed to be changing with the mounting pressure of school:

The American College Health Association found in a 2015 study that more than 85 percent of college students said they “felt overwhelmed” by the demands of college. And a third of all students said stress had a negative effect on their overall academic performance.

With 85% of students feeling overwhelmed, you can almost count on stress being part of any college experience.

But why is it so stressful?

Top College Stressors

Away from home for the first time.
Need to make decisions on your own.
Time management is hard with a flexible but full schedule.
Choosing a major and deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life
Pressure to achieve good grades.
Financial stress. College is expensive and debt is mounting.
Balancing studying, class time, studying, relationships, studying, extra-curricular, studying, social life, etc.
Easier access to alcohol and drugs
Being frustrated and wanting instant gratification when it’s not available.

These stressors can weigh heavy on anyone, but sometimes students are more than just “stressed-out”.

This is important…

Recognizing whether your feelings are based on adjusting to life away from home or if you are experiencing an early sign of a mental health condition is crucial.

Mental Health Concerns in College

75% of all mental health conditions begin by age 24. So it is critical that college students are aware of common warning signs of a mental health condition that could suggest that perhaps you are more than just “stressed out”. These years are critical for understanding and talking about mental health. And it is nothing to be ashamed of.

75% of all #mentalhealth conditions begin by age 24. So awareness is critical for College students. Click To Tweet

1 in 5 youth and young adults experiences a mental health condition and 30% of college students reported feeling so down at some point during the previous year that they found it difficult to function.

Heather called my show because she overloaded her first year, fell into depression, and gave up on classes. Now she is doing better, but scared to go back to school.

So when is it time to go talk to your school counselor or confide in a parent or trusted friend?

10 Common Warning Signs of Mental Health Condition:

Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks
Severe, out-of-control risk-taking behaviors
Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason
Not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight
Seeing, hearing or believing things that are not real
Repeatedly and excessively using drugs or alcohol
Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality or sleeping habits
Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still
Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
Trying to harm oneself or planning to do so

It can be difficult to know whether what you are experiencing is an early sign of an emerging mental health condition or part of adjusting to college. Listen to your mind and body. If you are not feeling right and are having trouble shaking that feeling, then talk with someone who can help you sort things out. You might find it is common stress and you might discover it’s more. You don’t have to know the answer to this question before talking to someone.

I can’t emphasize this enough…

Mental health conditions are common among college students so don’t hesitate to let your parents know what you are feeling. They want to know. Don’t try to protect them or keep them from worrying. Communicating with them can help you get the help you need. And seek out your campus counselor. That is what they are there for.

College students talk to your parents or campus counselor about stress. @dawsonradio #mentalhealth Click To Tweet

So now for those stress-reducing tips…

10 Tools To Manage College Stress

Make a “To Do” List and cross things off – this will keep you organized and keep you from forgetting to do something as well as give you a feeling of accomplishment every time you cross something off.
Make time to exercise – walk, run, bike, lift weights…whatever you like. Your years in college you essentially have a free fitness membership. Take advantage of it. Physical activity helps burn off stress.
Get enough sleep – Sleep and college may sound counter-intuitive, but it’s crucial that your body rest. Without proper rest you won’t be able to focus as well, you will nod to sleep in class and might very well get run down and sick. All things that will add to your stress.
Participate in college activities – Make sure you make time for fun and to connect with other people. Join a club, play intramural sports, volunteer, attend a college event such as a concert, play or game. You can find all that your college has to offer on their website or attend an activities far. A balanced schedule includes things that allow you to take a break from studying, meet new people and have fun.
Quiet time with relaxing music – Sometimes it’s important to just breath and relax and music often helps.
Talk to others about what you are feeling – Sometimes it just feels good to vent to share your burden with someone you trust. You can also learn a lot from people who are experiencing the same things as you. How do they manage their stress? Are they also feeling overwhelmed? You will fast learn you are not necessarily alone.
Eat healthy – Good nutrition also helps keep your mind sharp and focused. Pay attention to what you are putting in your body.
Avoid alcohol and drugs – Substance abuse certainly does not help you stay strong and focused and can quickly lead down a destruction path.
Self-Care – Make sure to treat yourself as kindly as you treat others. Self-care is provided by you for Identify your own needs and meet them. This includes being aware of your mental health needs and recognizing if it is time to seek help.
Pray – Spend time in prayer with God…you can pray at all times. As you walk to class, as you sit in the library, as you work out, during your quiet time, etc. Share with God all that you are feeling, pray about the concerns you have and what is causing you to worry. Ask Him for the focus you need or the strength to go on. Nothing is too big or small to ask of God. Then as you pray trust that God will see you through and release your anxieties to Him. He loves you and he will help you. It says in the Bible “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

For more Bible verses for comfort when you are stressed – Verses of Hope

College is an exciting time in life and an important time to maintain self-care and find ways to manage stress.
You can do this! And you don’t have to do it alone.

Check out the College Guide from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

TheHopeLine® Is Partnering With The Mighty

by Dawson McAllister

Suicide | The Mighty Partnership | TheHopeLine®, Dawson McAllister Network

We’re thrilled to announce a new partnership that will bring our resources in front of The Mighty’s wide-reaching readership. We will now have a home on The Mighty and appear on many stories on the site.

The Mighty is a story-based health community focused on improving the lives of people facing disease, disorder, mental illness and disability. More than half of Americans are facing serious health conditions or medical issues. They want more than information. They want to be inspired. The Mighty publishes real stories about real people facing real challenges.

Here are some examples of the kind of stories on The Mighty:

The Mighty’s goal is to publish stories that could change the path of someone’s day and improve the lives of people facing disease, disorder, and disability. The Mighty was started because they wanted something more than what was already out there. They wanted a place that deals with the emotional part of these struggles, the day-to-day challenges, the disappointments, the small wins and the milestones.

If you create an account on The Mighty, you can set up your own feed based on the topics you want to read about. And there are so many topics. They have an A-Z list of conditions to choose from. So if you are facing a disease, disability or disorder, even a rare condition or disease, it is probably covered so check out their extensive list.

What Sleep, Food, and Exercise have to do with Recovery:

How THE BIG THREE: Sleep, Food, and Exercise Can Help You in Your Recovery

This post was originally published on Fortify, it has been reused with permission by: The Fortify Team. Fortify was specifically designed to help individuals (particularly young people) struggling with pornography eventually reach long-lasting freedom.

When you think of ways to help in your fight against pornography [or any addiction], how often do sleep, food and exercise come up?

You might be surprised at how often research connects compulsive patterns to these basic lifestyle factors—especially what we call the Big Three— sleep, food and exercise. Each of these makes a huge difference in the quality of our mood and our overall mental and emotional well-being — including depression and anxiety, or how well we can focus our attention at any given moment.

But you don’t need any scientist to tell you that. Think of the last time you binged on sweets or spent the whole day sitting around inside. When we’re paying closer attention, something that seems pleasant in the moment can actually really tank our mood over time. And when we don’t feel well, it’s all too easy to scramble for some way—any way—to feel better. Let’s take a closer look at each of the Big Three, and how they can help you on your journey to freedom.

GET SOME SLEEP

Research studies consistently find that both teenagers and adults are seriously deprived of sleep. For most of us, we’re simply not getting what we need.

Sufficient sleep is especially crucial for anyone wanting to find freedom from addiction. Not only does the brain recharge and repair during sleep, there are rippling effects that impact the whole body. Going without sleep has been connected to lower immune function, serious disease and weight gain – as well as impaired ability to reason and think clearly.

When you’re tired you’re just not yourself; your brain’s not running at full capacity.

Bottom line: a tired body and cloudy mind will leave you vulnerable and less prepared to fight.

Make healthy amounts of sleep a top priority. If anything is getting in the way of getting enough sleep, take it very seriously, because if it’s interfering with your sleep, it’s probably messing with your freedom, too.

A tired body and cloudy mind will leave you vulnerable and less prepared to fight. #fortify Click To Tweet

GET THE RIGHT FUEL

In addition to sleep, another way to recharge your body is to check out what kind of fuel you’re giving it.

How far would you get in your car if you put maple syrup or Coca-Cola in the gas tank? It sounds dumb, but let’s be honest: we’re sometimes just as dumb with our own body by taking in stuff the body hardly recognizes as nourishment. And then we act surprised when the body doesn’t run so well…

Want to build strength in this battle? Take a look at the food you’re taking in.

Rather than only listening to others tell you what to eat, why not listen to your own body – try paying closer attention to what your body needs and wants.

GET MOVING

Alright, one more example. While recharging your body through rest and good fuel is important, if you really want to supercharge it, then try something really radical: move around more!

Although there is a lot of discussion about physical activity these days, we still do a ton of sitting around.

You might be asking what the problem is with sitting so much. So let’s look at the facts: without enough movement and activity, we are starving our brain in another way and setting us up for the same old patterns.

What about the reverse? What if we bumped up our activity level? In the late 1990s, Dr. Van Praag and his colleagues at the Laboratory of Genetics at the Salk Institute in San Diego, California, showed that exercise increases neurogenesis (or the birth of new brain cells).

When you exercise, a flood of oxygen heads to your brain and a number of other processes are triggered that help your brain grow. So by exercising, we’re actually rewiring the brain in a healthy way and giving our brain an extra boost to function at peak performance.

Rewire the brain in a healthy way by exercising! #fortify Click To Tweet

GET STARTED

Studies are showing that poor health can cause us to be more susceptible to impulsive decisions. When we are tired, hungry, or in bed all day, it can be much harder to resist those cravings when they come. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Even simple adjustments in the Big Three – sleep, diet and exercise – can super-charge your path to freedom in surprising ways.

There are countless ways to strengthen your defenses and Fortify yourself. By recharging your body with the sleep, fuel, and energy it needs, you can give yourself an even better shot at kicking porn to the curb, for good. We may not be running this marathon with you, but we are cheering for you the whole way.

If you have a pornography addiction, don’t let it stand in the way of who you want to become…check out Fortify! Their core strategies help you to get to the root of your addiction so you can find long lasting freedom.

It’s National Prevention Week #NPW2017, May 14th through May 20th, 2017, brought to you by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). This week is a great time to increase public awareness of mental and substance use disorders. Eating well, getting more sleep, and exercising can help with prevention as well as helping addicts in the recovery process. SAMHSA says, MAKE EACH DAY COUNT and help with prevention by helping people reach their full potential.

For more information on how to overcome the destructive addiction to pornography, check out our eBook.

Madylon’s Story: My Life Has Been an Emotional Roller Coaster

My life from day one has been an emotional roller coaster. I have had many up and downs…mostly downs.

My mom is a drug addict. I had to live with her. I have been yelled at, screamed at, called worthless and almost every other name in the book. I have been beaten, molested, sold, forgotten, left, homeless, starving, dying. I have wanted to kill myself for a long time. After many years, my dad finally thought it was a good idea to get me away from my mom.

I now suffer from extreme depression, anxiety, and PTSD. My dad tonight, yelled at me and I had a freak attack. My dad isn’t nice and neither is my stepmom so we fight often, but tonight it hit me and I wanted to do anything to leave this Earth right now. I wanted to stop being a disappointment, but then I got on this site…TheHopeLine.com. I talked to someone, and told my story and it kind of made me feel better…like that I shouldn’t give up.

Thanks,
Madylon

Don’t give up, there’s hope for a better tomorrow. If you are having struggles in your life and dealing with depression, download TheHopeLine’s free eBook to find help.

6 Questions with Brian Johnson (Bethel Music)

Brian & Jenn Johnson: After All These Years

I got a chance to chat with Brian Johnson about the new album he and his wife released, After All These Years. Brian and Jenn Johnson have done many compilations with well-known artists over the years and they are worship leaders at Bethel Church in Redding, California and founders of Bethel Music and WorshipU. Their album, After All These Years, is their first solo release album together in over 10 years.

Brian says, “I think with this album, it’s not as much about being wowed by something but about being honest and raw.” He says, “We purposely, on many occasions, decided to keep things the way they were – even a vocal that’s not perfect.”

Have you ever asked what is the purpose of worship? Do worship leaders ever share about their own personal struggles? Have you been turned off from God because of what someone did? Did you know that worship can help with anxiety and depression? Brian shared answers to these questions and more. Be sure to click each of the links below to hear the actual interview.

What inspired you to write this album?

Brian explained, “The idea of doing an album after all these years is the title of the album, After All These Years, because of what happened throughout these past ten years. In this interview Brian shared openly and honestly about his nervous breakdown and other experiences that inspired their lyrics and compositions. Be sure to listen to the audio clip.

What inspired you to write this album?

What got you through your nervous breakdown?

Have you wondered if celebrities ever have struggles? And how do they overcome them? Brian shared with me about his own nervous breakdown and said that he had to “go deep with God.” Listen to what he shared in this clip of the interview.

What got you through your nervous breakdown?

How do you think worshiping God and seeking God can help with anxiety and depression?

Brian said, “I think it’s like a reset button, your phone gets bogged down and starts acting weird and you got to reset it. I think we are the same way. I think it brings things back in the appropriate perspective and balance.”

In honesty Brian shared this with me, “In my case, I hit a wall. I got put in the hospital that day, I just couldn’t breathe, the emotional and spiritual became physical. I can coin this phrase, but consider it a gift when God becomes your only option. There is a point in all of our lives where God becomes the only option. The beautiful thing is when nothing works and we have one option with God. That’s what happened. It’s terrible, but at the same time the best thing that ever happened to me.”

How do you think worshipping God and seeking God can help with anxiety and depression?

The beautiful thing is when nothing works and we have one option with God. @brianjohnsonM Click To Tweet

Why do you think worship is so important?

Brian believes, “The beautiful thing about worship is there is a progression sometimes, it’s like processing, like insecurity processing doubt…leading us into those moments, but God you were faithful here, you were faithful there. I can’t feel or see, but I’m going to take a step of faith right now and sing out that I trust you.”

What’s the inspiration with the song, You’re Gonna Be Okay?

Jenn wrote this song and Brian shared that, “She wrote it for a few of her friends, almost prophetic, declaring over them, prophesying: I’m seeing something, I’m feeling something from the heart of God that I know that you don’t know and you’re not feeling, but I’m just telling you right now, with the authority of heaven, you’re going to be okay.”

What is the inspiration behind the song, You're Gonna Be Okay?

I’m just telling you right now, you’re gonna be okay. @jennjohnson20 Click To Tweet

Is there something you would say to someone who is a non-believer or who has not been exposed to much worship music or this kind of music?

Brian said this, “I just feel there are so many distractions and things that get in the way of a pure relationship with God. And it’s actually not complicated. It’s quite simple.There is a Creator that created everything and sent His son. When we approach that, almost with a clean slate and just say: God if you are real, speak to me, if you are real, reveal yourself to me. I believe God will always reveal himself to a hungry heart, to someone that knows that they are not God, to someone that really, genuinely wants to know their Creator.”

Is there something you would say to someone who is a non-believer or who has not been exposed to much worship music or this kind of music?

If you are struggling with making a connection with God, Brian shared this, “When I had my nervous breakdown, I had to connect with God as if I was on a deserted island for the rest of my life with nobody else there. I know that there has to be something that’s bigger than me that holds this world together. You look at science, it’s amazing what it takes for things to grow and live. When you approach God from that point of view you will find God as clear as day. I think keeping your relationship with God is just as important. Approaching God as if, that sacred time with Him, that sacred moment, is a big deal.”

I believe God will always reveal himself to a hungry heart. @brianjohnsonM Click To Tweet

Connect with Brian and Jenn Johnson: http://brianandjennjohnson.com/

Does anything Brian said challenge your way of thinking or did anything he say make an impact on you? Please leave us a comment below.

Rachel & TheHopeLine Team

If you are dealing with stress and anxiety, like Brian has, to get help, download your free eBook today.

What People Are Saying About Dawson McAllister & TheHopeLine®

What is TheHopeLine? Who is Dawson McAllister? We are best defined by the people who we have helped. Here are their stories..with their heartbreak, and their victories expressed. These are some of the amazing thank you’s we’ve received from people who have come to us in their time of need. We are honored and blessed to have been a small part of their lives…giving love, encouragement, advice, guidance, and hope when all else seemed lost.

People Are Saying…

Fighting With My Sister…

“Seven years ago my older sister and I got into a big fight. I didn’t talk to her for a long time. Then about 5 months ago, I was listening to Dawson’s talk show and he helped me. Dawson was talking to someone else about the same situation that my older sister and I had. Well, that helped me because Dawson said to forgive and move forward. And so my sister and I made up. So thank you so much Dawson.” – Sierra

Suicidal…

“My life was saved tonight, thanks to a HopeCoach who selflessly listened to me and helped me find the strength within myself to keep going. I was ready to end my life, had last all hope in any redemption. Without this service I would be gone. Thank you for saving my life, for supporting me when I had nobody else to turn to and for showing me that there is hope for me. This is an amazing service that has the power to move mountains. Thank you.” – Jenna

Feeling alone…

“I was feeling totally and utterly alone tonight, so alone that I didn’t want to be here anymore. I had an online chat with Kelsey and honestly she couldn’t of helped me more! I got that attached, I didn’t want to stop talking!! haha Sometimes, you feel like all life is doom and gloom but you’ve just got to find out what you’re good at and show people what you can do, and do something you love! I’m super happy now and although actions still need to be took to get me back on track, after speaking the Kelsey at TheHopeLine, I already feel one step closer to happiness!” – Emily

I’m 39 now, I will never forget…

“Hello! Yes, it has been a long time since hearing Dawson McAllister but he was placed on my heart. I would tune in when I was in high school. I struggled with bulimia, cutting and lived in an abusive environment. There is hope!! I am free from bulimia and cutting. I have forgiven those who have abused me…and one of them I dearly love! There is hope!!” – Katey

Parent’s Divorce…

“My parents divorced in 2008 and it impacted me a lot. I was really attached to my dad and not having him around has really affected me. I was listening to the radio on a Sunday night and I happened upon Dawson McAllister. I thought it was wonderful and decided that I would try it [TheHopeLine], so I did, and I feel wonderful! Thank you Hope Line!!!!” – Isabell

I used to want to kill myself...

Dawson, thank you…

“Hi, I’m Hannah. I was about 10 when I turned my local radio station on for the night and I heard the show. I heard it once, but I didn’t turn it on again until I was about 13. That was a horrible time in my life, and it honestly only got worse, but with listening to your show and listening to what other people were going through and the advice that was given to other people, you helped me to feel a lot better about myself and who I was becoming. I felt like a bad person before. I still do sometimes, but now I listen to the show every Sunday night and it is a great start to my week. So, thank you.” – Hannah

Child Abuse…

“When I was 3 years old, my parents divorced. Now that I’m getting older I have to pick sides. When I was 12, I chose to live with my mom because my dad threatened me. Now I am 13 and being abused in a way my parents don’t see. They think everything is okay. In the way I see it, it’s hard and it’s a struggle. I have tried to commit suicide once and now a year after, I have decided to get help. I got on here and talked to one of the HopeCoaches. I chatted with Bay, she talked me through everything. She listened to me and even suggested that I call the Childhelp. These people really helped me and is helping me to change my life. Thank you!” – Tia

While I Was in Prison…

“Dawson, I just wanted to tell you that I listened to your radio program while I was in prison. I was 20 years old when I committed my crime. When I listened to the young people’s stories, I heard so much of my own problems that lead me to prison. Your advice was good and I was glad to know you are a believer. I served 19 years in prison. I used that time to get an education and take classes that helped me better my thinking and behavior. Most of all, God got a hold of me and transformed my life. Keep doing what you do, Dawson. Had I heard your program sooner, it might have kept me from making the bad choices I did. I’m 40 years old and starting my life over, its not easy, but I have a whole different attitude and perspective now. Praise God! May you be blessed.” – Sherry Ann

Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety…

“I was going through a lot. I was going through getting diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It was very rough, I wanted to die. I felt like I had no one that cared about me at all. Then I realized there was people out there who cared and might have no clue who you are. The people on TheHopeLine were people who did not even know about me but they still cared about me and how I felt. Now, I know that if I need someone they are always here for me and I get a different person every time but they still try to understand what is going on.” – Cassady

Helpful and Encouraging…

“I have used TheHopeLine chat. The people I talked to were helpful and encouraged me. God loves me and you too!” – Kimberly

Battling with Depression…

“I was getting really low, and I was starting to think about suicide more and more every day and then I started listening to Dawson. I heard how there were so many other people like me out there and the words of advice that Dawson shared with them, it felt like he was sharing with me. I took what he said to those people to heart and I got some help. My life has gotten so much better! I have a girlfriend now and i have an awesome relationship with my parents. Thanks Dawson for the second Chance at Life! you truly are the grace of God!” – Damion

I was raped...

Hopelessness…

“I am older and perhaps not the intended user for the TheHopeLine. But I brought my sorrows here several times and I was startled by the quick response, patience of the coaches, and generosity of spirit. I would like to encourage all young people, whatever issues that challenge you to reach out to your fellow spiritual beings that share this world with you. You will see, most of all, that you are not alone. And from my age perspective, you can survive almost anything with a brighter future to be yours.” – Tony

I Felt Like I Wanted to Cheat…

“I started my relationship with a girl and it’s not a bad relationship. All of a sudden, I started getting an urge to start kissing random female’s on the street, but then I found TheHopeLine and started chatting with someone. Now, I am back to normal and loving my girl like no tomorrow. We are now happily married and we have decided to explore the world together as a pair while coming back to our small apartment in the UK every once in a while.” – John

Frustrating Relationship…

“I was very frustrated with my relationship. HopeCoaches helped me to calm down and attack the problem instead of each other. After a long conversation, I felt great and was ready to make it work with my girlfriend. I just want to say thanks!” – Cedrick

Depression…

“For the past couple weeks, I was depressed and I did not talk to anyone about it. Then I decided to talk to a HopeCoach at TheHopeLine and they were very helpful. When they helped me out I could feel the depression and anger leaving me and now I feel better than I did before.” – Austin

Bullied…

“I signed up for this thinking it was just going to be a website where you get told advice that you have been given before. But I was wrong. They offered me sites to go on and advice that helps. Now I am more happy and can deal with things a lot better!” – Zack

I Felt Like Ending It…

“I felt very low. Just to say a big thank you to Dawson McAllister on the telephone today as I am in a bad way and he understood and gave me some good resources and guidance that should hopefully help me in the future. Bless TheHopeLine! Hope is Here.” – Unknown

If you have a story to share about how you were helped by Dawson McAllister or TheHopeLine, submit your story here!

How to Deal with Anxiety, You Can’t Just Toughen Up

by Dawson McAllister

Anxiety Disorders, “ You can’t just toughen up.”

Shelby wrote to us and said:

Living with an anxiety disorder (and one as complex as mine) you just have to learn to keep your mouth shut and keep everything bottled up inside because the second you let it out, your labeled as crazyor out of control. It was to the point that if I cried, people worried about me. I felt alone, pushed into a corner and hid by my family.

This breaks my heart…the fact that she thought she needed to keep her feelings locked inside for fear of being labeled and judged. I know that many people struggling with an anxiety disorder feel just like Shelby. But Shelby knew she couldn’t just keep her mouth shut.She knew she needed to talk about her feelings, and thankfully she found TheHopeLine^®. She said, [At TheHopeLine] no one is writing down anything or judging me on what I say, I just get to speak. (Click here to read more of Shelby’s story)

If you are struggling with an anxiety disorder, do you know how to deal with anxiety? Talking about it is important. Anxiety disorders are real and getting help is critical. Although it may feel like you are alone in this struggle, I want you to know that you are not. Statistics from 2015 show that approximately 40 million American’s struggle with an anxiety disorder.

40 million American's struggle with an #anxietydisorder. You are not alone. There is Hope. Click To Tweet

Regardless, I know there are still many mistaken ideas or stigmas surrounding anxiety disorders and these stigmas may keep you from seeking the help you need. Chris called into my radio show and shared this:

I started suffering from depression and I’m having anxiety problems now, and it caused me to lose my job. Now, my dad pretty much doesn’t understand and he kind of disowned me over it and he’s disappointed in me and I don’t know how to make him understand what I’m going through.

I know it’s hard when someone doesn’t understand what you are going through and if you’ve ever been told to just toughen upor snap out of it, I am sorry. But other people’s misperceptions should not keep you from seeking the help that you need.

I also want to caution you about two things:

Don’t let the stigma surrounding anxiety disorders create self-doubt and shame. Stigma doesn’t just come from others. You may mistakenly believe that your condition is a sign of personal weakness or that you should be able to control it without help. When you think less of yourself because of your disorder and when you assume others will see you negatively because of your mental health, it’s a self-induced shame.
Don’t make excuses about getting the help you need. I talk to so many people struggling with anxiety and often when I encourage them to see a psychologist or a doctor or to consider medication, they respond with a lot of excuses. I say Find a doctor.And they say Yeah, but…I say, There is a lot of options for medication.And they say, Yeah, but… I say, Find a support group.And they say, Yeah, but… I know it’s hard, but don’t fall into this trap. Be an overcomer rather than a victim. Take baby steps, but DO something.

I encouraged Joy in this way when she called into the radio show. After offering Joy a number of options she said, I don’t know. I don’t think anything will ever really help. But by the end of the call she was committed to being an overcomer.

Be an overcomer rather than a victim. Take baby steps, but do something. #anxietydisorder Click To Tweet

If you are struggling with anxiety, here are some things you should do:

Get treatment. You may be reluctant to admit you need treatment, but treatment can provide relief by identifying what’s wrong and reducing symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life. Treatment may include medication and medication is not a dirty word.
Don’t isolate yourself. Reach out to people you trust for the compassion, support and understanding you need. They can help you deal with your anxiety.
Join a support group.
Don’t equate yourself with your illness. You are not an illness. You are so much more.
Speak out. Consider expressing your experiences in a blog or school paper or send a letter to the editor. Your views might help instill courage in others facing similar challenges and educate the public about anxiety disorders.

If you don’t know where to start seeking help, we’ve created a free eBook on Understanding Anxiety. Simply click this image for a free download.

Do you struggle with anxiety? What’s the biggest challenge you face? Please leave a comment below. You can help each other by talking about it.

Your Friend,
Dawson

I was Feeling Overwhelmed and Alone

Are You Feeling Overwhelmed?

I came across this site by accident but I’m so glad that I did. I have been in a bad place for a while and when I found TheHopeLine.com I was feeling completely overwhelmed. I had no one to talk to because not a lot of people knew what was going on in my life. I spoke about the issues I was having for the first time in four years. I had never been able to do that before.

I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and it gave me the boost I needed to feel hopeful again.

-Lily

If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed and dealing with anxiety. TheHopeLine’s free eBook can help you to understand the causes of anxiety and how to deal with it all.

I Feel 100x Lighter

When I found this site on Google, I found the answers I was looking for.

My story goes like this:

For the past few months, I’ve been learning an ice skating routine for a competition in March and there was a lad who wouldn’t leave me alone to concentrate. I was forgetting the routine, getting stressed about the moves, and getting snappy with everyone. I go to the ice rink, not to stand around and chat, but to skate and practice what I need to learn. But I couldn’t with Kirean around and I was getting more and more stressed. People started thinking I had anger problems and weren’t even talking to me because I couldn’t talk about what was bothering me. I didn’t want people to think I was horrible.

After chatting on here with a HopeCoach, I realized I just needed to tell my coach, Ryan, that I’m getting confused and stressed about the routine and I don’t mean to be sharp and snappy with him.

And I need to tell Kirean when I’m not practicing I can hang out and have a laugh with him, but skating time is practice time.

Thank you TheHopeLine!
Roxie (from the UK)

If you are dealing with a situation where you are unsure of what to do and feel frustrated or stressed, connect with a HopeCoach at TheHopeLine. We are here for you, not only to listen but also help you figure out how to deal with what you are going through.

How to Overcome Social Anxiety

by Dawson McAllister

Do you ever feel uncomfortable in social situations, especially around people you’ve never met? Are you envious of that person who is always the life of the party,appearing so confident, and having fun, even in new situations.

If you have given up hope that you will ever be less than awkward in a social setting. Or if you believe that you are destined to stick to the back of the room, or hang like a picture against the wall, this blog is for you. I believe there are some things you can do to learn to be more outgoing.

I think most of us face some degree of social anxiety. There are many different levels ranging from severe (afraid to leave your house) to very mild (not a huge fan of making small talk). But I imagine most of us fall somewhere in the middle.

Start same sentence 3 times. Someone talks over you every time. #socialanxiety Click To Tweet

Some of the ideas I discuss below might work for you some may not and some may just be a good reminder, but I believe these tips could be a great starting point if you have always wanted to be more outgoing, but just haven’t had any idea how to do it.

Realize fears are normal. Many of the people in the room are feeling the exact same way you are. Socializing is a perfect opportunity for rejection and no one wants to be rejected. If you start talking to someone, it’s a real possibility they may find you boring. You can’t be fascinating to everybody! But at the same time, there will be some people who think you are interesting and fun to be with, and if you never take a chance, you will never know. So push through your fears.

Sarah admitted to having worried about getting people to like her: It’s natural to worry about whether people will like you or not. The truth is, some people will like you, and some people won’t. You can’t control either.

Lighten Up Don’t take things too seriously. This includes not taking yourself too seriously. It’s not the end of the world when something bad happens to you, and many times being able to laugh at yourself, or finding something funny in the situation is not only good for your own sanity, but it’s also funny to other people and lightens the mood.

Brandon agrees: A person can be funny if they laugh at themselves and don’t take themselves too seriously and is always positive.

Start the conversation.When you begin the conversation with someone, you take the pressure off of him or her. Chances are they are feeling as awkward as you are. Opening a conversation takes some practice to get comfortable with, and you might need to force yourself to do it at first, but it gets easier and more natural. Do your best to be calm and relaxed. This will encourage others to relax with you. Try these conversation starters:

What brings you here today?
So, where are you from?
I love your jacket, where did you get it?

Know What’s Going On The more you know about what’s going on in the world of news, entertainment and pop culture, the better your chances are of finding something to talk about. In the course of your conversation, be prepared to talk about something you found interesting. I saw the funniest thing yesterday, did you happen to see this?and then explain what you saw or heard. Sometimes people might even think you’re funny, simply because you revealed your own humorous way of looking at things

It’s Not About You
Ultimately, this is the most important thing. You don’t want to be someone who comes across as a person who is just trying to get attention or that person who can’t stop talking about themselves.

Melissa admitted to feeling pretty socially awkward most of the time. It’s hard to find the balance between not trying at all and trying too hard.

It's hard to find the balance between not trying at all and trying too hard. #socialanxiety Click To Tweet

Take a sincere interest in the other person. People are flattered when someone takes a sincere interest in them. Keep the conversation about them by asking lots of questions. Key in on the things they bring up and ask follow-up questions to get more information.

David said he loves it when people take an interest in him. If someone asks me a good question about what I do for fun, or what I like, and then really listens, it makes me feel like they could be a friend. That’s how I hope to be to other people.

Learn to read body language. You don’t want to be that person who traps someone in a conversation that they can’t escape or to be the last one at the party who hasn’t picked up on the fact that it is time to go. Look for non-verbal clues. If you notice them folding their arms, or stepping back, you may be standing too close for their comfort level. If they are staring over your shoulder, searching the room for someone else, you may need to end the conversation and let them go. If they start picking up the dishes or yawning a lot, it may be time to go.

Take a friend. Entering into a new social situation is always easier if you go with a friend. It helps to know someone who likes you is there cheering you on as you begin reaching out to new people. This is great practice for when you have to be in a social setting alone. However, avoid spending all of your time with your friend, or appearing like you are having a private conversation. People will think you’re not in the mood to socialize.

Remember, your fears are very normal. Just relax.

The people who appear to have an easy time socializing are the ones who have had a lot of practice.

You will find the more you work on some of these points, your fears will decrease, and you will look forward to the new adventures, and interesting people you will meet, as you act with courage and confidence.

For additional help and information on Social Anxiety download our free eBook, Understanding Anxiety!

My Social Fear

What If Your Social Fear Kept You From Enjoying Life?

I am thirteen. I had a little group of friends. My family was united. I had an awesome life until my parents’ divorce when I was nine. After that, everything went down. I started becoming more and more afraid of meeting new people or even old friends. I was afraid of even making eye contact with anyone, and would cry when going to a party. I didn’t know how to tell my parents because I didn’t want to be a weight for them.

I was suffering so much, but I didn’t know what to do. Then, I learned about TheHopeLine.

I chatted with Emily, a HopeCoach, and she was so helpful. She told me to write a letter to my parents about it. They inmediately understood and took me to a therapist. Now, I rarely panic about going to a party, and I feel really happy. My relationships have never been better. Thank you Emily!!
-Isabel

For information on how to understand the causes of anxiety and social anxiety disorders and how to deal with them, download TheHopeLine’s free eBook.

PTSD What is it and do I have it?

by Dawson McAllister

Have you ever wondered, “What is PTSD?”

And maybe you have asked yourself, “Do I have it?” On my radio show I so often hear these types of statements:

“I keep re-living the time I was raped.”

“I don’t feel anything anymore, I have no emotions. I’m just numb after all the abuse I went through.”

“I’m constantly on-edge. I can’t ever let my guard down ever since I was in that horrific car accident.”

These are just a few of the different faces of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
PTSD is often associated with those who serve in the military and rightfully so. Since 2002 over 100,000 military members have been diagnosed with PTSD. But PTSD can effect anyone who has gone through a terrifying experience that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the pain of re-living the trauma over and over.

Since I hear the symptoms of PTSD discussed quite frequently on my radio show, I felt it would be very worthwhile to talk about this disorder today. As with everything knowledge is power and understanding is half the battle. If you have faced a traumatic experience here is what I want you to know:

Not everyone who goes through a dangerous experience will get PTSD. Don’t assume that just because something traumatic happened that you are destined to get PTSD. This is not the case.
However, if you have disturbing thoughts or feelings for more than a month after a traumatic experience, please seek help. This is NOT a sign of weakness, you are NOT expected to just get over it. What you are experiencing IS REAL and needs to be dealt with.
One factor to reducing the risk of getting PTSD is to immediately get support after a terrifying event (rape, abuse, accident, tornado, flood, war, etc.). Talk about it, join a support group, be open about how you feel. This has proven to be an important step.
Here are some signs you should see a doctor:
- You are having trouble getting your world under control.
- You are still having flashbacks or bad dreams.
- You are stressed or frightened when you are no longer in danger.
- You are avoiding normal life and losing interest in things you loved.
- You are emotionally numb.
- You have difficulty sleeping.
- You are thinking suicidal thoughts.
There are treatments available…Therapy, Support Groups, Medication.
There is HOPE. With time and treatment you can overcome PTSD.
God is with you in the journey. He says, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Now, if you know someone who has experienced a terrifying event, the role YOU play in supporting them will be key. So I’d like to offer the “support people” some advice as well:

Be patient. It can be difficult for the person experiencing PTSD to express what they are feeling and it can make them uncomfortable to talk about it.
NEVER assume or tell them, “It’s all in your head.” or “You can just get over it.” or “Only veterans get PTSD.”
It is never too late for them to seek treatment. Even if the traumatic event occurred over a year ago or more, treatment is still important and effective.
Honor their struggle to make peace with the event and don’t rush it.
Since their perspective is driven by fear, they are not always logical keep reaching out. Keep encouraging.

ALWAYS remember there is HOPE. Here are a number of resources to support you in your journey:

Learn more about PTSD, by downloading your free eBook.

You are not alone.This video is about a girl I talked with on my radio show. She was struggling with PTSD from a traumatic event in her life.

Overcoming Depression and Suicide [Video]

Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide – Chris Mora of Darkness Divided

Chris Mora of Darkness Divided stops by HeartSupport (one of TheHopeLine’s partners) to talk about his personal battles with depression and a suicide attempt.

Here is Chris Mora’s story:

From Athlete to Wheelchair, Depression & Thoughts of Suicide – Garrett Russell of Silent Planet

Garrett Russell of Silent Planet shares with HeartSupport, how when he found out he would never play sports again, he started getting depressed very quickly and eventually started thinking about ending his life. But after a trip serving in an orphanage in Haiti, his life started to change.

Here is Garrett Russell’s story:

HeartSupport’s founder is Jake Luhrs, lead singer of internationally renowned metal band, August Burns Red. HeartSupport is an online community to talk openly about the issues you are facing. Watch videos of other people’s stories, read blogs, share your story and find help on how to overcome your struggles, no matter what they are.

HeartSupport’s view is that:

No matter how far you’ve fallen
No matter how screwed up you feel
No matter how many lies you’ve told
No matter how long you’ve hid
No matter how dark your circumstance
No matter how much you regret it
No matter how badly you messed up
No matter how big you sinned
No matter how guilty you are
No matter how many felonies you have
No matter how long you’ve struggled
No matter how many times you’ve tried
No matter how weak you feel
No matter how dirty your past
No matter how you see yourself

THEY STILL BELIEVE IN YOU and SO DO WE!

If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world. For additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page.

If you are struggling with depression, no matter the cause, to find out more and get help, check out our free eBook on Depression!

Anxiety Disorder

I’ve been using this website for almost a year now, and honestly its like my little therapy I need.

No prescriptions, no one is writing down anything or judging me on what I say, I just get to speak. Living with an anxiety disorder (and one as complex as mine) you just have to learn to keep your mouth shut and keep everything bottled up inside because the second you let it out your labeled as “crazy” or “out of control,” it was to the point that if I cried, people worried about me.

I felt alone, pushed into a corner and hid by my family. Many things caused my anxiety disorder, and a lot of it has to do with a chemical imbalance that I just can’t simply help. I can take medicine, but its not guaranteed to work. All of the HopeCoaches I’ve come across on the website have seemed to be very big Christians, and at the time I was an atheist. I didn’t believe in God and I didn’t want to.

Then I met Megan (the HopeCoach who saved my life) who asked if she could pray with me. Of course I said yes, and while she was typing I had decided I would just look away and respond thanks. But instead of being my normal stubborn self, I took the time to read what she had wrote. Nothing in that prayer said “God fix her” “God she is broken.” Megan never once labeled me anything less than God’s daughter and her sister.

And I have felt an over whelming joy in my heart ever since that day.

I am now an active member in my church, my anxiety is still present, but I no longer feel the need to hide it. I have more support than I could of ever dreamed of having and it is all thanks to Megan. So Megan, if you read this, you know what you and I talked about, what I confessed to you, and you know that special prayer you wrote just for me. I love you with all of my heart, and I don’t even know you. I owe you my life.
-Shelby

For information on how to understand the causes of anxiety and social anxiety disorders and how to deal with them, download TheHopeLine’s free eBook.

She Struggled with Cutting and Anxiety

Taylor Shares Her Story of Cutting and Anxiety

Taylor was struggling with cutting and anxiety and depression. Thankfully she found TheHopeLine®.

I have been cutting as a result from depression and severe anxiety. I started when I was 15 years old, and I am now 19 years old. I have been on TheHopeLine.com for a few months now and I have to say that they have helped me through the hard times I have had.

They connected me to two mentors and have made my connection with the Lord much stronger than ever before from the resources they sent me. I really appreciate the people who I chatted with.

Thank you TheHopeLine®!!!

Taylor

For more on how to understand the causes of anxiety and social anxiety disorders and how to deal with them, download TheHopeLine’s free eBook.

5 Things to Think and Do When you Hate Yourself

by Dawson McAllister

Do You Truly Hate Yourself?

Self-hate is a dark, black hole in our soul that can be easy to fall into, but difficult to get out of. Last week I wrote about some of the reasons why people hate themselves. I want to give you some things to do when you feel like you hate yourself and you say things like, “I hate myself, I’m no good, I’m so stupid, or I’m worthless.”

The truth is you are NONE of those things. But it’s easy to think you are, especially if you have been believing all these negative thoughts about yourself.

So what do you do to climb out of the dark hole in your soul?

1) Decide what you want to change about yourself

Nobody can make you love you other than you! It’s your responsibility to rearrange your thinking away from all the negative stuff you’ve been thinking, and think more positive thoughts about yourself. It’s often been said, “If I think better, I will act better. And if I act better, I will feel better.”

Cody wrote: I‘ve found that sometimes our greatest enemy is ourselves. And the way we think can hurt worse than any words. And when left with nothing but your own thoughts, and if those thoughts are negative, self-hate is born.

It takes a real effort to turn negative self-defeating thoughts into positive life-changing ones. But try it! And if you stick with it, you soon will see you’re feeling better about yourself.

**If you don’t like something about yourself that you can actually change, start to do that today.**

It takes a real effort to turn negative self-defeating thoughts into positive life-changing ones. #hateyourself Click To Tweet

2) Figure out what you CAN change and do it!

IF you hate yourself, is there a specific thing that you hate? If you don’t like something about yourself that you can actually change, start to do that today. Maybe you don’t like your weight you can start eating properly, and getting exercise TODAY! Get involved with a sport or a favorite hobby. You’ll be amazed how good it makes you feel to take care of yourself.

Don’t obsess over what you think are your flaws. Work on what you can change, and ask God to help you accept the rest. Create the healthy life you desire (and deserve!) some people get trapped living miserable lives, not realizing they have the ability to change their situation. Don’t get stuck in that trap!

3) Build up your self-esteem

Make a list of your 10 best qualities:

Can’t think of 10? There are more than you think, but try starting with one. For example, I am a loyal friend or I care about others, or I am in touch with how I feel, or I have a lot to offer my friends, or I am a good listener, etc.

Then add to the list.

Find out what your friends and family value about you. You might be surprised to find out what the people who love you see in you! As you begin to dwell on the good things you offer, your confidence will grow.

Others will take note of it because you will have made yourself more attractive.

Betsy wrote: Since I stood up for something, people started to respect me and I was able to find confidence in myself. You can’t please everyone, so focus on making yourself proud before you expect anyone else to be proud of you.

Each day, find something to do that makes you feel proud of yourself. Discover the things you love, try new things, go new places. Make some short-term and long-term goals.

Decide that you will never say the words, “I Hate Myself” ever again. Those words are toxic. Why hate yourself? When in reality there is a lot in you worth loving.

Why Do You Hate Yourself?

4) Use gratitude as a weapon against self-hatred

You will find people who dwell on the positive things in their life…things for which they are grateful, are usually much happier than those who don’t.

Negative thoughts, mixed with worry, make a person miserable to live with.

So if you are tired of hearing the same old, negative thoughts, make a daily list of the things you are grateful for, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly your attitude begins to change.

Challenge yourself to reflect each day for just a minute or two about what you feel grateful for that day…maybe it was delicious pancakes for breakfast, a smile from a friend, nice weather, could be something as simple as the color of the grass, or a good grade on a quiz. It doesn’t have to be what you know you should be thankful for, but something that you actually feel grateful for.

Challenge yourself to reflect each day for just a minute or two about what you feel #grateful for that day. Click To Tweet

5) Remember God loves you

The most powerful way to overcome self-hate is to focus on God’s love. After all, if God loves you, and He does with all of your faults and hurts, it should make it easier for us to accept ourselves. Let God change what He wants to change, and you’ll feel much better about your life.

God made you very unique. And it’s this uniqueness that makes you special.

Please stop hating someone God loves so much. YOU!!

Angie wrote: It’s very easy to find reasons to believe I am of no value to anyone, or to God. But I am of value because God loves me, even if no one else does.

As you start believing in yourself more, you’ll have more good days than bad. It’s easy to find the negative, so look for the positive in each situation. And most importantly, keep your faith in God this will help lead you to the happiness you seek. Please stop hating someone God loves so much. YOU!!

Don’t stay in that place of self-hate, it’s going to take time to change what you think about yourself but it’s possible. Check out one of my other blogs about self-hate: What to Do When Your Hate Yourself.

And check out this guest blog to start to begin to change this part of your life: 6 Steps To Change Your Life.

How To Find Sanity In An Insane World

by Dawson McAllister

I received a comment on from a girl named Taylor who said something very nice about my show. She said, Wow! When I listen to your show, I feel like it’s the only time I’m sane! Lol Thanks for all that you do!I got to thinking about her humorous comment,

I feel like it’s the only time I’m sane!

Taylor is right. Most of us at one time or another feel we are going insane or living in an insane world. I looked up the word insane, and it said, not of sound mind; utterly senseless. It’s so easy to feel like we’re losing it because the world around us appears to be utterly senseless.So, how do we stay sane in an insane world? Here’s a couple ideas I came up with:

1. Find a good friend and have a meaningful talk in a quiet place. Everybody needs a quiet place to talk with someone you know will understand. So turn off the phone, ipod, tv, or any other noisemaker that clutters our lives and just sit and talk. You and your friend will feel better and the world will seem a bit saner.

2. Realize it can seem noisy and crazy even at a quiet time. For example, some of the most crazy, wild, and scary times are in our own minds in the middle of the night. At times like that, we need to find sanity by reminding ourselves that things will be better in the morning. That’s why I tell my radio listeners, Never make heavy, big time decisions or commitments in the middle of the night.In the morning, your mind and emotions will be much clearer.

3. Find a quiet place and think spiritual thoughts. Make a list of all the good things that have happened to you from the small to the great. For example, your health, good friends, freedom, a place to live, etc. After you’ve compiled this list, thank God for all the sane and good things He has done for you. A thankful attitude will help quiet you and make you feel better about yourself and your world.

Yes, we live in a crazy and insane world, but I’m glad sanity can be found, and Taylor is convinced my show helps her find it.

Thanks Taylor and have a sane week.

Wanna hear from you,

Dawson

Anxiety

Take a Break

Find an Outlet

Make a Plan

Keep the Faith

If you are struggling with depression, no matter the cause, to find out more and get help, check out our free eBook on Depression!

There Is Hope for Depression

Overwhelmed and Depressed

Emotionally Exhausted

Depression Setbacks, Don’t Give Up

Worthless, Rejected and Depressed

Feels Like He Doesn’t Belong

Letters Helped Others with Depression

Did Today’s Episode on Depression Get You Thinking?

Resources for Help with Depression:

One last thing,

Are You Trapped in a Cycle of Emotional Abuse from Parents?

Overwhelmed by the Verbal Abuse

Trying to Avoid the Conflict with Parents

Minimizing the Emotional Abuse

A Father Full of Rage and Verbal Abuse

Stuck in an Awful Predicament of Abuse

Did Today’s Episode on Abuse Get You Thinking?

Resources for help with EMOTIONAL and VERBAL Abuse:

Would you consider doing something for me?

One last thing,

Never Again. One Day at a Time.

The Day I Gave Up the Fight to Resist

Pulled Down and Swallowed Up

Interrupted

Letting Go of My Need to Control

Could I Stay Clean?

Now I Celebrate

God Understands Your Pain

Breaking Free

This Short Film is Sure to Leave an Impact

How to Help Someone Who Is Thinking About Suicide

Unseen Film – Keep the Discussion Going

Finding Hope

Anxiety Is Real and Can Be Overwhelming

In This Episode:

A Deep Plunge into Anxiety

God Can Give Us a Deep Sense of Peace

Overloaded with Emotional Trauma

Suffered from Anxiety Attacks

Finding Peace

Did Today’s Episode Get You Thinking?

Resources for Anxiety:

Would you consider doing something for me?

One last thing,

Resting in God’s Peace

What to Do When You Hate Yourself.

In This Episode:

Did Today’s Episode Get You Thinking?

Resources for what to do when you hate yourself:

Would you consider doing something for me?

One last thing,

The next episode is on forgiveness.

Is Anxiety Holding You Back?

We were not made to keep up, we were made to be free.

God Rescued Her

Are you overwhelmed with classes, a job, and a social life? Are you wondering how to manage college stress?

Top College Stressors

Mental Health Concerns in College

10 Common Warning Signs of Mental Health Condition:

10 Tools To Manage College Stress

Suicide | The Mighty Partnership | TheHopeLine®, Dawson McAllister Network

How THE BIG THREE: Sleep, Food, and Exercise Can Help You in Your Recovery

GET SOME SLEEP

GET THE RIGHT FUEL

GET MOVING

GET STARTED

If you have a pornography addiction, don’t let it stand in the way of who you want to become…check out Fortify! Their core strategies help you to get to the root of your addiction so you can find long lasting freedom.

For more information on how to overcome the destructive addiction to pornography, check out our eBook. thl.cta.load("43761550259cd4110305546.04476948");

Don’t give up, there’s hope for a better tomorrow. If you are having struggles in your life and dealing with depression, download TheHopeLine’s free eBook to find help.

Brian & Jenn Johnson: After All These Years

What inspired you to write this album?

What got you through your nervous breakdown?

How do you think worshiping God and seeking God can help with anxiety and depression?

Why do you think worship is so important?

For more information on how to overcome the destructive addiction to pornography, check out our eBook.

Learn more about PTSD, by downloading your free eBook.

You are not alone.This video is about a girl I talked with on my radio show. She was struggling with PTSD from a traumatic event in her life.

If you are struggling with depression, no matter the cause, to find out more and get help, check out our free eBook on Depression!