Guest Writer On The Faith To Flourish Blog

I was honored to be a featured guest writer on Dawn Ward’s The Faith to Flourish blog this week.

I wrote “Caregiving For Mental Illness During the Holidays” The link to my article is in the article excerpt section of this post.

The Holidays Can Be Difficult

For caregivers of mental illness, holidays can be especially difficult as you do not get relief from the care you give your loved one. Their need for care doesn’t take a holiday itself. You have added burden also of extra and additional caregiver to-do lists and activities that begin to add to overwhelm and lead you toward exhaustion. They can bring joy but also weariness.

Caring for yourself during the holidays is extremely important as well as pacing yourself to reserve your energy and capacity. Be intentional and wise with your decisions.

You will be blessed by my article and feel encouraged as you continue to persevere in caring for your loved one and yourself this holiday season.

Article Excerpt from “Caregiving for Mental Illness During the Holidays”

Here is an excerpt to bless you from the section of the article called: Pursuing Mental Health Therapy & Spiritual Warfare.

“I pursued mental health healing, and I also leaned into fighting the spiritual battle that was before us too. I knew we were not just in a mental, emotional, and physical fight. There was a spiritual realm too.

We fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and against the rulers of this dark world (see Ephesians 6:12). I prayed spiritual warfare prayers for my husband’s life, for wisdom for myself, for God to lead and guide us to the treatment that he needed to heal from the PTSD, trauma responses, and negative coping behaviors that had overtaken our life. I discovered and pursued EMDR mental health therapy… and it helped significantly in his healing. He also needed medication.

I did not ignore the psychological and medical needs my husband had by turning it into only a spiritual issue, saying that faith alone would save him. Yes, God could have healed him miraculously and fully from his mental health diagnoses if that was God’s will. While I believed that, I also had to do my part that God was leading me toward and pursue mental health treatment for him as well. I didn’t have to choose between the two. I pursued both. If it was cancer, I could stand in the knowledge of God using chemotherapy and radiation to heal while also believing God could give an outright miracle. They are not mutually exclusive stances. I could walk in faith and allow God to heal how He chose to.”

For the rest of my article, head over to The Faith to Flourish to read “Caregiving for Mental Illness During the Holidays”.

May these words help you right now and throughout the year.

I would love to hear your feedback on my writing. Share a comment here or on the article itself. Email me if you are on my email list. You can also message me on Facebook or Instagram. The profile links are at the end of this post.

Newsletter & Free Resource

If you haven’t yet gotten on my email newsletter, now is the perfect time to start receiving Choose Joy In the Midst emails. In it, you will receive encouragement, book news, mental health awareness, and faith based empowerment. Here’s a link to my most downloaded resource I offer: 12 Steps to Find Your Ideal Therapist & Heal Your Life. It’s a Free Guide as a thank you for signing up for my email newsletter. It is my tried and true steps to walk through when you think you might need to find a mental health therapist or psychologist to help process memories, emotional pain, or trauma.

New Book For the Caregiver of Mental Crisis

Did you know I’m writing a book for caregivers? Yes, my book for the caregiver of mental crisis (suicidality with trauma) will come out in 2025.

Get on my Book Interest Waitlist if you want to know when it’s available for pre-order and if you believe in this message and want to get it out to those who desperately need it!

Online Shop- Beautiful Truth Design

You can also check out my shop with curated truth-focused faith and mental health merchandise designed to empower you in your life battles http://beautifultruthdesign.com .

Follow Choose Joy In the Midst on Social Media

You can Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @choosejoyinthemidst to see and read weekly updates and empowering messages.

Be blessed today, and be encouraged this holiday season!

You are not alone in your battle!

-Amber