1800-273-8255
"Heavenly Father really just loves us for our intrinsic value as His children. He doesn't love us for our strengths or our weaknesses, or what we do or don't do. It's not something we earn or deserve. It just IS. & it will always, always, always, be there." mormon.org
I would like to speak directly towards those who are dealing with mental illnesses, considering suicide, have tried suicide, or who feel that there is no hope to be had & love to be experienced anymore.
I love you.
I love you so much my heart could burst out of my chest. I love you because you're here, reading this. You have a pulse & lungs & a pair of working eyes that have experienced the most vibrant colors, sunsets, smiles, laughs, faces, heartaches, & tragedies.
& yet. You're here. That, in & of itself, makes me adore & love you with all of my heart. I love you.
But, my mere human love couldn't possibly compare to a fraction of the love our Father in Heaven has for you.
God, the creator of Heaven & Earth, the creator of music, oceans, mountains, true love, blue eyes, & the world as we know it ADORES YOU.
He loves you with a love that is never changing. Your moods will change; the people who love you will change. Your life on earth may be an ever shifting series of events, but the one thing you can rely on is that the Creator of The Universe adores you with an unfathomable amount of love.
I have experienced some dark events & have watched my friends & family undergo unthinkable challenges; there are some moments that seem to steal away every joyous moment you've ever had. Sometimes, whether due to an illness or a challenge or a wound, we forget how it feels to be happy. The things that make us happy just don't anymore. That is one of the most frightening, confusing, & chaotic sensations to ever experience; a sense of sinking hopelessness.
I am here to tell you that there is hope. There is always, always, always, hope. Because of a loving Father in Heaven & the amazing medical advances available to us in 2018, there is nothing that cannot be healed.
Your life has meaning. Your life has purpose. You are not unworthy of love. You are deserving of love & every good thing this world has to offer.
Mental illnesses, such as depression & anxiety, are due to a chemical imbalance. The stigma surrounding these illnesses is absolutely FALSE & ridiculous; if you had a broken bone, wouldn't you go to the doctor & have a cast applied without feeling ashamed? If you had the flu, would you blame yourself for having the flu?
The same principle applies to mental battles; never feel ashamed for the battles you face. Don't ever buy into the lie that you are unlovable because of your disorder, or that it is somehow shameful to get help.
The video below is an interview with a couple of people who have experienced immense trials (depression, attempted suicide, eating disorders) & how they overcame them; their perspectives provided a profound sense of clarity & peace.
If you are struggling with feelings of darkness, inadequacy, or illness, please:
1. Call 1800-273-8255 if you or someone you know is considering suicide.
2. Get professional help; therapy is a safe place & has rescued countless individuals. They can also prescribe medicine (if you're visiting a psychiatrist) which can help chemical imbalances immensely.
3. Confide in people you love. Don't keep it inside. Lean on the people you care about. They care about you deeply & unfathomable & completely.
4. Try to remember what it's like to feel again. Go to your favorite concert, laugh until you can't breathe, have a makeover, wake up early to watch a sunrise, listen to music you love, watch Ted Talks, make new friends, go to a party, wear an outfit that makes you feel amazing. Remember what it's like to feel alive. You've felt it before.
5. Never forget your intrinsic value as a daughter or son of God. It never changes. It is ever lasting. He loves you enough. More than enough. There is hope. There is no pit so deep where God's love is not deeper still.
This is a subject that is extremely close to my heart. I wish I could paint it across the skylines, shout it from the rooftops, and tattoo it upon every human being's arms. YOU ARE LOVED. There is hope & joy ahead that you haven't experienced yet. It is unimaginably amazing.
Your story is not over yet.
I love you.
Skylar Presley Darlene McKellar.