BBD 04.17.08 The Wonderful Testimony of Holly Smith
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04.17.08
The Wonderful Testimony of Holly Smith
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light. - Matthew 11:28-30.
Holly Smith shares her testimony of how God brought her out of severe
depression and into the abundant life:
I was diagnosed with postpartum depression about two years ago. All I knew
was that I didn't feel like my normal self, and I wasn't sure why. I think
everyone around me noticed something was wrong, but I really didn't want to
bother anyone with my problem. So I didn't say anything about how I was
feeling. I held it in inside like a deep dark secret, and it only made
things worse.
Now thinking back I wish I had said something, and I would have been able to
get the help I needed sooner. I lost interest in the things I used to enjoy
doing.I didn't want to talk to anyone or really even associate with the
world at all.or anyone in it. It was as if a dark cloud had surrounded me,
and I felt there wasn't a light at the end of the tunnel. When I became
pregnant with my 4th child, Sarah, I was able to start taking some
anti-depressants during my pregnancy, and I was starting to feel somewhat
better until she was born. Then I decided to stop taking my meds cold turkey
and that's when things started to go downhill. I really didn't have an
emotional attachment to Sarah. I saw a doctor once again and then got back
on meds and started going to counseling as well. Both the counseling and the
meds together helped me to get back in to the swing of things.
I once again felt like myself again, and I felt like going outside and
playing with my kids. I felt like I was able to be the mom that they needed
me to be and be the wife my husband needed. I can't tell you how many times
before that I wished I felt like going outside and being a part of the
world, but I just couldn't bring myself out of the darkness. I am hoping
that by sharing my experience with postpartum depression, it will give
courage to someone also suffering with postpartum to decide to ask for help
or be able to help a loved one. I will tell you my journey up until this
point was definitely not an easy one.
I solely thank Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior for giving me the strength to
make it through the struggle, and that I am still here today. I am now able
to reach out and let others know that there is a light at the end of the
tunnel. If you have faith that GOD can heal you it will happen. I was never
much of a believer in miracles until one happened to me. I know that I
didn't go through this experience without some good coming out of it. I feel
like my job now is to help others who suffer from the same thing I did. I am
now free of taking any medications for depression and anxiety and the glory
goes to God. He was my rock to lean on because I was incapable of healing
myself. I feel like climbing to the highest mountain and shouting to the
world Jesus is so awesome!!!!! I am very passionate about my relationship
with Christ now. I still have daily struggles as I think we all do but
knowing I have a Father in Heaven who loves me so much, and that He gave His
life for mine gives me all the peace in the world. It is an amazing,
indescribable feeling!
Depression can ruin lives, families, and relationships if it is left
untreated. Since sometimes you can't tell someone is suffering from
depression in a physical sense it goes without being diagnosed. I think one
of the best things that helped me was just being able to talk about it.
There were times when I felt like I was the only one in the world going
through the struggle with depression, but there are so many millions of
people who have all been through the same thing you just don't realize it
until you are on the road to recovery!! I pray that by sharing my testimony
it will give someone the courage to seek help for themselves or maybe a
loved one going through depression.
(You can contact Holly at hollyosmith@hotmail.com)
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