A Catholic Guide to Anxiety & Depression

Have you read the story of Job? If you haven’t, I strongly recommend that you do; it contains the longest monologue God ever spoke in the ENTIRE Bible and it also contains one of the most heroic stories of virtue in the Old Testament. Job was a preferred servant of God. God was proud of his righteousness and would routinely boast of him to the angels in Heaven. As you probably already know, what follows was agony in every sense of the word. Satan insisted that Job only praised and loved God because of the gifts He had given him. So God allowed Satan to do what he wanted with Job, on the condition that Job would not perish. In an instant, Job lost his nine children, his entire livestock, his health, his wealth, and his servants.

You may feel like Job. I don’t know you or the degree to which you are suffering, but what I do know is that you can overcome it, that’s God’s Will. You are His; you belong to Him! You are His beloved and His preferred daughter or son. Your mental health may not be what it once was; your family may seem like it’s slowly vanishing; you may be in a substantial amount of debt, living paycheck to paycheck, hoping your card won’t be declined at the restaurant on your only night out with your friends. Here’s the thing: Job suffered through that too.

Fortunately, today, because of what we know of modern psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience we can alleviate that suffering. Here’s another exciting fact for you: God does not want you to suffer purposelessly; everything that happens is for a greater purpose. So what can you do?

1. Stay the course. Show up—whether it’s class or work or sports practice or prayer—and don’t make any drastic changes in this state of distress (especially if you committed to certain promises and practices because you knew they were good for you).
2. Just as you are a spiritual being, so too are you a physical being. This means you have to eat a nutritious diet—no junk food. And with that diet, you should also be exercising about 30 minutes a day, 3 or 4 times a week. When you’re ready, add mindful breathing.
3. Write out what’s overwhelming you. It helps to have a plan, but you can’t make a plan if you don’t even know what you have to do. When you build a plan, make sure to use smaller, achievable goals. This will make it easier for you to accomplish it.
4. Remember that you don’t have to do anything perfectly. This list may seem overwhelming, but take it one step at a time; there’s no rush. No one is demanding that you be perfect, not even God.
5. Remind yourself that you’re a beast!! I’m serious! Just think of just how far you’ve come in your journey. Think of everything else you’ve overcome. This time will eventually pass, so your only job is that you put it to the best possible use—imperfectly.

Fr. Mike Schmitz defines discipline as the willingness and ability to sacrifice what you want now for what you want more, later. This journey will require discipline and decision. Depression and anxiety don’t rob you of your choice, they only lie to make you pick the wrong one. Yes, staying in bed may seem better than going to class or going to work. So, when you choose to get out of bed and go to class or work, congratulate yourself. That WAS hard and you did it. 

Now, let’s get back to Job. In the end, God rewarded His virtue and praise. Amidst Job’s suffering, he had many chances to curse God, but He didn’t. Job always choose love and praise.The book ends with Job receiving his health, double his original wealth, and his family. You will persevere and grow in holiness in this great battle, and God has great blessings for you.