Mental Illness

Depression, and its various forms, is one of the many mental illnesses which, as studies show, has been impacting society for generations. It affects people from all walks of life, from professionals like doctors, lawyers and professors, to blue collar workers, laborers, housewives, husbands, teenagers, small children, elderly people and even spiritual leaders/pastors.

Even from Biblical history, great kings and prophets battled with depression such as Elijah (1 Kings 19:3) and King David (Psalm 40:3).

According to Dr. M.K. Strydom, author of “Healing Begins With Sanctification of the Heart,” a general description of depression may be often made according to the following criteria:

1. Five or more of the following symptoms present during the same two-week period:

• Depressed mood – most of the day, nearly every day.*
• Loss of interest and pleasure – in almost all activities, most of the day, nearly every day.*
• An increase or decrease in weight – change in more than 5% of body weight in a month.
• Insomnia (difficulty sleeping) or sleeping too much nearly every day.
• Movement is agitated or very slow (psychomotor agitation or retardation).
• Fatigue and loss of energy.
• A low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt.
• Difficulty in thinking or concentrating. Indecisiveness.
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts.       *At least one of the symptoms must be a depressed mood or loss of interest and pleasure.

2. Symptoms impair social, occupational or other areas of functioning.

3. The symptoms are not the direct effect of a drug (for example ecstasy), medication or a medical condition.

4. The symptoms are not better accounted for by bereavement.

There are quite a number of other forms of illness which, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, fall under the diagnosis of mental illness from PTSD, Anxiety Disorders, OCD, to schizophrenia. Mental illness is often one of the most misunderstood conditions and most of us will have been affected by its impact, whether for ourselves, or for someone we love.

For those who suffer with any form of mental illness and live in a deep, dark place where the weight of the struggle often feels unbearable, while any hope for positive change seems impossible, our team at Freedom Victory Centre want to assure you of three very important things:

1. We recognize that your pain is very real,
2. Even though you may feel alone, you are not alone,
3. There are many people who do care, and the One Who cares most of all is God!

While that may sound like a simplistic solution to a complex problem, it’s isn’t really, when you keep in mind that from the beginning, we were fearfully and wonderfully made by God, and created in His image and His likeness.

He is the One who placed great value and dignity on us when He gave up His very own Son to die for us, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows. By doing so, He made healing and wholeness possible. Read Isaiah 53:1-6, and 1 Peter 2:21-25 as a witness to the powerful sacrifice He made for us because He LOVED the whole world!

Since its inception in 2004, our Healing Centre, with God’s help, has had the privilege of helping a number of our clients receive healing and freedom from depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia through a completely spiritual approach.

We know it’s possible and we know that God desires to bring healing and wholeness to those who are ready to receive His love, grace, and forgiveness!

If you’re ready to receive His help, we are here to work with you! You can contact us with any questions or download the form at the bottom of the page and send it to us. We’ll follow up and respond to your request!