SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) defines trauma broadly as an event, repeated events, or circumstances experienced as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening that have lasting effects on well-being.
Mental health
When Faith and Struggle Meet: How Christian Faith Can Help People Who Are Suffering Inside (Part 2 of 13)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. Some of them also carry a second burden: fear that their struggle means they don’t have enough faith, that they’re not praying hard enough, or that God is distant from them.
Why Hidden Pain Matters in the Church: Learning to Care for People Bearing Heavy Burdens (Part 3 of 13)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. They don’t always share this, because they fear being told they just need to pray more, have more faith, or stop struggling. Emphasizing mental health in our church is not about building a program; it’s about learning to care for people who are already hurting.
When People Feel Ashamed About Their Mental Struggles: Creating a Safe Place in Our Church (Part 1 of 13)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. Some of them hide this pain because they’ve been made to feel ashamed—told (directly or indirectly) that their struggle is a sign of weak faith, not enough prayer, or even sin.
Neurodivergence in the Church: Welcoming People Who Are Wired Differently (Part 11 of 13)
Many people in the church are neurodivergent—such as having autism, ADHD, dyslexia, NVLD, or other conditions that affect how they think, learn, communicate, and experience the world. They often feel misunderstood, struggle in typical church settings, and stumble over social expectations. Instead of feeling welcomed, they may feel like they’re “not doing church right” or that they’re too much trouble.
Strength for the Weary: How the Word and Prayer Help Us Carry the Load (Part 13 of 13)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. For some, that pain feels like a weight they cannot lift. They may feel like they must perform faith perfectly, or they worry that their struggle means they don’t have enough faith. But the means of grace—preaching, prayer, fellowship, the sacraments, and pastoral presence—are not tools we use to prove our faith. They are gifts God gives to sustain us when we are weak, weary, and unable to carry everything alone.
Supporting Family Caregivers: Caring for the Ones Who Hold Everything Together (Part 10 of 13)
Family caregivers often carry the heaviest emotional load in a mental health struggle, yet they are easy to overlook. A church that cares well for the person in crisis should also care for the spouse, parent, sibling, or child who is trying to hold everything together.
We Are His Workmanship 