Navigating the Weird: Embracing Mental Health in a Spiritual World
“I think that's what Jesus did; He met people where they were. He met the woman at the well where she was, and He had so much grace and mercy for them.” -Dr. Natalie Atwell
Mental Health and Spirituality
On a recent episode of the Unrefined Podcast, Lindsy and I sat down with Dr. Natalie Atwell to talk about the intersection of mental health and spirituality—a topic we don’t discuss enough in church circles. I opened up about my own struggle with depression and anxiety, and we dove into the stigma that often surrounds mental health in Christian communities.
We also tackled the controversial issue of medication. In Christian circles, some people see it as a lack of faith, but for me, medication was key to my recovery. Dr. Atwell shared that God can work through therapy and meds, just like He does through prayer.
Natalie’s big focus is a holistic approach—mixing faith with mental health practices. She reminded us that not every mental health issue is spiritual warfare. It’s about discernment, not labeling everything as demonic.
We brought up how older generations tend to have a “just tough it out” mentality, while younger folks are more open to talking about mental health. We agreed that we need more conversations to bridge this gap.
At the heart of it all, Natalie reminded us that compassion and understanding can be just as healing as any treatment. Her work in bringing mental health resources to underserved communities is truly inspiring.
In short, it’s time we break the stigma and embrace both mental health and faith together.
