The Spiritual Side of Self-Care

According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 3 people will deal with a mental health issue at some point in their life. That’s a lot of us. And I’m one of them.

I live with a mental health condition, but here’s the thing: it doesn’t define me. It’s a part of me, sure, but it’s not me. It doesn’t mean I’m weak or broken. It just means I’m human — and like anyone else, I have stuff I need to work through.

Something that’s really helped me on this journey is my faith. I’ve realised that looking after my mental health isn’t just about therapy, rest, or medication (though those are all super important). For me, there’s also a spiritual side to self-care. And that’s where God comes in.

My relationship with Christ has been one of the most healing parts of managing my mental health. When things feel dark or overwhelming, I think about how Jesus suffered too. He gets it the pain, the loneliness, the struggle. There’s something incredibly comforting in knowing that I’m not alone in what I’m feeling, even when it feels like no one else gets it.

Spirituality doesn’t make the hard stuff disappear, but it gives it meaning. It reminds me that there’s purpose even in the suffering, and that healing isn’t always linear sometimes it’s slow, messy, and holy in its own way.

So yeah, I pray. I light candles. I go on walks and talk to God like He’s a close friend. I read Scripture and journal when my brain won’t slow down. It’s not perfect and I don’t always have it together, but I’m learning that faith can be part of my mental wellness toolkit too.

If you’re going through something right now, just know this: you’re not weak, you’re not a burden, and you’re not alone. God sees you. And He’s not scared of your mess. In fact, He wants to sit with you in it and slowly walk you toward healing.

This is just a little reminder that self-care can look like therapy and prayer, medication and meditation, crying in bed and lighting a candle in church. Whatever your story looks like, your faith can hold space for it all.