Mental Illness & Marriage
Jennifer Holder
Walking through mental illness with your spouse.
There is so much we do not know about mental illness, including deep depression that results in the inability to even get out of bed, let alone function in daily life. Many more people than we realize struggle every day to do the next thing with their will because of sadness, a lack of joy, and purpose reigning in their hearts. They have tried everything to get better but nothing helps. Add to this equation the spouse who watches her husband slide into a pit of despair with no explanation. Sadly, Christians often identify a lack of faith or discipline as the root problem. Even the patient suffers from shame and guilt when the root cause is actually a physical and chemical disconnect in the body. In this frank conversation, Jenni Holder describes how her faith-filled husband suddenly experienced repeated panic attacks that were the first signs he had a mental illness that could not be healed with more faith. Jenni and her husband have agreed that they need to share their story as they are experiencing it so that others on similar pathways will know they are not alone and there is hope. With her husband’s permission, Jenni takes us into the inner sanctum of their marriage and their ongoing battle to find a steady path for their family.
Connect with Jenni and her writing at jfholder.com
Jennifer Holder - Several years ago Jennifer Holder was unexpectedly thrust into the role of caregiver at the onset of her husband’s sudden crisis with debilitating OCD, panic disorder, and depression. She had to learn and continues to learn how to care for someone she loves who struggles with ongoing mental health issues. She quickly became aware that for every individual suffering from mental health, there are more that love them and are profoundly influenced as well. While she holds no formal credentialing in the mental health field, her experiences on this journey have compelled her to be a voice for the large, often invisible community of caregivers. Jenni wants fellow caregivers to know you are not alone, you are valuable, and although the role of caregiver is often seen as an unwanted burden, it can actually be a space of discovery, joy, and connection. She seeks to bring practical resources, hope, and levity to those living in the gaps in the mental health care system by honestly sharing her journey with the ever-growing community of those who love someone struggling with their mental health.
Jenni finds delight in fresh peaches, hammocks, the dream of a clean counter, Jesus, genuine smiles, fruit rollup tongue tattoos, distance running, grapes in her chicken salad and raisins in oatmeal cookies, her husband and kids, surprises, good books, sunsets, stars, imagination and creativity, a completed task, and artisan ice cream.
Connect with Jenni and her writing at jfholder.com