Am I Always Feeling Down?
Lisa Ehrman- Sep 25
- 3 min read
Lisa EhrmanWhen Charlie Kirk was assassinated I felt angry and sad. Now, I just feel down. This has turned into a bit of a flare and feelings of sadness. It’s the kind of sadness that says, I don’t want to do anything.
The flare I’m having has a lot of symptoms that I am used to having, but when so many come at once it’s hard to stop feelings of depression. Writing this post helps me to face my feelings and let them out.
Understanding Chronic Illness and Mental Health
Anyone with a chronic illness knows that chronic illness and depression are usually connected. Chronic pain means that there isn’t any time at all when you’re free of pain.
My pain can be caused by any or all of my diseases. Some days my pain is worse than others. My normal pain number is 5, so it can easily go up. When my pain is at 6 or 7, my mood really changes.
High pain causes me to get quiet and I don’t feel like talking. When I feel down, I usually watch tv. It gets my mind off my pain (a little bit), distracting me and helping to pass the time. I don’t usually feel like reading if my eyes are blurry, but I can still pray. That is calming as well as upliftingActions That Can Re-set My Emotions
As a young mom, if I got down I often changed the furniture in one room of my home. Thankfully, Hubby didn’t care, even when my choices weren’t working. But, at that age, I was so much healthier and had plenty of energy. Another “therapy” that worked was to make a list of some new schedule changes that could spark a new determination.
The things that worked for me when I was healthier are now impossible. I now try to re-set my mind (without re-setting my actions). That is so much harder. I choose to stay away from those affirmations that most people use to boast confidence.
Affirmations, such as (You’ve Got This, etc), go against my spiritual beliefs. I depend on God for everything and believe that I can do nothing without Him.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. John 15:5
Even though affirmations of independence are extremely popular, I resist that type of thinking.
The Reality of Feeling Down
For me, I ask myself, Am I Always Feeling Down? I’m not always feeling down. It may seem that way when I’m in a flare. During a flare, my emotions tell me that this pain won’t ever let up. But, flares always have an end. At the end of a flare, I won’t feel free from pain or bad symptoms. But, going back to MY normal will be a relief.
Flares of feeling down or depression can be brought on if I’m under enough stress. An assassination (of a man I don’t even know) brought me down. My emotions were ones of sadness. I’m thankful that I know that God is in control of my life and that He helps me get through this time of feeling down.
I’m thankful that I don’t always feel down. I’m thankful that I can reason in myself, and understand that the worst flares always have an end. After each flare, I feel that I’ve grown in my Christian faith. I believe that is because God can teach me more about myself and about Him when I’m feeling down.
God bless.
@2025, copyright, Lisa Ehrman
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical expert. This post contains my experiences and opinions and is not meant to be taken as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please consult your personal physician.
