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Chris Morris Christian Mental Health

Redefine Normal // Rediscover Hope

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Chris Morris Christian Mental Health: Rediscovering Normal

Chris Morris | Christian Mental Health

I spend my time writing about how to balance faith and mental illness. I have both mental illnesses and chronic illnesses, but I’m learning to thrive anyway. I guess that’s why Redefining Normal is part of the code here, because it’s been part of my journey.
My BooksMy Story

Redefine Normal

Rediscover Hope

Welcome to my Christian mental health website. This is a safe place for followers of Jesus dealing with depression, anxiety, and every mental illness under the sun. If you’ve asked yourself, “if I’m a Christian, why am I depressed?“ or, “where is God when my life is falling apart?“, or “How do I overcome depression biblically“, you’re in the right place. Everything here is written as Christian help for those in the mental illness community as we redefine normal and rediscover hope together. Let’s talk about these two things for just a moment. What does it mean to redefine normal? It means that nobody but you gets to tell you what’s normal and what’s abnormal. You are the arbiter of your own life, and you get to decide that.
For you, maybe a normal day is not getting out of bed until noon because of chronic pain, and having to carefully calculate where you spend your limited energy. If so, I honor your normal here. How about rediscovering hope? So many of us struggle to fell there’s any objective reason for hope in our lives, because, to be honest, our lives stink a lot of the time. It’s full of difficulty and complexity, hard conversations and unmet expectations. But we can find the keys to having hope despite all these setbacks. I spend a lot of time talking the nuts and bolts of hope from a biblical perspective, so it’s more tangible, meaningful, and applicable to real life.

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Is This For Me?

Found out more about this site and see if it’s a good space for you to hang out.
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Life with Psychogenic Seizures

Psychogenic seizures is one of my primary diagnosis, and it impacts me every single day. Learn how here.
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Two Things I Learned About the Church in the Psych Ward

I have spend time in a psych ward twice in my life. I learned a lot about myself and the church both times.
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What People Are Saying

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Trekking Toward Tenacity “This book has the potential to save lives and build healthy dynamics in homes across the nation. Chris Morris’s vulnerability about his own life and family is inspiring and a testimony of God’s relentless pursuit of His children. As a pastor’s wife, I hear how mental illness… Read more “Jessica Taylor (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Jessica Taylor
Co-Author of Pastors’ Wives Tell All and co-host of the Pastors’ Wives Tell All podcast
https://www.pastorswivestellall.com/
Jeff Goines

Whispers in the Pews “Finally, someone is speaking out on a deep and important issue that simply does not get talked about enough in our faith communities. Thank you, Chris, for your honesty and bravery. May these words move us all to deeper and more compassionate action.”

Jeff Goins
Bestselling author of The Art of Work
https://goinswriter.com/
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Trekking Toward Tenacity “God’s word can teach you how to parent through mental health battles. Trekking Towards Tenacity opens your eyes to the power of scripture, self-reflection, and activation exercises that promote healthy change and breakthrough. Our world is saturated with new mental health cases daily. Chris focuses on pivotal points… Read more “Christy Boulware (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Christy Boulware
Author of Nervous Breakthrough, Founder of Fearless Unite, podcast host of Fearless Tips and Talks
https://www.christyboulware.com/
fitch

Resilient and Redeemed “Open this book and journey with Chris Morris in the struggle to make sense of mental illness within the Christian life. Read the stories, reflect on Scripture, and find hope. In these pages, Chris helps us see God as present in the struggle. Resilient and Redeemed is… Read more “David Fitch (Resilient and Redeemed)”

David Fitch
Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology, Northern Seminary, Chicago
http://seminary.edu
Marty Kaiser

Perfectly Abnormal “I highly recommend this book to any person or family trying to deal with a chronic illness. In its pages you will find practical help to move forward, and hope to experience a life worth living. Over the past few years I have witnessed the pain and sorrow… Read more “Marty Kaiser”

Marty Kaiser
http://revealvineyard.com
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Trekking Toward Tenacity “With anxiety and depression on the rise among children and teenagers, Chris Morris’s insight and strategies for combating the lies and misconceptions surrounding mental health are exactly what parents need in their parenting arsenal. Trekking Towards Tenacity provides parents with thoughtful discussion starters, enlightening Scripture explorations, and actionable steps… Read more “Stephanie Gilbert (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Stephanie Gilbert
Co-Author of Pastors’ Wives Tell All and co-host of the Pastors’ Wives Tell All podcast
https://www.pastorswivestellall.com/
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Trekking Toward Tenacity “Chris offers us a unique gift in Trekking Towards Tenacity: part bible study, part meditation, part training for parents in how to form and shape the faith of their children. Many books do one or two of those well, but Chris skillfully leads the reader through all… Read more “Matt Tebbe (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Matt Tebbe
Co-Author of Having the Mind of Christ, Pastor at The Table Indianapolis
https://substack.com/@matttebbe
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Trekking Toward Tenacity “A wise and wonderful walk through Psalm 139, Trekking Toward Tenacity is the kind of book you’ll want to read slowly, marking it up and letting it soak deep into your heart and soul. Both conversational and honest in his style, Chris weaves Scripture and spiritual wisdom throughout… Read more “Susy Flory (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Susy Flory
New York Times bestselling author and coauthor, director of West Coast Christian Writers, and doctoral candidate at Houston Theological Seminary
https://susyflory.ag-sites.net/index.htm
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Resilient and Redeemed “I ask my clients, ‘Has your faith, theology, or church experience been helpful or harmful?’ Chris vulnerably and courageously writes about how he has been harmed and most importantly how he has been helped, literally saved, by God and treatment. He shares how depression can affect marriages.… Read more “Sovann Pen (Resilient and Redeemed)”

Sovann Pen
The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast; LPC, A New Day Counseling Center
https://www.sovannpen.com/
Mary Demuth

Whispers in the Pews “I cannot imagine Jesus scolding someone with a mental illness, telling them to just get over it, try harder, memorize more verses. No, He would listen. He would love. He would be filled with compassion. And even He was deemed mentally ill in his time, his… Read more “Mary DeMuth”

Mary DeMuth
https://www.marydemuth.com/
kathi lipp

Resilient and Redeemed “With deep compassion, Chris Morris shares his heartbreaking yet hopeful story. He navigates the often-misunderstood intersection of mental health and spiritual well-being with hope and wisdom that are desperately needed in today’s conversations about mental health in the church. I pray that Chris’s vulnerability starts conversations among… Read more “Kathi Lipp (Resilient and Redeeemed)”

Kathi Lipp
Author and Podcaster, Clutter Free Academy
https://www.kathilipp.com/
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Resilient and Redeemed “In this book you will encounter Chris as a wise guide who shares his journey’s harsh and painful realities. As he skillfully unfolds his story, he encourages all of us to open ourselves to the beautiful possibilities for hope and healing in Jesus. May we all listen… Read more “Gino Curcuruto (Resilient and Redeemed)”

Rev. Dr. Gino Curcuruto
Pastor, The Table Philadelphia
https://thetablephilly.org/

Whispers in the Pews “Compassion is the antidote to stigma, and it only begins when we hear the stories of real men and women who suffer from mental illness. Chris Morris is doing the church a tremendous service with this book. It should be required reading for anyone who considers… Read more “David Edward Cummings”

David Edward Cummings
PhD, Professor of Microbiology, Point Loma Nazarene University, Host of the SoulCare Podcast, Elder at Pathways Community Church, Santee, CA
http://davidedwardcummings.com/

Whispers in the Pews “Chris Morris has compiled honest and raw stories that give sight into the heart of many Christians who have battled, or are battling, mental illness. Whispers in the Pews brings to light that mental health matters and how it hasn’t always mattered in the Christian community,… Read more “Shawn Elizabeth George”

Shawn Elizabeth George
Inspirational Author, Writer, and Speaker
https://www.shawnelizabethgeorge.com/
Mary Demuth

Perfectly Abnormal “Perfectly Abnormal is one of those books that should be required reading for churches longing to provide a welcoming environment for all their members. And it should be required reading for any human who wants to love, empathize, and walk in the shoes of another. I so appreciated… Read more “Mary DeMuth (Perfectly Abnormal)”

Mary DeMuth
http://marydemuth.com
Rett Syndrome

Whispers in the Pews “I am ridiculously excited for the stories in this book to be shared. There is an incredible need to discuss the reality of mental illness and how the church can improve how it addresses this.”

Colleen English
President & Founder of Rettland Foundation
http://rettland.org/
marty kaiser

Resilient and Redeemed “Chris Morris is a voice the church needs to hear! By courageously sharing his story, Chris opens a much-needed conversation about mental health, weaving personal narratives, theological insights, and practical guidance into a topic that has long been left in the shadows of religious communities.”

Marty Kaiser
Campus Pastor, Vineyard Church Reveal
https://www.revealvineyard.com/
morgan busse nlr 4

Resilient and Redeemed “If you are a Christian who battles with depression and suicide, this book is for you. If you have a loved one who struggles with these same elements, this book will help you understand their battle and how you can encourage and pray for them. Chris invites… Read more “Morgan Busse (Resilient and Redeemed)”

Morgan Busse
Award-winning Author of THE RAVENWOOD SAGA and SKYWORLD series, and pastor’s wife
https://morganlbusse.com/

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chrismorriswrites

Mental health author & speaker, breaking down poor theological frameworks for the church. Check out my books on Amazon and book me to speak for you!

If God sees me, if God recognizes the validity of If God sees me, if God recognizes the validity of my existence, and if God understands what I am going through, then why isn’t he acting? 

Sometimes we want more from God than to be aware of us when we are struggling. We want God to intervene on our behalf, and it hurts when he doesn’t.

Here’s what I’ve learned: 

We live in a busted world. God’s presence doesn’t equal immediate intervention. And the tension of being “seen but still suffering” is real and valid.

We won’t always have a moment where an angel of the Lord gives us the courage to move forward. Sometimes, we are left to our own devices because we live in a busted world.

In those moments, we still can make choices that can encourage our faith and resilience or tear us down. 

These moments might be the most important ones in our lives, as they form the basis for whether we will be able to withstand the tornadoes that life inevitably brings our way.

Read more at resilientandredeemed.substack.com
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#christianmentalhealth #depression #anxiety #faith #healing #mentalwellness #christianity #jesus #mentalhealthawareness #christianauthor #hope #biblicaltruth #mentalhealthadvocate #christianliving #christianspeaker #godslove #prayerrequest #holyspirit #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #faithandanxiety #biblicalhealing #christiansupport #mentalhealthministry #christiandepression #tedxspeaker #spiritualwellness #christianencouragement #redefiningnormal #rediscoveringhope
You can’t battle mental health struggles on your o You can’t battle mental health struggles on your own. It takes a team, working with you to help you navigate to safety. 

You have to find safe spaces to share your struggles.

This is hard, because mental health battles are not always received with open arms. 

Not everyone is willing to listen or empathize with you in your weaknesses. Even worse, it usually falls to you to take the first step toward transparency with your challenges.

But finding the people that you can be safe with is worth the risk. 

I would be lying if I said fear isn’t part of the equation. But with the right people on your team, you can find stability and strength for the steps ahead.

You deserve people who are curious, not judgmental. You deserve people who will stop what they’re doing to hear and see you. 

They’re out there. Keep looking.

Read more at resilientandredeemed.substack.com.
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#christianmentalhealth #anxiety #faith #depression #mentalwellness #christianity #holyspirit #healing #mentalhealthawareness #jesusheals #christianauthor #biblicaltruth #godsgrace #hope #mentalhealthadvocate #christianliving #faithjourney #christianspeaker #prayerrequest #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #biblicalhealing #faithandanxiety #christiansupport #mentalhealthministry #christiandepression #faithoverfear #spiritualwellness #godishere #christianencouragement
The people who respond with curiosity instead of j The people who respond with curiosity instead of judgment are gold. 

They stop what they’re doing to hear and see you. They ask questions to understand, not to fix. They acknowledge they might not fully get it, but they want to support you anyway. 

These responses reveal safe people—the kind worth keeping close on your mental health journey.

Read more at resilientandredeemed.substack.com.
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#mentalhealth #christianity #faith #depression #anxiety #mentalhealthawareness #jesus #christianliving #hope #healing #christianauthor #mentalhealthadvocate #christianspeaker #biblicalwisdom #godslove #prayerwarrior #tedxspeaker #christiancommunity #mentalhealthmatters #faithandmentalhealth #biblicalcounseling #christiandepression #mentalhealthministry #christiananxiety #redefiningnormal #rediscoveringhope #faithoverfear #christianhealing #mentalhealthsupport #christianencouragement
I had the absolute privilege and honor of being a I had the absolute privilege and honor of being a guest on the Faith Over Fear Podcast. We had a wonderful conversation about mental health. I shared a lotto of my story. We talked about the theological traps that trip church leaders up when it comes to mental health. I touched on how we can train our brain into a virtuous cycle. Check it out in my links, I promise it will be a half hour well spent!
I didn’t come across my safe people by accident. I didn’t come across my safe people by accident. 

I sought out people to trust, and you can do the same. Here’s how:

STEP 1: Stop saying “fine” 

When someone asks how you’re doing, stop answering with “Good” or “Fine” or “Hanging in there.” Instead, say something more like “It’s been tough lately.”

STEP 2: Watch how they respond 

If they ask why, talk about your struggles for a few minutes. Not 15 minutes, but a couple minutes. This either makes for an awkward transition, where they’re looking for a way out, or it makes for an invitation to deeper friendship. Either way, now you know what to expect.

STEP 3: Look for curiosity, not judgment 

Judgment: “I can’t believe you’re struggling” or “I don’t see why this is so hard” Curiosity: “Tell me more” or “How can I support you?”

When we find people who are curious, we’ve likely found safe people. Curiosity tends to be closely related to generosity of time and a caring spirit.

It takes risk. Fear is part of the equation. But finding your people is worth it. 

Mental wellness isn’t a solo sport—it takes more than you to make it work. With the right people on your team, you can find stability and strength for the steps ahead.

Read more at resilientandredeemed.substack.com
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#christianmentalhealth #depression #anxiety #faith #healing #mentalwellness #christianity #jesus #mentalhealthawareness #christianauthor #hope #biblicaltruth #mentalhealthadvocate #christianliving #christianspeaker #godslove #prayerrequest #holyspirit #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #faithandanxiety #biblicalhealing #christiansupport #mentalhealthministry #christiandepression #tedxspeaker #spiritualwellness #christianencouragement #redefiningnormal #rediscoveringhope
Anxiety has more in common with diabetes than tell Anxiety has more in common with diabetes than telling a lie or murder.

The best approach is to lay your anxiety at God’s feet as an illness while working with professionals to find the tools that are right for you in managing it. 

Medication, counseling, community, and transparency are all valuable tools alongside prayer and Scripture.

God is a loving father whose heart is to see us free from the things that burden us, no matter what those things are.

I Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you.”

Remember that you are seen. You are known. You are cared for. Even with all your bumps, bruises, and imperfections, you are loved.
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#mentalhealth #christianity #faith #depression #anxiety #mentalhealthawareness #jesus #christianliving #hope #healing #christianauthor #mentalhealthadvocate #christianspeaker #biblicalwisdom #godslove #prayerwarrior #tedxspeaker #christiancommunity #mentalhealthmatters #faithandmentalhealth #biblicalcounseling #christiandepression #mentalhealthministry #christiananxiety #redefiningnormal #rediscoveringhope #faithoverfear #christianhealing #mentalhealthsupport #christianencouragement
Many people discover their anxiety disorder at a d Many people discover their anxiety disorder at a doctor’s appointment for chest tightness or shortness of breath.

Having a physiological disorder is not a sin. 

It’s important to remember this distinction when we talk about mental health in church.
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#christianmentalhealth #depression #anxiety #faith #healing #mentalwellness #christianity #jesus #mentalhealthawareness #christianauthor #hope #biblicaltruth #mentalhealthadvocate #christianliving #christianspeaker #godslove #prayerrequest #holyspirit #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #faithandanxiety #biblicalhealing #christiansupport #mentalhealthministry #christiandepression #tedxspeaker #spiritualwellness #christianencouragement #redefiningnormal #rediscoveringhope
Ask your average evangelical Christian if anxiety Ask your average evangelical Christian if anxiety is a sin, and they can quote verses that point to yes. 

But they’re maybe missing an important question: Is anxiety the same as worry?

The answer is no. 

Worry happens in the mind. Anxiety manifests itself through panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder—something felt in the body. 

Many people find out about their anxiety disorder at a doctor’s appointment for chest tightness, only to walk out with an anxiety diagnosis.

Here’s what the church gets wrong:

MYTH #1: The verses about worry are about anxiety disorders. 

MYTH #2: Your panic attacks prove you lack faith. 

MYTH #3: God is disappointed in your medication. 

God is love, not judgment. He is kindness everlasting. 

Worry is a sin that can be overcome by fixating on God’s goodness. But anxiety is a physiological disorder—not a sin.

Lay your anxiety at God’s feet as an illness. He is a loving father whose heart is to see us free from the things that burden us, no matter what those things are.
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#mentalhealth #faith #depression #christianity #anxiety #healing #mentalhealthawareness #jesus #hope #christianliving #mentalhealthadvocate #christianauthor #biblicalwisdom #godslove #faithjourney #christianspeaker #prayerwarrior #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity
When catastrophizing hits, most Christians are tol When catastrophizing hits, most Christians are told to “just pray about it.” 

But what if there was a practical way to actually battle those thoughts while still leaving room for God?

Once you’ve told your thoughts to get in line, ask yourself these four questions.

1️⃣Is it necessarily true this will happen?

The answer is ALWAYS no. There is never a circumstance where you are absolutely certain of what is going to happen in the future. Most likely, you’re making a negative assumption and thinking the worst.

2️⃣ What else could potentially be true?

Your boss could want to give you a raise. She might want to make you aware of a policy change. That’s two options that have nothing to do with losing your job.

3️⃣ What 1-2 steps ONLY should I take?

This is the riskiest question—but by placing the limitation to focus only on the first couple of steps, it becomes manageable. 

4️⃣ What might God want to say to me?

God doesn’t necessarily speak directly to the future we’re worried about. Instead, he reminds us of his presence and that he is always for us, no matter what.

What helps you when you catastrophize?
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#mentalhealth #faith #depression #christianity #anxiety #healing #mentalhealthawareness #jesus #hope #christianliving #mentalhealthadvocate #christianauthor #biblicalwisdom #godslove #faithjourney #christianspeaker #prayerwarrior #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #holyspirit #biblicalcounseling #faithandmentalhealth #christianhealing #mentalhealthsupport #christiananxiety #spiritualhealth #christianencouragement #mentalhealthministry #godsgrace #faithoverfear
Sound familiar? This is what catastrophizing act Sound familiar? 

This is what catastrophizing actually looks like in real-time. 

If you struggle with anxiety or depression, you can find yourself crippled in a heartbeat because of catastrophizing. 

It’s a stream of negative thoughts that pile up on you in what seems like a heartbeat. 

Nobody has a chance to battle 1,000 thoughts at the same time, but you don’t have to. 

There’s a simple (not easy, but simple) way to combat these thoughts. 

I lay it all out at resilientandredeemed.substack.com.
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#christianmentalhealth #anxiety #faith #depression #healing #mentalwellness #christianity #jesus #mentalhealthawareness #christianauthor #hope #biblicaltruth #mentalhealthadvocate #christianliving #christianspeaker #godslove #prayerrequest #holyspirit #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #faithandanxiety #biblicalhealing #christiansupport #mentalhealthministry #christiandepression #tedxspeaker #spiritualwellness #christianencouragement #redefiningnormal #rediscoveringhope
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