I spend my time writing about how to balance faith and difficult times. 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.
Redefine Normal
Rediscover Hope
Welcome to my little corner of the internet! Unless you happened upon this site by some cosmic accident, you’re probably looking for some hope and guidance in the midst of a chronic condition or mental illness. If so, you’re in the right place. This is precisely the focus of my site. Everything here is written to help those in the mental illness and chronic condition communities redefine normal and rediscover hope.
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 very carefully calculate where you spend your limited energy. If so, I honor your normal here. More power to you!
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, so it’s more tangible and touchable and feelable and meaningful.
Chris’ Latest Posts
Depression Is NOT Disappointment
Leslie was trying to make it work with her husband. They had been struggling for years. Counseling didn’t seem to help, because neither of them was really willing to change the things that needed to change for their marriage to be better. They had talked with their pastor, but none…
Depression is NOT Grief
One of my best friends Alfred called me and told me the terrible news. His dad has suddenly passed from a brain aneurysm. Alfred didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know how to respond, this wasn’t supposed to happen like this. His dad was mostly healthy, and this was…
Depression is NOT Anger
Suzanne just thought it would work out differently. She applied for that job, knowing she was more than qualified for it. She rocked the interview, and even got immediate feedback from her interviewer telling her to expect a phone call with a job offer in a couple days. When the…
Is Depression a Sin (Hint: NO)
Too often, those in the church are quick to call depression and other mental illnesses a sin, calling the sick to repent and return to God. It breaks my heart to see this response, because there is no other type of illness where this would be acceptable. Never in a…
Interview on This Undivided Life Podcast
I had the privilege of being interviewed by my friend Troy McLaughlin on his podcast This Undivided Life. We talked about everything from my favorite meal ever to where God is in the midst of depression and suicidal thoughts. If you’ve ever wanted to hear more of my story, this…
Is There a Difference Between Anxiety and Worry?
Ask your average Christian if anxiety is a sin, and they can quote you a number of verses that point to an obvious yes. For the sake of brevity, let’s just focus on the words of Jesus in Luke 12:25-26 – “Can all your worries add a single moment to…
When Running Becomes Dangerous to My Health
I recently had to make the difficult decision to stop running. Now, don’t get me wrong – I don’t love running, but it was a good way to get my exercise in. It was also a pleasant way to spend some time with my son doing something together. But…
Why Childhood Trauma Makes Me Freeze in Arguments
I couldn’t believe it. She literally just accused me of faking my seizure disorder. Who did she think she was to say such a thing? And why would I do such a thing? Did she think I actually wanted to be unemployable, waiting and hoping for Social Security Disability to come…
The 3 Lines in ‘Doctor Strange’ That Floored Me as Someone With PTSD
I was watching “Doctor Strange,” the Marvel movie, when I was floored by a scene. When the Ancient One is dying and talking with Dr. Strange, she drops three truth bombs that reverberated through my soul. You see, like Dr. Strange, I’ve had my previous life stolen from me. I wasn’t…
The 3 Lines in ‘Doctor Strange’ That Floored Me as Someone With PTSDRead More
What Life with Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures is Like
“You don’t have real seizures. Nobody in the neurology arena can help you. You have a mental health condition, not a real one.” My life was rocked in 2013 with those exact words. I had just spent three days in the hospital, where my seizures were being monitored by video…
What Life with Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures is LikeRead More
How I Survived a Suicide Attempt
One year ago today, I shuffled out of the psych ward. They said I was ready to face the world again, and that my suicidal thoughts were under control. I wasn’t so sure. I knew the demons that I still faced every morning, and every night, and every moment in…
A Little More of My Story
This video tells a little more of my story. I talk about the struggles and successes I’ve had in my faith over the last few years. I hope you’ll find some solace as you watch this by knowing you’re not alone. https://youtu.be/3N3cYMyzgqE
Do you ever feel like you are losing the battle against your mental illness? Like you need support from somewhere, but you don’t know where to turn? Then the Mental Health Meditations You Didn’t Know You Needed are for you!
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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.
Life with Psychogenic Seizures
Psychogenic seizures is one of my primary diagnosis, and it impacts me every single day. Learn how here.
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.
What People Are Saying
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”
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”
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.”
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”
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.”
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… Read more “David Edward Cummings”
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”
