OUR DAILY BREAD AUTHOR KATARA WASHINGTON PATTON SHARES HER STORY

It was a journey she never wanted to take. And yet she thanks God for it. 

Depression hit Katara Washington Patton like a gut punch. As a high achieving, joyful woman of faith who grew up in an idyllic setting, Katara wasn’t prepared when the dark clouds of depression settled in and wouldn’t lift. Looking back, Katara recognized several contributing factors, but she said, “I was side swiped by my mother’s death. I was struggling to get out of bed. Those were dark, dark days for me.” As she learned how to manage her depression, Katara found many helpful, and some not-so-helpful, ways to keep herself encouraged. She shares these personal reflections, practical steps, and godly wisdom in the 90-day devotional, Navigating the Blues: Where to Turn When Worry, Anxiety, or Depression Steals Your Hope. A friend encouraged her to write the book, and Katara said, “if one person picks it up and says, ‘I can find hope’, it will be worth it.”

“Depression can be so overwhelming. Any mental issue is so isolating,” Katara said. “Even on your hard days, God is with you. God is holding you. And there are practical things that you can do to take that next step.”

Take it one step at a time. 

“If you look at the whole picture it’s going to overwhelm you even more or make you sadder and stuck, so take one step at a time,” Katara said. She learned that when you have zero energy, even the simplest of tasks can seem daunting.

 “This whole book is about the things I did in the throes of depression,” Katara said. The “Progress, Not Perfection” section of the book will offer “a slice of encouragement” for day-to-day growth.

Understand that it’s a process.

While Katara believes people are genuinely trying to be helpful, some of the most difficult comments to hear were All you need is Jesus or Just snap out of it. 

Katara knowingly smiled and asked,“Don’t you think I would do that if I could?” 

She notes that there are many ways to find relief from depression which may include exercise and healthy eating, surrounding yourself with trusted friends and family, medication, or a qualified counselor.

Know that you are not alone. 

“Finding hope when you’re so down can be tough because everything is exaggerated. It’s overwhelming,” Katara said. “But look around you. There are people that have walked this journey and have a testimony. There is a benefit to being authentic, and you can’t get that when you’re not in relationship with others.”

Katara suggests that your church community can be a good place to ask questions and listen to those who have experienced similar situations.

Turn to Scripture for encouragement. 

God’s Word can be a love letter to our souls. Although there are several key Scripture verses that play a big part in Katara’s healing, one of her favorites is John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

 “That reminds me when I’m depressed this is not the space I’m supposed to stay in. My life is supposed to be full, complete, joyous, abundant,” Katara said. “It’s a reminder to me that even if I’m not feeling that right now, I need to be getting there because that’s my promise.”

Compassion is key. 

“If someone’s going through something you don’t understand, sometimes the best thing you can do is pack your compassion and pack your silence. Be there, but don’t be judgmental,” Katara emphasized. “You can’t solve the problem of depression, but you can be a soft spot for someone.” You can be a listening ear, a prayer warrior, a gentle encourager, or someone who offers kindness and tangible ways like bringing a meal.

She wouldn’t have willingly chosen depression as the vehicle to get her where she is, yet Katara can affirm, “I can sit here and praise God for it, because that’s a big part of my journey.”