As we continue to face changes due to the pandemic, many people are suffering from anxiety, fear, and mental health issues. Seidl aims to help those who are struggling and fix the rampant stigma, especially in Christian circles, surrounding mental health challenges by being brutally honest about his own battles with anxiety and OCD.

Jon Seidl hopes that by being brutally honest about his battles with anxiety and OCD, that he can help others who are struggling and fix the rampant stigma surrounding mental health challenges, especially within the church.

"In certain areas, it [the church] was really supportive and in others areas it wasn't," Seidl explains. "One of the most difficult conversations that I've ever had was with my mom. I was raised in a faith tradition that said if you just pray about mental health struggles, if you just have faith, if you repent from some unrepented sin that you forgot about, then you're all good. And you definitely don't take medication."

"In my conversion with my psychiatrist, I got on medication. I called my mom to tell her that, but it didn't go well. I think that's the story of so many people."

Seidl shares his story while mixing in compelling stories with Biblical truths and humour in his book, Finding Rest: Navigating the Valleys of Anxiety, faith and Life. 

"I didn’t write this book because I wanted to. I wrote this book because I needed to. I know what it’s like to feel lost, hopeless and confused. To have a plan to end it all because the anxiety and depression feel heavier than an Alaskan snowfall,” says Seidl. “This is for those who need a guide, for those who have been forgotten, misunderstood and misguided, especially by the church, which hasn’t addressed mental health in a helpful way."

"I also needed to write it for my wife and those like her — the people who love those of us with anxiety but don’t know how to help and are often caught in the crossfire when they try."

Finding Rest is a respite for so many struggling with mental health issues while being a truthful resource for friends, family, and church staff who are trying to find a way to help the people they love. It assures many hurting hearts that help is here. 

Today on Connections, Jon shares his story and ways that we as a church can do a better job of supporting those who are struggling.