Susan Pierce speaks on anxiety and depression through a Christian lens at October Rooted Women event

A group of Concordia students talk in table groups at the September Rooted Women event.

Photo credit: Nora Betts

By Natalie Guske

A group of Concordia women gathered on Oct. 15 for a talk from retired therapist Susan Pierce about depression and anxiety from a Christian perspective, the fourth presentation in the “Rooted Women” series hosted by sophomore Paul Scholar Anna Pennekamp.

Pierce touched on many of the disorders that are associated with anxiety and depression and explained how such emotions can be helpful when felt in the appropriate amounts.

“[Although] we tend to think about anxiety and depression in a negative way, they can also be very functional [in helping] us to focus and motivate us to do something that we need to do, especially anxiety,” Pierce said. “[Depression can also be functional] as in the normal grief process [it serves] as a kind of a way of conserving energy and allowing the body to regroup after the stress of the loss.”

Pierce also gave time for participants to share at their tables what kind of coping strategies work for them when they feel anxious or depressed.

“[For coping skills], meditation is one of those things that has been helpful for people, [especially those] struggling with PTSD, etc.,” Pierce said. “Prayer can [also] be a kind of meditation, and I think for Christians it can be calming in the same way [as meditation] or as music can be.”

While anxiety and depression can be difficult topics to discuss, Pierce helped put the feelings into perspective for her audience by approaching them from both professional and Christian viewpoints.

“I feel like [anxiety and depression are] hard topics to hit, and she hit them really well, [especially] when she was mentioning how abuse in homes and other factors can cause real harm to [one’s] mental health,” sophomore Avery Koehler said. “She [also] touched on how to notice the signs [of serious anxiety/depression], so that maybe we can recognize it and have more sympathy for people who are going through a hard time.”

Aside from discussing anxiety and depression at the most recent meeting, Rooted Women has also had speakers come in to talk about other topics that pertain to the lives of Christian women.

“Rooted Women is a new ministry opportunity where we come together once a month to talk about topics in the church that aren’t normally talked about on a regular Sunday,” said Pennekamp, who founded Rooted Women at the end of last semester. “So [far], we have had topics over vocation, leadership, anxiety, and depression, which are all hopefully starting points for other conversations.”

Rooted Women’s next meeting will be on Nov. 5 with speaker Sarah Matthias talking about spiritual discipline.