002: Macady's Story of Coping with Depression and Finding Hope

Macady was diagnosed with depression before deciding to serve a mission, but worked really hard to overcome her illness to still serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was happy in the MTC, but soon felt the incoming of depression as soon as she arrived in the field. Due to a lack of understanding from her mission president, his wife, and those around her, she was sent home after just four weeks of service. In this episode, Macady relates to me her struggle with feeling unwanted and her deep shame of coming home early. She talks about her struggle with her testimony, her difficult relationship with God, and her place in the Kingdom here on Earth. While Macady still struggles to feel like a "real returned missionary," she also shares the hope she has begun to feel and how she found that hope again eighteen months after returning home early from her mission.