Easter Joy and Mental Health: Light That Breaks Through

This Easter, I’ve been reflecting on what joy really means — not the surface-level kind that comes and goes, but the deep, steady joy that can live even alongside pain. That kind of joy feels rare, especially if you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, or burnout. But Easter reminds us: joy is possible, even in the middle of struggle.

For me, that’s powerful. The story of resurrection is about more than faith — it’s about healing. It says darkness doesn’t win. That what’s broken can be restored. That there’s hope, even when we can’t feel it yet.

From a mental health perspective, this message aligns beautifully with what I’ve learned through therapy — especially CBT. In CBT, we challenge distorted thoughts (“I’m not enough,” “Nothing will change”) and replace them with truth. It’s a slow, intentional practice, but it reshapes how we see the world. Thomistic psychology — the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas — says something similar: that healing comes when our minds, emotions, and desires are ordered toward truth and goodness.

Easter reminds me that joy isn’t pretending everything’s okay. It’s holding on to hope anyway. It’s learning to see beauty after loss. It’s letting ourselves be renewed.

If you’re in a tough place right now, you’re not alone. But Easter — and good therapy — gently remind us: this isn’t the end of your story.

Here’s something that’s helped me: At the end of each day, I write down one thing that felt heavy… and one thing that gave me life. It’s a way to see resurrection in real time — however small.

Joy may not always feel loud. But it’s real. And it’s rising.