The Archbishop of Canterbury says his faith acted as a safety net at times in his life when he struggled with depression. Justin Welby said that it was “very odd” to feel the love of God and a “real, vicious sense of dislike of oneself” simultaneously.
He opened up about his personal experiences in the first episode of The Archbishop Interviews, a new programme on BBC Radio 4 and BBC sounds. In the episode, Mr Welby spoke with author Elif Shafak and explored the topics of faith, doubt and depression. “My own experience of depression – one of the symptoms of it is self-hatred, self-contempt, real, vicious sense of dislike of oneself,” he said.
“And that seems very odd when it combines with also a deep sense that I’m loved by god. And in my life that expressed itself almost as a safety net. I would say in my prayers – I may be this terrible person, this failure as an Archbishop, whatever it is, but I know you know me better than I know myself and you still love me. And by that I am held.”
This story is from the February 20, 2022 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the February 20, 2022 edition of The Independent.
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