Overcoming Anxiety
- Thread starter Sweet Pea
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Here is what I read at lunch:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34.
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7.
It is as simple as taking Him at His Word.
Realizing that you, the worrier, is no longer alive. Sweet Pea the fearful is dead. "Sweet Pea has been crucified with Christ and she no longer live, but Christ lives in her. The life she now lives in the body, she lives by faith in the Son of God, who loved her and gave himself for her." Galatians 2:20. This is realized when one is filled with the Spirit.
Build on that foundation - and you will never be shaken! "“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock [rock = Christ!]. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34.
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7.
It is as simple as taking Him at His Word.
Realizing that you, the worrier, is no longer alive. Sweet Pea the fearful is dead. "Sweet Pea has been crucified with Christ and she no longer live, but Christ lives in her. The life she now lives in the body, she lives by faith in the Son of God, who loved her and gave himself for her." Galatians 2:20. This is realized when one is filled with the Spirit. Build on that foundation - and you will never be shaken! "“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock [rock = Christ!]. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27.
Well there are two kinds of causes of anxiety. One is psycho-emotional (which manifests in the physical) and the other purely physical (which has no psycho-emotional cause). The one you are describing is of the first cause.
What you are describing is a common problem usually with people who in the bottom line have issues trusting God. Whatever one allows themselves to dwell on in their thought life produces and emotional response. This form of possibility thinking (90% of which never happens, right?) is the "way" of those who do not have GOd or just babies in the Spirit (for the Spirit of God is not a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind). Now since over 90% of what you get anxious about is based on what you allow yourself to think on andit never comes to pass then what we have is a problem with F-alse E-vidence A-ppearing R-eal but because you practice continuing to allow thinking on these things they produce this F.E.A.R. or anxiety.
Now here is a key (use it). YOU ARE NOT YOUR MIND NOR DO YOU HAVE TO BE THE UNWILLING VICTIM OF IT. YOU HAVE A MIND AND ARE THE BOSS (if it be that you have the Holy Spirit)...therefore I am going to give you a couple of hints of how you can transform yourself by the renewing of your mind...
1. Pay attention...what thought processes, topics, imaginings result in anxiety?
2. Once you know, catch the thinking process earlier and earlier in the downward spiral and stop yourself. Say no to your mind...as Paul would say, put your mind OFF of some things and purposely intentionally put your mind ON other things...
3. Cast down imaginations that exalt themselves against Christ (who would walk in the truth) and bring them into obedience (you do this...practice makes perfect)
4. Whatsoever is good, virtuous, etc., think in these things (on purpose...putting your mind off the anxiety producing mental scenarios...rebuking those anxiety producing thoughts, declaring them sin...and putting your mind on other things...I recommend affirming for your mind Whose you are, who you are in Christ, what is yours in Christ, etc.,)
5. Gird up the loins of your mind (your mind has loins...but you know that because you also go there)...put on the girdle of truth...(John 17:17)...the girdle in a soldier garb held together and controlled the free flapping outer garment...this outer garment is like our personality in the world so this process of girding the mind will also have a positive effect on your outward person...your truer inner form (of the Spirit) will become more apparent outwardly...
This is just the beginning of what 100% effectual advice the Bible has in this regard
Physiologically the bio based anxiety problems are problems with the "Autonomic Nervous System". The two responses of the ANS balance the two inner attitudes of relaxation, calmness, etc., and excitement, fight, flight, fright...In most cases when one gets too reactionary or too excited when the alarming situation is over the parasympathetic side kicks in and brings us back to calm but in some people the sympathetic side goes haywire or turns on with our being qued from events in the outer world...
Now unbeknownst to your self you are queing up the sympathetic response by allowing yourself to dwell on these thoughts...stop them as soon as they begin...you have no proof or evidence...you are imagining possibilities...
Finally, prayer and meditation ques the parasympathetic response which is what you want so do this more...
brother Paul
Have you got examples?
Thanks for the advice. I know the verses and I try to think about those, but it doesn't always work. I try to nip it in the bud, but still not. I've heard anxiety issues can be hereditary... not sure how accurate that is, but it "runs in the family".
An example would be that I hear about something dangerous for children and I go overboard in protecting them from it. Like we could use germs as an example. I actually haven't been too bad about it,recently, but it's a great example. This was a really bad flu season, so I go overboard on wiping things down with Lysol wipes and worry about it until I get sick to my stomach. Avoid people that seems sick, and crowded places. Like we won't go to Chuck E Cheese until flu season is over... too high of a chance to get sick there. I know this started when my oldest child got really sick from the common cold when he was a baby. Wound up in the ER and needed breathing treatments for bronchiolitis.
Say I read something about EMF exposure and how it's not good to live near a radio or cell phone tower... then, I'll worry about the cell phone tower closest to us until it makes me sick. That sort of thing.
Another would be like chemical exposure. So, if we happen to be exposed, I worry it affected them and can't stop thinking about it and worry what if we are exposed to it repeatedly, so I would try to avoid a situation where it "could" happen. Or I wouldn't go to someone's house where I knew they used it.
Reptiles should not be around young children due to the risk of salmonella. Babies have died from reptiles being in the home. I wouldn't take young children to a house where people owned them because I would think the germs were around their house, and I wouldn't want anyone who had been handling reptiles to touch them or their stuff. If a lizard ran in the house, I would mop and lysol everything and worry myself sick.
Basically, any rule of things you should avoid, I am fearful if they aren't avoided, and you can't avoid everything.
An example would be that I hear about something dangerous for children and I go overboard in protecting them from it. Like we could use germs as an example. I actually haven't been too bad about it,recently, but it's a great example. This was a really bad flu season, so I go overboard on wiping things down with Lysol wipes and worry about it until I get sick to my stomach. Avoid people that seems sick, and crowded places. Like we won't go to Chuck E Cheese until flu season is over... too high of a chance to get sick there. I know this started when my oldest child got really sick from the common cold when he was a baby. Wound up in the ER and needed breathing treatments for bronchiolitis.
Say I read something about EMF exposure and how it's not good to live near a radio or cell phone tower... then, I'll worry about the cell phone tower closest to us until it makes me sick. That sort of thing.
Another would be like chemical exposure. So, if we happen to be exposed, I worry it affected them and can't stop thinking about it and worry what if we are exposed to it repeatedly, so I would try to avoid a situation where it "could" happen. Or I wouldn't go to someone's house where I knew they used it.
Reptiles should not be around young children due to the risk of salmonella. Babies have died from reptiles being in the home. I wouldn't take young children to a house where people owned them because I would think the germs were around their house, and I wouldn't want anyone who had been handling reptiles to touch them or their stuff. If a lizard ran in the house, I would mop and lysol everything and worry myself sick.
Basically, any rule of things you should avoid, I am fearful if they aren't avoided, and you can't avoid everything.
You sound like me. (Maybe I am worse).
I wash my hands around 10 times if making supper.
I added a couple small details after you replied, but are you being serious? Because that is another thing. I can't deal with raw chicken, so when we are having chicken, DH handles it, but sometimes I think he isn't that careful, so I would go lysol wipe everything he touched if he didn't wash his hands good enough. If he dropped the spatula on the floor before the chicken was fully cooked, I would mop and I would be afraid it splattered on him and that he might spread it around the house.
Yeah! Sounds like you have a bit of both scenarios I described going on...although some of the things you described as examples are worthy of concern...maybe not overboard but concern (and action as appropriate...I take chicken juice seriously as well). Thanks for making yourself vulnerable I am sure others are reading who have similar experience.
In His love
Brother Paul
In His love
Brother Paul
Ok, I am not quite as bad as you. But OCD is a condition that compounds with time.
What helped me a while back was getting out into the bush. At first I battled. But after a while I just accepted roughing it.
OCD = Some common compulsions include counting specific things (such as footsteps) or in specific ways (for instance, by intervals of two), and doing other repetitive actions, often with atypical sensitivity to numbers or patterns. People might repeatedly wash their hands or clear their throats, make sure certain items are in a straight line, repeatedly check that their parked cars have been locked before leaving them, constantly organize in a certain way, turn lights on and off, keep doors closed at all times, touch objects a certain number of times before exiting a room, walk in a certain routine way like only stepping on a certain color of tile, or have a routine for using stairs, such as always finishing a flight on the same foot.
I do all these. You?
What helped me a while back was getting out into the bush. At first I battled. But after a while I just accepted roughing it.
OCD = Some common compulsions include counting specific things (such as footsteps) or in specific ways (for instance, by intervals of two), and doing other repetitive actions, often with atypical sensitivity to numbers or patterns. People might repeatedly wash their hands or clear their throats, make sure certain items are in a straight line, repeatedly check that their parked cars have been locked before leaving them, constantly organize in a certain way, turn lights on and off, keep doors closed at all times, touch objects a certain number of times before exiting a room, walk in a certain routine way like only stepping on a certain color of tile, or have a routine for using stairs, such as always finishing a flight on the same foot.
I do all these
. You?
Me toooo!! Germaphobe. And EW of COURSE I don't go to bed with dirty feet King J!! Lol I doubt you do either, sweet pea?
I am also high anxiety. I have found that over the years it has improved because I've learned how to humbly submit over and over daily to God. Also, I like to listen to Psalms when im stressed.
I'm sure you already do this but I will commit my children's safety and well-being to God daily. I ask Him to protect them and then I believe He will.
You are a new creation in Christ. Your anxiety is no longer a part of the true you that you really are now. The true you is perfect in Christ now. God's Holy Spirit is already in you. You already are dead to your anxiety. Your anxiety was nailed to the cross and buried and it wasn't raised. Rather you were raised as a new creation in Christ. It is not about fixing your sin self. Your sin self is dead. That is what the gospel is about. Your a new creation so stop believing powers and principalities when they say your sin self is still alive and powerful. Your sin self is dead. Your power is in God now. You have power from God just like all the other believers who trust God by faith. He didn't short you because when in the Spirit you are not living by your power. Your old self power is dead. In the Spirit you are living by God's power, thoughts, and ways. God does not fear. You have the Holy Spirit in you. Trust God to help you hear and know the voice of the Holy Spirit and for God's power to be working through you. You can't be in fear and faith at the same time. Remember it is not about fixing your sin nature. You can't do that. Your sin nature is dead. It is about living in God's Spirit where there is faith and peace and joy in you because you are in Christ.
Well looking at it, I feel like I do some of these things.. At least to some extent.. Never even thought there would be some name for thisOk, I am not quite as bad as you. But OCD is a condition that compounds with time.
What helped me a while back was getting out into the bush. At first I battled. But after a while I just accepted roughing it.
OCD = Some common compulsions include counting specific things (such as footsteps) or in specific ways (for instance, by intervals of two), and doing other repetitive actions, often with atypical sensitivity to numbers or patterns. People might repeatedly wash their hands or clear their throats, make sure certain items are in a straight line, repeatedly check that their parked cars have been locked before leaving them, constantly organize in a certain way, turn lights on and off, keep doors closed at all times, touch objects a certain number of times before exiting a room, walk in a certain routine way like only stepping on a certain color of tile, or have a routine for using stairs, such as always finishing a flight on the same foot.
I do all these
I don't know about your condition SweatPea.. But I think Lord can handle it.. And he can strengthen you.. Remember, His grace is sufficient for you!
Here's my take on this. I discovered a few years ago that I have been suffering all my life from depression. People over the years have told me this but I refused to believe it. I thought that this is just the way life is. Finally I took some tests and was diagnosed with chronic lifelong depression. In my case it is an actual chemical imbalance I think if I was treated at a young age I may have been able to fix this. But as it stands now my only choice other than divine intervention is taking medication and using counseling, and prayer.
I struggled with the medication part, I couldn't understand why God wouldn't heal me and why I had to use medicine. But the truth is that God gave us doctors and medicine and there is no shame in using these. Now I have the depression mostly under control and life is at least a little better than it was. I don't have emotional breakdowns anymore and the sound of certain music doesn't make me cry like it used to.
Bottom line; maybe get a doctors opinion there's no shame in it.
Hope this helps and may God bless you
Ken
I struggled with the medication part, I couldn't understand why God wouldn't heal me and why I had to use medicine. But the truth is that God gave us doctors and medicine and there is no shame in using these. Now I have the depression mostly under control and life is at least a little better than it was. I don't have emotional breakdowns anymore and the sound of certain music doesn't make me cry like it used to.
Bottom line; maybe get a doctors opinion there's no shame in it.
Hope this helps and may God bless you
Ken
Are you taking any medications for your anxiety?
Are you fasting?
Wow, so many of you have hit the nail on the head!
Brother Paul, I am glad to hear I'm not the only one!
I actually hesitated to post a thread about it because I am embarrassed about it.
King J, yes, I feel it has gotten worse over time. I have talked to a doctor about this because I actually thought I had OCD. I was told that I do not have it because I don't do it enough. I guess people with OCD never feel better after they wipe the things off that they think have germs. If I wipe it and no one recontaminates it before they wash their hands, it's clean to me. Like say we went to the doctor's office during flu season... if we came home and touched the doorknobs, I would lysol wipe them, but say one of the kids didn't wash their hands like they were supposed to and touched it after I wiped it. I would have to rewipe it and tell them to wash their hands... does that make sense? Once it's wiped and hands are clean, it's clean. I don't have to wipe it over and over again.
AllieWi, I can't go to bed dirty, so if I've been out and about that day, I take a shower before getting into my clean sheets. Is that weird? I try to pray when I feel anxiety, but it always comes back. There are periods where it gets better and I feel just fine, but it kinds comes and goes. Thanks for the suggestions (Psalms).
God Calls Me Olivia, I agree with what you are saying, but it's not like I can turn it off like a light-switch. It runs in my family, so I think it's a little more difficult than mind over matter.
Ravindran, thank you! Please pray that God helps me get over this!
Kenster192, I did see and doctor years ago and was diagnosed with anxiety which leads to depression. I took an anxiety medication for about six months and felt a lot better. However, you cannot take them when you are pregnant, so when DH and I decided to have another baby, I stopped taking them. I was fine for all these years, but I'm dealing with it now.
Where is Messiah, I have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar - mine leads to fainting). I know my anxiety gets worse when my sugar level is low and there are periods where it is more difficult to keep it up.
Brother Paul, I am glad to hear I'm not the only one!
I actually hesitated to post a thread about it because I am embarrassed about it.King J, yes, I feel it has gotten worse over time. I have talked to a doctor about this because I actually thought I had OCD. I was told that I do not have it because I don't do it enough. I guess people with OCD never feel better after they wipe the things off that they think have germs. If I wipe it and no one recontaminates it before they wash their hands, it's clean to me. Like say we went to the doctor's office during flu season... if we came home and touched the doorknobs, I would lysol wipe them, but say one of the kids didn't wash their hands like they were supposed to and touched it after I wiped it. I would have to rewipe it and tell them to wash their hands... does that make sense? Once it's wiped and hands are clean, it's clean. I don't have to wipe it over and over again.
AllieWi, I can't go to bed dirty, so if I've been out and about that day, I take a shower before getting into my clean sheets. Is that weird? I try to pray when I feel anxiety, but it always comes back. There are periods where it gets better and I feel just fine, but it kinds comes and goes. Thanks for the suggestions (Psalms).
God Calls Me Olivia, I agree with what you are saying, but it's not like I can turn it off like a light-switch. It runs in my family, so I think it's a little more difficult than mind over matter.
Ravindran, thank you! Please pray that God helps me get over this!
Kenster192, I did see and doctor years ago and was diagnosed with anxiety which leads to depression. I took an anxiety medication for about six months and felt a lot better. However, you cannot take them when you are pregnant, so when DH and I decided to have another baby, I stopped taking them. I was fine for all these years, but I'm dealing with it now.
Where is Messiah, I have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar - mine leads to fainting). I know my anxiety gets worse when my sugar level is low and there are periods where it is more difficult to keep it up.
Believe me, the statistics I once read said 1 in every 7 women and 1 n every 10 men in America are on somesort of anti-anxiety or anti-depression meds...staggering....I actually think the numbers are higher but these were those being treated. What many do not know is that most therapists today are only listeners...theraputae means to heal and they do not. Good therapists should be teaching people how to affect their autonomic responses and ow to cope with the stresses of life not just directing them to psychiatrists. I think meds are great and a good temporary plan but only while the education process is going on.
I agree with that... I do not want to be on them for a long time and I actually did feel better for years after I stopped. I think pregnancy and childbirth, along with hypoglycemia kinda throw things off-balance for me for a bit.
I am struggling with anxiety too and I take Klonopin for it. I'm also take Keppra (for epilepsy) when I take both at the same time, it knocks me out and usually I am not myself. Its like being in a zombie mode. I experience blurry vision, slows down my brain activity and memory...there are also times I experience slurred speech. Its hard for me to communicate with others.
Also, I have to young kids 7 and 2yo. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids. But I am a stay at home mom and my husband works almost 24/7.
There are days I feel worn out but we manage to find a solution to controlling my anxiety.
We are fortunate we live close to a lake that shows the most beautiful view of sunrise and sundown. Since I am unable to drive, I ask my husband to drop me off by the lake. Before we get there I read some uplifting scriptures.
I ask him to leave me alone for a couple of minutes usually around 30mins. (Depends how bad my anxiety or day is)
I watch over the lake and think of nothing else.. Just watch. The beauty of the sun, how it feels in my skin, how the lake is flowing.
So whenever I feel my seizures coming or my anxiety. I remind myself the experience i had over the lake. How it feels, find the peace inside me and I feel Christ in me.. That He is there whenever I need Him.
Taking my meds might have some side effects but when I remind myself of the time I was at the lake. I immediately feel calm and feel the love of God. It's a experience I cannot explain. Although the doctors say that I am born with my condition, that it is genetic, that I will have it for the rest of my life. I never once felt that I could not be cured by Christ. For I know nothing is impossible if you have faith in Him.