Friends, I’ve been promising you a series on anxiety for a long time. This topic has been a struggle for me to put into words. I’ve been scared, felt unqualified and even incompetent to share this message.
I’ve realized this has been the enemy wanting to keep me silent on this topic. I’ve come a long way from the days of debilitating anxiety, but in all honesty, I still struggle. I still have episodes of anxiety flare up in my life; however, they flee much quicker than they ever have before and this gives me hope that one day my anxiety will be a distant memory.
After a lot of prayer and finding peace in where I’m at, I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to keep quiet on this topic. For this series, I want to share my testimonial with you on how I’m overcoming anxiety, holistically.
Before I share with you, I want to remind you that I am not a medical doctor. I have no special training. This is my personal story and journey to recovery – nothing more, nothing less. Please note, I did not suffer from depression. What I’m about to share is about an anxious mind and fear, not depression. If you are depressed, I would encourage you to seek professional counselors.
Anxiety, What is it?
Before we start, let’s look at how the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines anxiety.
Anxiety
- A painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill. A fearful concern or interest.
- An abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it.
Anxiety is fear and from a Christian perspective, its roots are grounded in unbelief.
“With stress, we know what’s worrying us but with anxiety you become less aware of what you’re anxious about [in the moment] and the reaction becomes the problem,” Spiegel explains. “You start to feel anxious about being anxious.”
The stress we experience in our day-to-day lives is associated with frustration and nervousness, where anxiety often comes from a place of fear, unease and worry.
What’s staggering is how many people live in anxiety. At least 1 in 4 woman in America now takes a psychiatric medication, mostly for depression and anxiety. I believe in many cases, these medications are necessary; however, for a large percentage of woman that battle anxiety, they are not.
But it’s hard.
It takes a long time, years even, to get our bodies into an anxious state of mind and; unfortunately, recovery can take just as long. But take heart, although difficult, it can be a a fruitful journey that draws you closer to God than you have ever been before!
Anxiety – A Road to Recovery
I’ve been suffering for years with anxiety . sometimes it’s debilitating.
I know what you mean, Kathy. I pray this series can help you.
I am going through recovery myself. To see this today excites me that is a God thing to see what are pure emotions and to stop that and let God lead us through humbleness.
Praise the Lord, Christine!
Diana, I’m excited to learn more of your story with anxiety so thank you for doing this series. I have struggled with it as well and have found healing in natural options and my faith. I look forward to reading more!
Thanks for reading, Maria! Love ya!
So, excited to read your series. I too have struggled with panic attacks and anxiety for the last year. I opted for medication along side my doctor and counselor. Unfortunately for me they have not helped so after much prayer and guidance I have decided to forgo the meds and press into the Lord. He has spoken to me and encouraged me in so many ways to confirm this is where he has me for a season and so I have drawn closer to him then I have in years and have grown spiritually leaps and bounds. The people that he has brought to me that I have prayed for and with that are suffering the same has been eye opening. Some days I can ride through this storm on a spiritual high and others not so much. Those days feel long,lonely and the road to recovery seems no where in sight. Those days I blare the worship music, rebuke satan and run to Jesus. My comforter,, encourager and place of refuge. Please pray for me. For encouragement, strength, clarity of mind and healing. I will do the same for you.
Thanks for sharing, Danielle. I love when you said that you rebuke satan. I’ve done that many times by screaming it out loud! You’re on the right track. With God, all things are possible and He will see you through this. Stand firm, sister!
I’ve been dealing with anxiety for several years.Mine is so weird because so often it is only about everyday life situations that I feel overwhelmed to handle. Losing my husband last year has intensified it ,but I am blessed with 2 wonderful daughters who I know worry about me at times. I’ve tried many things to learn to deal with my life stressors as I call them and realize that prayer,nutrition and deep relaxing breathing is what helps me the most.I have been seeing articles left and right about this subject lately and realize it needs to be a spiritual based approach like yours.So excited to learn what you did and look forward to this very much.
Thanks for sharing, Barbara.
Thank you for sharing. I am currently recovering from anxiety myself. I am on a very low-dose med right now to help with those extra-sharp attacks, which started in December. I didn’t know what to do, or what was wrong, until my husband, mom and sister-in-law all related their stories to me. God is soooo good, and He put the right people in the right place at the right time. Right now, I am so much better than I was, but I have a long way to go. When things are super stressful for me, the enemy goes after my mind, and it’s all I can do to stay steeped in God’s Word, and in prayer, and in positive mode. I’m going through one of those times right now. Please continue to post about this; it’s so important.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for sharing, Sarah!
How do we read all about the supplements you took? I only saw you post about magnesium. I’m sure it’s listed but I don’t know how to find it. Thank you for being humble and willing to share!! You will bless so many!!
I signed up for your newsletters a while back, but I haven’t received anything. Do I need to do something else or sign up somewhere else? My panic seems to have returned since my sister-in-law’s recent heart attack and subsequent bypass surgery. I stood by her as I did for my mom and younger sister when they went through the same, but this seems to have sent my panic back into a tailspin. I am trying to cope but some days, it is exhausting just trying to “be”……my husband also talks about the wonders of magnesium and the hospital gave this to my sister-in-law when she was in the hospital, so I too, would like to hear more about it….thanks for what you are doing to help so many…..
Rhonda, I’ll add you into my email list manually. I understand the fear that can arise when circumstances like these happen before our eyes. I’d like to encourage you that heart attacks can be prevented. What’s your diet like? Take take care of yourself and lean onto the Lord!
Is the series, Anxiety, A Road To Recovery something I can buy?
Maureen, it’s something I’m working on right now. It will all be shared on the blog.
I’m so happy for you that you’ve achieved full recovery and are medication-free. I have ADD and take birth control (hormones) to manage it which was a leap of faith for my doctor but it works. Took a lot of time to get all the behavioral “crutches” in place to go off stimulants. Gut health is a new one and definitely is linked. It’s linked to everything, isn’t it?! I will be interested to read about your journey as there are several parallels between anxiety and ADD. Namaste!
Thanks for sharing, Amanda!
Appreciate your openness to share. I am learning in my own life what I must let go of that is not from God. It’s seems like it is and I’ve allowed those things to keep me from actually doing the things that are indeed God’s will. It can be a fine line sometimes and a line that shifts and stages of life shift. For me beginning a deep study of the Bible with a group on women in our home was a big jump on the path of following the Lord’s lead. Might seem like not a big deal to some, but for me it opened up a huge area of vulnerability, an area that has been hurt a great deal by Christian women in the past. It also meant adding to an already full schedule… which what it really meant is taking something off the already full schedule to make room for what is more important. This path seems to leading me towards stopping our small bread business, since the rest of my plate pertains to being a momma and everything that includes.
The Bible is life transforming. I never in my life would have thought I could love to read it so much, nor continue to learn so much from the same passages read over and over and over. This Book of Life covers everything and reading it daily grounds us in our relationship with the Lord. The whole Bible should be read. The Old Testament is the foundation blocks for which the New Testament faith in Jesus can be built off of.
I’ve been where you are at with anxiety. Many times and probably for the same reasons. It’s difficult. It’s blinding. It separates us from the Lord. I always say to myself… “trust in the Lord with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul.” No matter how much I repeat those words I still tend to forget them too often, but they are an excellent reminder to not fret, to not be fearful, to not be anxious.
You’re heart for the Lord is openly showed in your words. The Lord is using you and please continue to be bold and allow Him to do so.
Therese, I’m just now reading this comment … the blog has been put on hold, lol! Thank you for sharing, friend!