Struggling with anxiety

[johnalex]

Lately, anxiety has been hitting me hard, and I just can't seem to shake it. I know I should be trusting God more, but in the middle of it, that's easier said said than done. Has anyone else been through this? What's helped you find peace when worry feels overwhelming?

 

[Rescued One]

Lately, anxiety has been hitting me hard, and I just can't seem to shake it. I know I should be trusting God more, but in the middle of it, that's easier said said than done. Has anyone else been through this? What's helped you find peace when worry feels overwhelming?

Been there, done that. There are people here who are encouraging. I'm very old so the music that helps me, might not be your style, but certain songs help me (especially lyrics). Also know that those thoughts that bother you have been shared by other Christians; we aren't alone. You can get through this with God's help. Use your experience to help others.

We are overcomers! Love and prayers for you in this situation,

Rescued One

 

[Fred]

I often go to the words of the prayer found in 2 Chronicles 20:12 and cry out within my heart to God.

Neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee.

 

[Rescued One]

And this from Carbon's signature:

I have learned that if you fear God, you have no one else to fear.
Oliver Cromwell

 

[Hazelelponi]

Lately, anxiety has been hitting me hard, and I just can't seem to shake it. I know I should be trusting God more, but in the middle of it, that's easier said said than done. Has anyone else been through this?

I have been worried before, if that helps,

What's helped you find peace when worry feels overwhelming?

Letting God control His part and hyper focusing on doing what is within my own control to do.

My problem, is often wanting to control what I can't control, instead of just doing what my part actually is and trusting in God for it to work out and praying for God to bless my efforts.

I always try and step back and reorient when I catch myself trying to control things and taking too much inside myself and putting the focus back on the absolute sovereignty of a Holy God, and then doing what I can, if anything, to improve the situation itself.

 

[Rescued One]

@johnalex, I hope you are okay.

 

[Josheb]

Lately, anxiety has been hitting me hard, and I just can't seem to shake it. I know I should be trusting God more, but in the middle of it, that's easier said said than done. Has anyone else been through this? What's helped you find peace when worry feels overwhelming?

How's your breathing?

Do you know what I am asking? We've all experienced anxiety, but we may not all have experienced it the way you do. I was once held at gunpoint for four hours. That was a very anxiety-inducing experience. However, it was over after four hours and I learned a lot from the experience. Would you like help with your anxiety because I can help you with both a reliance on scripture, and a repertoire of physiological and psychological techniques proven to help mitigate and even eradicate anxiety.

That being said, if you've been clinically diagnosed with anxiety then it's probably best if you do not rely on the internet. I can outline some proven practices here in the thread (and that might be of help to any and all the members) but in order to address any specifically personal content it may not be wise to unpack that on the internet. PM me (use the little envelope beside your handle in the top right corner of your browser).



Here's a fairly common but often misused and not so simple help from scripture:

As you probably already know, Philippians 4:6 directs the Christian to pray but when that verse is removed from its surrounding text the command t pray can be a trap that increases anxiety, rather than assuages it. You've probably experienced the very unhelpful judgment of others who infer you haven't been praying or haven't prayed often or hard enough. Screw them.


Get out your Bible right now and start at verse 4 of Philippians 4 and continue reading all the way through verse 8. I'll post the NAS, but you read whatever translation you prefer.

Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

When the larger passage is read an entirely different prescription is found.

• Rejoice in the Lord,
• Let your gentleness be known to others,
• Recall the fact the Lord is near you,
• Pray, asking God for what you need with gratitude,
• Think on noble or positive matters.

Remember Whose you are. You are an adopted son of The Most High God, a royal priest in his holy nation. You were chosen by God Himself. When you remember Whose you are, you will always be better able to remember who you are, @johnalex. Your name is written in the lamb's book of life. You are known by God.

Be careful about taking individual verses and isolating them. Now, how's your breathing?

 

[Rescued One]

It doesn't hurt to seek professional help.

 

[Dave]

Lately, anxiety has been hitting me hard, and I just can't seem to shake it. I know I should be trusting God more, but in the middle of it, that's easier said said than done. Has anyone else been through this? What's helped you find peace when worry feels overwhelming?

Hi John

I was born with an anxiety disorder. I've lived with it my whole life. Tried the meds, decided that the whole industry was a fraud. It's just alcohol or drugs without the high. It stunts your emotional maturity just like alcohol or drugs does and makes you emotionally dependent on them. The industry already knows this. It's a catch twenty two that makes them a lot of money. I wouldn't go that rout. They should have a twelve step program for that stuff, but they don't.

For me, sometimes something as simple as breaking from my routine causes me a heightened anxiety.

It could just be the Holy Spirit reacting to something we're doing that we shouldn't be doing. I like what JMac, maybe quoting Owen, once said something like...for a believer, our sin is a burden that afflicts us rather than a pleasure that delights us.

I still sometimes use sleep aid. If you're not getting sleep, that will cause major stress.

Sometimes coffee helps. You wouldn't think so, but it can for some people. My nephew took Ritalin and when he ran out on a Sunday, my sister called the doctor, and he told her to give him coffee. Coffee has the reverse effect on kids who need Ritalin. It calmed him right down. That's one way to know if Ritalin will help without trying it.

Hope something here helps.
Dave

 

[Josheb]

Hi John

I was born with an anxiety disorder. I've lived with it my whole life. Tried the meds, decided that the whole industry was a fraud. It's just alcohol or drugs without the high. It stunts your emotional maturity just like alcohol or drugs does and makes you emotionally dependent on them. The industry already knows this. It's a catch twenty two that makes them a lot of money. I wouldn't go that rout. They should have a twelve step program for that stuff, but they don't.

For me, sometimes something as simple as breaking from my routine causes me a heightened anxiety.

It could just be the Holy Spirit reacting to something we're doing that we shouldn't be doing. I like what JMac, maybe quoting Owen, once said something like...for a believer, our sin is a burden that afflicts us rather than a pleasure that delights us.

I still sometimes use sleep aid. If you're not getting sleep, that will cause major stress.

Sometimes coffee helps. You wouldn't think so, but it can for some people. My nephew took Ritalin and when he ran out on a Sunday, my sister called the doctor, and he told her to give him coffee. Coffee has the reverse effect on kids who need Ritalin. It calmed him right down. That's one way to know if Ritalin will help without trying it.

Hope something here helps.
Dave

Please do NOT give Post #9 any credence.

Anxiety is a very treatable condition, and I have helped scores either successfully manage their anxiety or eradicate the condition from their lives (with and without medication). If a person experiences a paradoxical effect from taking stimulants (Ritalin and caffeine are both stimulants) then that is likely due to a physiological condition other than an anxiety disorder. Individuals who experience paradoxical effects to medication are often misdiagnosed as having an anxiety or mood disorder when a medical condition (not a psychiatric one) is missed (or the diagnostician is negligent or incompetent). Everyone here would be surprised how often adult bipolar disorder is misdiagnosed as ADHD . In many cases anxiety is a symptom of another condition (usually trauma) and not the problem itself. Treating a runny nose or chest congestion does not cure the flu virus and no decongestant or expectorant - no matter how much is taken - will ever kill that virus. Likewise, no anxiolytic (or stimulant) will ever cure any medical condition of which anxiety is a symptom.

If you have taken stimulants and find doing so either relaxes you or helps you focus, then tell that to the doctor at your next visit and be very adamant about making sure you were heard, and that information gets noted in your record.


Now..... how is your breathing? Or, now that this op is a day old, how was/is your breathing when your anxiety "hits you hard"?

 

[Rescued One]

And this from Carbon's signature:

I have learned that if you fear God, you have no one else to fear.
Oliver Cromwell

Psalm 118:6 NKJV
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

 

[ElectedbyHim]

I started struggling with anxiety and stress about 3 or 4 months ago and never had that sin before (that I know of).

Just within the last few months it got so bad that I was breaking out in rashes and itching fits (hives?) on various places of my body with significant skin damage. This was a very severe and painful condition for me. My sleep patterns were anywhere from 2-4 hours a night. My breathing can hurt at times and I feel light headed almost all day long with lack of energy.

My feet were so swollen I could barley put my shoes on. Urgent care diagnosed me with scabies, however seeking a dermatologist they told me it was a skin issue induced by anxiety and stress. I do forget the technical term.

My job has been putting a lot of stress on me, with all the call offs from the high schoolers (I'm a Chef in assisted living), a woman that is my cook, is transitioning to male, consistently calling off because of the meds they are giving her and upper management issues with no communication. It is almost daily that there is some type of drama going on and it is affecting my health.

I have been in the hospitality/service industry for 41 years, being an Executive Chef in major hotels and country clubs, I have never experienced this much drama ever in my career until I got into health care during Covid. It is absolutely insane.

As much as I have told the Lord I know He is in control of all things, my flesh persistently becomes rebellious.

The dermatologist put me on meds, which I have yet to take. I have had mental health issues in the past (so the psychologists have told me) and I am not a fan of any meds. This a.m. I woke up with a 100.7 fever and been sick most of the day.

I will add that I have been going through a spiritually dry season (about 8 months now) and it has had a huge impact on my mental life. This is just the most terrifying thing a Christian can experience in my opinion.

I am a firm believer that my sin of anxiety has caused my bodily ailments and hives on my body, lack of sleep etc. I believe David went through something like this in Psalm 38.

@johnalex, confess any known sin to the Lord, cry out to Abba, keep in prayer, seek any help that you need.

@Josheb I have nothing against Psychologists except they do not understand the sin condition for humans.

The psychologist that put me on cocktails of pills never amounted to anything, I felt like a guinea pig to them.

I vowed to never take those psychotropic medications ever again, but that was 20 plus years ago.

Some people really need those meds.

Apologies if I have seemed to go off on a rant of sorts.

 

[Arial]

Why do you consider anxiety a sin?

I am sorry for all the stress you are going through at work.

 

[Rescued One]

I started struggling with anxiety and stress about 3 or 4 months ago and never had that sin before (that I know of).

Just within the last few months it got so bad that I was breaking out in rashes and itching fits (hives?) on various places of my body with significant skin damage. This was a very severe and painful condition for me. My sleep patterns were anywhere from 2-4 hours a night. My breathing can hurt at times and I feel light headed almost all day long with lack of energy.

My feet were so swollen I could barley put my shoes on. Urgent care diagnosed me with scabies, however seeking a dermatologist they told me it was a skin issue induced by anxiety and stress. I do forget the technical term.

My job has been putting a lot of stress on me, with all the call offs from the high schoolers (I'm a Chef in assisted living), a woman that is my cook, is transitioning to male, consistently calling off because of the meds they are giving her and upper management issues with no communication. It is almost daily that there is some type of drama going on and it is affecting my health.

I have been in the hospitality/service industry for 41 years, being an Executive Chef in major hotels and country clubs, I have never experienced this much drama ever in my career until I got into health care during Covid. It is absolutely insane.

As much as I have told the Lord I know He is in control of all things, my flesh persistently becomes rebellious.

The dermatologist put me on meds, which I have yet to take. I have had mental health issues in the past (so the psychologists have told me) and I am not a fan of any meds. This a.m. I woke up with a 100.7 fever and been sick most of the day.

I will add that I have been going through a spiritually dry season (about 8 months now) and it has had a huge impact on my mental life. This is just the most terrifying thing a Christian can experience in my opinion.

I am a firm believer that my sin of anxiety has caused my bodily ailments and hives on my body, lack of sleep etc. I believe David went through something like this in Psalm 38.

@johnalex, confess any known sin to the Lord, cry out to Abba, keep in prayer, seek any help that you need.

@Josheb I have nothing against Psychologists except they do not understand the sin condition for humans.

The psychologist that put me on cocktails of pills never amounted to anything, I felt like a guinea pig to them.

I vowed to never take those psychotropic medications ever again, but that was 20 plus years ago.

Some people really need those meds.

Apologies if I have seemed to go off on a rant of sorts.

I'm sorry for your stress. Anxiety isn't a sin. Jesus wept, but He never sinned. And:

Luke 2:44
"And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."

 

[ElectedbyHim]

Why do you consider anxiety a sin?

I am sorry for all the stress you are going through at work.

Because I am not trusting God for what is best for me.

I am allowing circumstances with work to control me and not His Spirit.

This is all part of His plan for my life I believe and I am not handling it well at all.

I will add that the more I ask Him to do His will in my life, the more trouble I get.

I hear many people say how easy the Christian life is, my experience has been the exact opposite.

 

[Josheb]

The psychologist that put me on cocktails of pills never amounted to anything, I felt like a guinea pig to them. I vowed to never take those psychotropic medications ever again, but that was 20 plus years ago.

Most anxiety conditions, as I have stated, can be treated without medication. Anxiolytic medications do not cure the problem; they only ameliorate symptoms. @johnalex has the opportunity to discuss his anxiety with a group of Christians, at least one of which is a mental health professional has a substantive history helping people manage or eradicate anxiety with and without medication. Some very simple and effective truths and techniques can be communicated in this medium. Personal accounts of bad experiences is not one of them. @johnalex, if you'd like some help from those of us gathered here then tell us a little bit about your anxiety so we do not fall prey to the real and potentially damaging belief we know what your anxiety is like, and we can offer some suggestions pertaining to what we have found works. If the information is believed to be too personal, then PM me. I know all about abiding by an individual's confidentiality. I will not enjoin therapy over the internet in a discussion board, but I will post some very easily and readily learned, and effective principles and techniques proven to help with anxiety and if they are practiced diligently, they will provide relief to one degree or another.

It is what I do, and I am very good at it.

Well, I used to be. I'm retired now, but I'm glad to help in any way I can as long as we maintain healthy boundaries and keep our set of exchanges on the subject brief.


(while I appreciate the attempt, the previous edits did not accurately reflect my position, so I have removed them)
.

 

[Arial]

Because I am not trusting God for what is best for me.

I am allowing circumstances with work to control me and not His Spirit.

Anxiety is a physical response though, not something from the heart. You are not deliberately anxious. You are not deliberately not trusting God. ANd you have stated that you do trust him when you say that it is all part of a plan God has for you.

The Spirit never loses control. You are reacting to things at work, and you don't like your reaction is probably closer to what is going on. I am just pointing out here, that having anxiety is not a sin. Looking at it that way puts the burden of doing something to fix the situation on you. So you begin fighting against what you believe is a sin, which breeds anxiety. And even if you are unable to stop being anxious, that will not hinder God in any way. Anxiety is an awful feeling, painful. Pray there, for mercy and strength.

I hear many people say how easy the Christian life is, my experience has been the exact opposite.

Those people are either lying or they are not really Christian. What Jesus tells us is that those who are his will suffer and be persecuted, just as he did.

Let us pray.

Father, we pray for all those suffering with anxieties and illness, and have come to a place where the heavens seem like brass. We know from your word that all things are working for the good of those who are called according to your purpose. We know that there are times when we must walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and that you carry us safely through it. We know that if we wait upon you, you will again strengthen our hearts. Father we pray now for those who have voiced their anxiety and their suffering, in this place, and for those here who may be in that place but have not given voice to it, that in our sweet mercy you would bring us through that valley. Hear our cry and lead us again to green pastures and still waters and restore our souls. Give us rest, and strengthen us, and lead us out again in paths of righteousness for your namesake. We pray in your name Jesus. Amen.

 

[ElectedbyHim]

Anxiety is a physical response though, not something from the heart. You are not deliberately anxious. You are not deliberately not trusting God. ANd you have stated that you do trust him when you say that it is all part of a plan God has for you.

The Spirit never loses control. You are reacting to things at work, and you don't like your reaction is probably closer to what is going on. I am just pointing out here, that having anxiety is not a sin. Looking at it that way puts the burden of doing something to fix the situation on you. So you begin fighting against what you believe is a sin, which breeds anxiety. And even if you are unable to stop being anxious, that will not hinder God in any way. Anxiety is an awful feeling, painful. Pray there, for mercy and strength.

Those people are either lying or they are not really Christian. What Jesus tells us is that those who are his will suffer and be persecuted, just as he did.

Let us pray.

Father, we pray for all those suffering with anxieties and illness, and have come to a place where the heavens seem like brass. We know from your word that all things are working for the good of those who are called according to your purpose. We know that there are times when we must walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and that you carry us safely through it. We know that if we wait upon you, you will again strengthen our hearts. Father we pray now for those who have voiced their anxiety and their suffering, in this place, and for those here who may be in that place but have not given voice to it, that in our sweet mercy you would bring us through that valley. Hear our cry and lead us again to green pastures and still waters and restore our souls. Give us rest, and strengthen us, and lead us out again in paths of righteousness for your namesake. We pray in your name Jesus. Amen.

Amen

 

[David1701]

Lately, anxiety has been hitting me hard, and I just can't seem to shake it. I know I should be trusting God more, but in the middle of it, that's easier said said than done. Has anyone else been through this? What's helped you find peace when worry feels overwhelming?

I've found that focusing on the Lord, in the midst of whatever the circumstances might be, praising and thanking him for his provision, protection, love and kindness helps.

Looking up some of God's relevant promises and thinking about them, then thanking God for them can help as well.

What I've found really does not help, is to dwell on whatever the problems might be (e.g. reading too much news), except in the light of God's promises.

 

[David1701]

Because I am not trusting God for what is best for me.

I am allowing circumstances with work to control me and not His Spirit.

This is all part of His plan for my life I believe and I am not handling it well at all.

I will add that the more I ask Him to do His will in my life, the more trouble I get.

I hear many people say how easy the Christian life is, my experience has been the exact opposite.

In this world we will have tribulation; but, Jesus has overcome the world, so we can take heart. He is in control and works all things together for our good (which doesn't mean that things will always be pleasant or easy).