anxiety

[Da_Man]

Anybody here got any good (or bad) ideas on dealing with this? I mean the sweaty palms, racing heart, and racing mind are becoming more than i can stand.

[Sing Praises]

II have only had one major "panic" attack, I have been plagued with depression and anxiety for years, based on circumstances beyond my control. I'm not a fan of "yogi talk" - very unscriptural - but because of my very bad arthritis I do hot yoga from time to time. I have found that the calming effect of breathing is very, very effective. In fact, dealing with my infertility over the past 7 years and debilitating depression, when my husband and I attended a wknd workshop on infertility in Boston, one of the things they said/advised was to immediately breathe calmly whenever you come across thoughts to cause you great anxiety. Can you try to take every thought captive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Remember "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2Cor 10:3-5. Remember that satan is out to destroy your mind... but the Lord wants us to depend SOLEY on him at every moment. I speak to myself also. It is a difficult process! I look at your family picture and think how fortunate you are to have been given the gift of children. I am not diminishing your anxiety... I feel very, very low myself. I try to spend much, much time reading the Word and waiting quietly for the Lord to speak to me. Also, an IPOD with good, calming music is excellent. Focus On The Family does incredibly good radio interviews - one was a 3-part interview on depression -EXCELLENT. God bless you and I will pray for you when I think of you.

[Da_Man]

Thank you so much for your prayers. I am a very fortunate individual. I have a beautiful wife and excellent children. I am on medication for depression and seem to have that somewhat under control. But lately this anxiety is just killing me. I find peace when I am in the Word but that quickly leaves.
I am not a big fan of yoga either. But I think there are some good breathing and stretching techniques. Those do nothing for my mind though.

[Sing Praises]

A couple of years ago, I attended a local seminar on anxiety & depression, and bought the program. It is excellent, particlarly Lucinda Bassett's (founder's) short series on relaxation. All it is is a series of DVDs & CDs to listen to, on your IPOD or in your vehicle or whatever. Actually if you wanted (sshhh) I could email the relaxation session to you if interested. Anyway here is the website - program is worth the $$: http://www.midwestcenter.com/?utm_campaign=1208&utm_medium=SEM&... . I agree wtih you on the yoga. I go to a place around the corner, and literally just pray if the teacher starts talking yogi-talk. For the most part it is very quiet, and the stretching exercizes are second to none. Very strengthening, but calming too. My husband isn't a fan and prefers the higher impact-type of workout. I have taken him twice, and both times it was over an hour - too long. But with an excellent instructor, you can relax and get a great workout too. You can pray through your quiet time. I never thought I would lilke it either. Actually my pastor (who I approached) is against it... but he does not have my anxiety - or my severe arthritis. I'm attending the July 24-26 session in Columbus. Heard about it at Women of Faith in Rochester June 5-6. I won the Women of Faith weekend from the radio, and drove 3 hours to Rochester with my husband. Bless you.

[Blonde]

I know just what you are talking about. I am going to try hard to put it to words.

Sin sneaked up on me. little bits over time then about 8 months ago I was addicted to my sin. When I realized that is what had happened I wanted to want to stop. But I didn’t really want to stop. That’s when the Anxiety started. Heard to breath, heart pounding, sweaty hands, sick to my stomach cant eat. I stopped most of the sin b/c it was the right thing to do but my thought where still there and so way all the anxiety . I still wanted it longed for it. To the point of a full blown I am going to die in my living room, cant breath, hole body went numb attack. So I talked to my counselor about ways to handle saver anxiety attack. He tried to tell me at that point but I was not ready to hear. “I was doing the right thing and making my self stop” but I still wanted it. It was the desire of my heart at that time. 6 months of this went on I would start to feel nervous said, depressed, so I would get a fix by thinking of what it would be like with someone else, planning a life with someone not my husband. I would feel better and be on an a “high” I would be sooo happy, “it made me a better person” but my walk with God and my husband was flat, and quickly slipping away. But I didn’t want to give up this one part it made me better, happy, but most of all it got rid of my anxiety!

Step two! The real want to change, this happened 3 weeks ago. It finely hit me. it was all a fantasy, I was living a lie and I was the reason I was having this anxiety. For the first time I prayed. I mean on my knees crying to God, make them hurt, pain and anxiety GO AWAY! Make me want to let it go! Give me a love this strong for my husband, let him be my happy thoughts. I didn’t know what else to do! The first two days were really good! I was happy for the right reasons! Then….. I the anxiety started up again in full force, now I was just mad. I was closer to God and my husband then I had been in a LONG TIME this was not supposed to happen! After more thinking and praying it hit me I felt like I was going thru withdrawal. It was at this point it the past I would give in and let my self get lost in sin. Letting it make me happy. But this time (b/c I knew what it was ) I didn’t give in.

Step 3! Seeing that your Flesh is REAL!
This happened one week after I prayed to change! This anxiety was BAD! Your Flesh is a REAL part of you and it wants just as much as your body wants to eat, or your sprit to grow! You are made up of 4 part Body, Sprit, Flesh, and Will. Your will attached to what is the strongest part of you, your Will fights for what the stronger part of you wants. so my anxiety was my Flesh and will telling my body I was needed a “fix” I called my consoler, told him how much it hurt to breath, he said its is real and it will go away, it will take about 3 days of really bad anxiety before my Will starts to Give up I am starving my Fleshes addition. I picked a few good worships songs and some scripture and only read that for the next 2 days. I still have bad days some times but I have to remind my self what it really is, and not worry about my feelings! Its hard when you feel like you can make it go ways but you KNOW truth and that is, it will just come back bigger next time.

So…. You are at one of two places, the want to “want to change”, OR the real want to change. You said “I find peace when I am in the Word but that quickly leaves” that tells me you are most likely at, you want to want to change! Until you understand and see that it’s the “in the world” that is doing this too you.. you will not get to step Two!

I am sorry I don’t know what to tell you on how to see this.. It has to click in you, maybe we can chat about it sometime!

Cam!

[scott]

thank you sharing that..... it is true that sin is trying to get into our lives in little ways and big ways..
I was dealing with the same thing for years I thank God he help me deal with my secerts.
I am glad you shared it... I am praying for you cam..i hope we cna talk...God bless..scott.

[Da_Man]

Will this ever end??
I am seeing a counselor now (secular). I pray that he can offer insight for me. Something has got to give.

[JanetPA]

I know how you feel, Da_Man. It's really getting to me too. Some days are better than others. Try to catch today's NL Radio show, the last call w/ Robin just ministered to me as I listened. She grew up without consistent love in her life. That struck a chord with me, as I have been wondering why I am so anxious... and I reflect on the inconsistent, distant "love", the lack of "attachment" as Milan's book, How We Love, states. The "cure" John and Steve just discussed, was the importance of connection and being "plugging in" to the love of others...I'm willing to bet that, we didn't get that need met either. We need consistent love from others we can trust. I need more deep relationships with other women, and to do the "work" to develop them while my best friend is away this month... I feel the lack of connection, and it is surfacing in higher anxiety than usual. I wonder if this might be the case for you too. I am also thinking I might need to see a Dr. to see if I may need some treatment. Anxiety seems to cause a type of "noise" in my head, a background of doubt, condemnation, and second-guessing myself, which also causes me to be distracted. That is what is most bothersome to me. Keep trusting the Lord and make connections. May we know His Loving Grace in our trials. God Bless you and your lovely wife and family.

[Da_Man]

The thing that keeps frustrating me is the thought of is this the best God has in store for me. Do I have to deal with this the rest of my life?

[JanetPA]

;) I'm smiling because this is a familiar thought that I have often, too, which is probably the anxiety "talking". If you are seeing a secular counselor, I'd recommend that you see someone in addition who can help you with spiritual issues. I think these are at the core of why we struggle.. we wonder why God has allowed this pain, ailment, etc. I heard Steve say this just today or yesterday! It's ok you go to a secular counselor if they are helping, but you have spiritual questions and needs, you have to find the person who can help you there. That's #1.

2) Stop, close your eyes, breathe in deeply the Love of Christ... believe that He's here for you, and will never forsake you/us. Remember, if you've believed and trusted in Him for taking the punishment you deserved for your sins, then the cross gives you/us assurance of His love, and gives us a firm foundation, as you know, it's the truest love demonstrated, and is indisputable - no matter what our doubtful hearts/feelings say... Then, 3) ask Him for wisdom to lead you to do, and follow His leading in what to do about this problem. His grace has He has brought us this safe thus far, and grace will continue to see you through, believe it...and do what He shows you to do. Talk to your wife about it, call a friend, Dr., pastor, counselor, sign up for the NL weekend in Columbus, etc.

And lastly, to directly answer the question you asked, I think we have to do what Jesus told us to do, and NOT worry about "tomorrow", which means, the "rest of our lives". Today has enough worries of it's own, like finding out if you need an adjustment of your medicine, to talk to a spiritual counselor, etc. This is how you feel today, it doesn't mean God necessarily has it "in store for you" for the rest of your life, that's a dark thought, and Satan tempts us to despair with thoughts like that. So talk to the most caring, spiritual person you know, and take another step. We'll all be praying for you and cheering you on! I will take my own advice too, as I am struggling. I'll let you know how it's going.

Take good care of yourself as I'm sure you would take care of your wife to get the best treatment if she were suffering with an ailment and you'd want to get her the proper care. Care about yourself that much, Jesus says to. Love Him, and love others as you would care for your own body. Love and Peace to you!

[David Norman]

hey man,

I had a anxiety attack Sunday took me most of the week to get over it, i think the who anxiety state is due to overstimulation in childhood and that overstimulation's effect on our nervous system, in other words normal encounters or perhaps disputes which normal people have from time to time, really becomes a trigger for anxiety or at least it does for me, I guess each person's trigger is different. My heart was racing so fast I thought it was going to come out of my chest, hope you find the right means of recovery. I just pray and ask God to heal me and help me if I can think clearly enough.

in christ, David

[Elisa Esparaza]

Hi David
I suffer from anxiety attacks as well. If you have tried all you to control the attacks, you might want to try some herbs to calm down, like Valerian, Passonflower, which I use and helps. If not, maybe a counselor might be helpful. I had some amazing sessions with the counselor after I got born again that the Lord actually brought up some secret stuff that had happened to me as a child, that I did not even consciously remember them. Unwarranted family touching and episodes of when my Dad was in a drunken craze and I was so scared that I guess I just buried it. Little did I know, this was still lurking quieting in my subconsciousness, waiting to be surfaced. After prayer, the Lord showed me both episodes in my mind and the counselor helped me to forgive the situation. Apparently, I still had not forgiven these bad episodes in my mind and believe the Lord just left it there until it was time to deal with. That helped tremenously. I still have a ways to go to transform my mind to Christ but at least it is rare I get panic attacks at the market or in the car anyway. And don't forget to listen to Jesus music.

Take care and give it to Jesus
Elisa

[Sing Praises]

Hi Da_Man. How are you doing today? I am just about to go sit and read my bible and will be praying for you
Thinking of you. Blessings.