"The entrance of thy words giveth light (Psalm 119:130)."
Overcoming Anxiety
This article will focus on reducing and overcoming anxiety. Anxiety symptoms vary a lot. Symptoms may include your heart pounding, feeling like you're going crazy, sweaty palms, dizziness, "growling," pain or tightness in the chest, hyperventilating, feeling like you want to "jump out of your skin" and just feeling so nervous that it's painful.
Unlike stress, these feelings--which vary in intensity--seem to "just come out of the blue," are in excess of what can be explained by stress alone, are a problem regardless of circumstances and/or are just always present.
To understand and reduce your anxiety, it is necessary to first get saved.
It is suggested that you also read the following articles before continuing: Spiritual Warfare, Stress Management and Anger Management. The material in these articles is fundamental to reducing anxiety. And necessary information is not repeated in this article.
Before proceeding, it is important to note that sometimes there are physical causes for anxiety. First, have your doctor rule out medical causation (blood sugar, thyroid, etc.). Also, recognize that the use of drugs (legal or illegal), herbal preparations, energy drinks etc. may cause anxiety. Consult your doctor and pharmacist in regard to these issues.
Toxin exposure can also be an issue. If your job involves say, working in a furniture factory, discuss this issue with your doctor.
Finally, caffeine. Figure out how this drug affects you. If avoiding coffee, tea, caffeinated soft drinks etc. markedly reduces your anxiety (after a withdrawal period), you should probably avoid caffeine or minimize your intake. This is true of many people. Other people find that caffeine relaxes them. For them, I see no reason to stop drinking one or two cups of coffee a day.
Normally, if your doctor is unable to find a physical cause for your anxiety, he will tell you that you have a "chemical imbalance" and prescribe drugs.
There are changes in brain chemistry (Serotonin etc.) associated with anxiety. In this sense, there is a "chemical imbalance."
However, these changes in brain chemistry are themselves the result of negative thinking and spiritual footholds (Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV). And medical science does not understand spiritual footholds.
The Bible provides a healthy alternative to drugs in terms of reducing anxiety.
Anxiety, except as mentioned earlier, is the combined result of three related factors: Negative thinking, maladaptive behaviors and spiritual footholds.
First, negative thinking. Focusing on negatives produces anxiety three reasons: 1) These conscious thoughts themselves create anxiety. 2) You are conditioning your subconscious mind to focus on those same negative thoughts 24 hours a day! And your subconscious mind will generate more anxiety as it dwells on these negatives and dutifully tries--unsuccessfully--to solve these problems. 3) Negative thinking results in the creation and strengthening of spiritual footholds.
Second, maladaptive behaviors. You will be unable to avoid negative thinking unless you are assertive, set boundaries and take steps to prevent abuse. These items were discussed in my articles on Anger Management and Stress Management.
Third, spiritual footholds. These footholds give Satan the power to create both emotional distress and anxiety. The level of distress--and its timing--vary in accordance with the will and purposes of demonic forces who are empowered by the foothold. Demons are deceivers by nature and will attack you wherever, whenever and however they believe they can do the most damage.
Demonic forces seek to maintain existing footholds, strengthen them and acquire new footholds, whenever possible.
Notice I said maintain existing footholds. If, for example, your anxiety is caused by unforgiveness, this foothold does not automatically remain in existence indefinitely. To maintain the foothold, Satan will need to bring up thoughts about people who have wronged you from time to time. Each time one of these thoughts come up, the foothold will be either strengthened or weakened depending on your response. If you make an effort to forgive, then briefly pray for the person--and do not dwell on the issue--the foothold will be diminished. If you dwell on the issue and/or nurse your grudge, the foothold will be strengthened.
Now, what are these footholds that are responsible for your anxiety. Here's the most common.
First, anger (Ephesians 4:26-27). This is a major cause of anxiety. To reduce anxiety, you need to forgive others--every time. You also have to learn to be forgiving toward yourself--at all times. Furthermore, you need to discipline yourself to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 NIV)." Shaking your fist at God, bitter complaining, cursing God etc. are all sins. Choosing instead to be thankful--each time, no matter what--is essential for resolving anxiety.
Before leaving the topic of anger, recognize that assertiveness, setting appropriate boundaries and expressing your feelings, when appropriate, are also critical. The Bible states: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over (Matthew 18:15 NIV). Also: 'If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him (Luke 17:3 NKJV)." Which Scripture applies depends on the circumstances. Failing to express your feelings, when appropriate, is a sin. This sin gives Satan a foothold which he will use to create anxiety and emotional distress. Just forgiving others and being a doormat is a recipe for disaster.
Second, fear and worrying. These certainly cause stress. However, they can also result in a spiritual foothold which causes anxiety. This can become a serious problem when the fear is extreme or when worrying becomes a habit. Christians are told to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And the Bible states emphatically and repeatedly "do not worry" and "do not fear." Pray and trust God--every time. And remember: "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26.3 NKJV)."
Third, a wayward heart: "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)." Your heart determines who you are: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV)." "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1 NASB)." Pornography, strip clubs, evil sexual fantasies and sexual sin in general often end up resulting in a sexual addiction, which, by definition, is a spiritual foothold. This foothold will result in stress and/or anxiety, one way or another. Guard your heart.
Success in dealing with any of these footholds comes one thought at a time. The more consistent you are in resisting the Devil, the sooner that foothold will be diminished.
Finally, one last item. And this is the most overlooked: The one easy, simple and single most overlooked thing you can do to reduce your anxiety: Ignore the anxiety. Accept the anxiety. Stop trying to figure out how to solve your anxiety problem--this causes anxiety! You will often be amazed at how much this reduces your anxiety! The first thing you should try when you start to feel anxious is to simply ignore it. See if this works first.
Note: Also be sure to read my article When Satan Gets a Foothold.
Copyright © James Serio 2010