Do you often find yourself weighed down with anxiety and worry? Are you tempted to feel like you’re alone in this battle? You’re definitely not! We live in an anxiety-prone world. Far more people than you can imagine grapple with this challenge, and the number is only growing each year.
Some professionals estimate that at least one-third to one-half of all Americans have major levels of anxiety. Globally, various forms of anxiety are reported to be the most significant mental health challenge.
The impact of anxiety can range from mild to severe, from tiresome to devastating. Some forms of anxiety require serious intervention from professionals, often involving medication.
Alternatively, consider prayer and meditation in lieu of medication as drugs can become very addictive. Please consult a medical professional if you’re struggling with the devastating effects of anxiety and always, take everything to the Lord in prayer.
Most people recognize that worry of any variety takes a toll on their mental wellbeing. Fewer people are aware of the physical side effects. In the short term, our body’s natural response to stress isn’t harmful — adrenaline, increased heart rate, and blood flow help us to focus on a problem and constructively deal with it. However, stress that goes on and on, even if it’s related to normal, everyday difficulties, produces effects that are unhealthy.
Apprehension about traffic, missing a deadline, meetings you’re not quite prepared for, interviews, crying children, more responsibilities than you can fit in — these common situations provoke a physical response.
There are also much broader categories:
- Money and job security
- The future
- Health
- Children
- School
That’s just the shortlist of topics that we humans are tempted to be anxious about!
Many of the things we worry about are small things while others are significant. Some worries are rational, while others are in the irrational category. You may even worry about whether you’re worrying too much.
Dealing with anxiety is a part of life. As long as we’re in this present world, temptations to be anxious will always be close at hand. The world offers a myriad of practical suggestions for battling anxiety — exercise, getting more sleep, support groups, individual counseling, therapy, and many others.
These ideas could help you to some degree. There’s no reason not to implement ones you find supportive. But it’s far more helpful to recognize that there is One who has conquered anxiety. Because of God’s immense love for us, He clearly shares in scripture that there’s a way to experience peace in spite of anxious thoughts.
Want to learn more about scripture’s antidote to anxiety? Click on the “Anxiety” category.