Anxiety is a buildup of unexpended energy, and like lightning, anxiety can strike at any moment, anywhere.
Anxiety is a buildup of unexpended energy, and like lightning, anxiety can strike at any moment, anywhere. Anxiety is often a form of worrying about things we cannot control and being afraid things will not work out in our favor. Anxiety can, and often does, interfere with our ability to enjoy our life, and certainly prevents us from living in the present moment. It’s hard to live in the present if your brain is constantly worried about the future.
As with all things we suffer with, God cares about our anxiety and invites us in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast “all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” What does “casting our cares on him” mean anyway? The first step is recognizing our anxiety for what it is, a lie our brain tells us about who we are, whose we are, and our own self-efficacy. The next thing we should do is take active steps to replace those negative thoughts (lies) we are telling ourselves with alternative thoughts. Replace “I’m worthless, I will never be able to accomplish this, no one will love me if I don’t succeed” with “apparently I don’t think I can do this, I wonder what would happen if …” When you find yourself thinking anxiously, try to isolate the thought driving the anxiety and purposely replace it with a more accurate, more actionable thought. frce3cce
While you’re noticing your anxious thoughts and replacing them with more accurate and actionable ones, you can also talk to someone about your anxiety. The cool thing about emotions is that talking about your emotions with your friends, family or loved ones can help dissipate them. Expressing your feelings relieves stress. Stress, anxiety and fear can often drive us over the edge into anger. Long-term exposure to chronic stress and anxiety can cause devastating health problems.
Do things that help you feel better. Exercise. Eat well. Clean. Sleep. Live. Check in with someone. Call your friends. Change your location often. Get up and go to another room. Practice breathing exercises (Google, do them; they work). Meditate. Pray. Practice mindfulness (another thing to Google if you don’t know how). Do something creative. Learn Russian. Earn that PhD online. Learn how to compost. Build a she-shed/man-cave. I know these are all things that are everyday activities, but I hope it also normalizes for people who struggle with anxiety that everyday activities can be daunting. Your anxiety is not hopeless and your emotions pass. Do what you can when you can and please, please, please, reach out to someone. You don’t have to live in constant pain.
It is important to lean into the things you can control during these uncertain times and trust those things. You’ve done many harder things than this!
This article is not intended to take the place of medical advice or to diminish the effects of mental or personality disorders.
Brad Hinman, LPC, LMFT, AASECT is a certified sex therapist, director of Hinman Counseling Services and recently retired from teaching at Andrews University.
