Hello all,
Happy Thanksgiving, tomorrow. I hope this finds you all well and blessed. With the holidays and crazy shopping experiences well in sight, I wanted to share an excerpt from my new book (date of release TBD) entitled Anxieties. Hopefully none of you deal with these nasty mental issues but if you do, maybe this will give you a little peace to know you’re not alone.
My Life; My Anxiety by Nelson Thomas
I once heard a person say, “you are not anxiety and anxiety is not you.” Though there may be some truth in that statement, I believe that possession or ownership of anxiety depends on the moment…and the person.
When I am restless, irrational and have fear oozing out of my skull…I am anxiety.
When I am tired and fatigued, yet 20 minutes later bouncing off the walls with insomnia…anxiety is me.
When the worry, the panic attacks, the agitation and the lack of concentration come creeping in…I am anxiety and anxiety is me.
Many may not be fans of my thinking but it’s my anxiety.
But I am one person and those experiences are momentary.
Fear and worry dissipate.
Restlessness and irrational thoughts subside.
When they do, I am me.
It’s a hulk like existence at times.
What exactly is anxiety? Anxiety is a natural reaction to uncertainty and danger. The trigger can be practically anything or nothing at all; just a generalized, hazy sense of dread or tragedy. People may experience anxiety because their neural circuitry has grown overly sensitive, detecting danger where none exists. People differ in their vulnerability to anxiety as a result of their biological composition, parental inheritance, personal life history, personality traits, and coping abilities acquired or developed. Being a human being with the ability to imagine a future is the actual source of anxiety.
Trial and tribulation have identified some tidbits of information that lesson the chaos:
1st. Breath. Slowly, intently; in through the nose, out through the mouth.
2nd. Pray. Even through anxiety can feel like hell, pray.
3rd. Reach for help. There is no weakness in leaning on others.
4th. Avoid the bottle and drugs at all cost. These, plus anxiety are a recipe for destruction.
5th. Run from caffeine; it only enhances the effects of anxiety.
6th. Work to keep sleep schedules steady with as little interruption as possible.
7th. Watch what you eat. Plenty of fruits, nuts and veggies and as little fried food as possible.
8th. When you can, exercise. Burning off the irritability makes a huge difference.
9th. Choose peace. Steer clear of the news, politics or any social media which causes drama.
10th. Close your eyes and listen to soft, soothing music.
And once you’ve done all that, breath and pray again.
Repeat all as necessary.
Remember, anxiety is talked about in the Bible. It has been around since creation. It didn’t come into existence yesterday and you are not the only person to experience it.
With that, here are some important Bible verses regarding anxiety:
Philippians 4:6-7: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
1 Peter 5:6-7: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Proverbs 3:5-6: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Isaiah41:10: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Jeremiah 29:11-12: 11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Psalm 55:22: Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
1 Peter 5:10: And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Additionally, please think on these quotes as a further source of comfort:
“I just give myself permission to suck…I find this hugely liberating.” John Green
“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” Charles Spurgeon
“Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.” Walter Anderson
“Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry.” Anonymous
“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.” Jodi Picoult
“Only 10% of what we worry about comes to fruition 90% of the time.” Stephen Thomas
“Anxiety was born in the very same moment as mankind. And since we will never be able to master it, we will have to learn to live with it— just as we have learned to live with storms.” Paulo Coelho
“Anxiety is a part of every life; one must pray it doesn’t consume theirs.” Natalie Charles-Pierre
“Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.” Dalai Lama
“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.” Deepak Chopra
No matter how bad the anxieties are…you are not alone. Millions have been there and successfully mitigated the storms; you can too. Never be afraid to reach out to those who have been there/done that. They can be the angel on your shoulder. Lean on them without fear or hesitation.
No matter what some uneducated individuals might say, anxiety is not a punishment for anything. Pray, breath and take possession of the life God gave you.
“Fear is the thief of dreams,” Brian Krans.
SAS 