I've heard myself say it a hundred times, "I'm so anxious about...." I hear it in my office regularly, "I'm anxious about everything." Anxiety can be a wicked partner. It's no wonder, the world has us spinning on an anxious wheel these days. Whether you turn on the news, read a newspaper or get your news online, you probably feel a little anxious after watching for even for a few minutes. Most clients say they get stuck- wanting to be grateful for all the of life's good gifts yet there so many things that we are worried or anxious about. There is tension and we just kind of exist in the middle of it.
Clinical anxiety is its own ball of wax. It is often a combination of physiological and psychological symptoms. When anxiety crosses over to impairment of daily functioning, it is time to get help. The people closest to me who have battled with anxiety describe it as: suffocating, overwhelming, frustrating, and emotionally and physically exhausting. The most common outcome of anxiety I see in my office (and in my own life) is the need to control something. It is not at all a surprise- with how out of control our world can feel sometimes.
There is also an interesting part of having my practice in a church, where around half of my client load are professing Christians. I hear few things regularly from them;
I know I'm not supposed to be anxious.... I know God doesn't want us to worry..... I haven't told anyone about my anxiety, because I'm so embarrassed..... I can't take medicine for this......
Those are harder conversations. They take a while, sometimes months and months of therapy. But after the last five years- I've learned some things that I believe to be true about a clinical disorders and what it looks like for Christians to manage with them. When Paul talked about being anxious in Philippians 4:6 he said, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God," I'm convinced that he didn't mean
-don't struggle with anxiety
I'm convinced he meant
-when you struggle, take it to the One who can help you deal with it
After watching many, many clients, friends and family struggle with this, I'm even more convinced that the shame of keeping your struggle a secret is so much worse than giving it the light and hope Jesus is offering us in our suffering.
1. There is no diagnosis or disorder that can take you away from God's love and sacrifice in Jesus Christ
2. The reality of a clinical diagnosis can be confusing and heavy. Getting help isn't weak or revealing a weakness in your relationship with God. It is collecting information for your arsenal against what feels overwhelming for you.
3. Medication isn't a last resort. It isn't weak. It can be a life-saving and vital part of treatment for people who need it.
4. You are worth figuring it out. You alone are worth it. Your family benefits from the work you do.
5. There are SO many good resources out there. Reach out and go hard toward finding the help you need.
Some of my favorite resources for therapy resources:
www.psychologytoday.com
www.aamft.org
www.aacc.org
I also really loved this article by another LMFT http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/29202-is-there-room-for-anxiety-in-the-church
Thanks for giving this some thought and time.
Blessings-