When Worry Won't Stop: Does Anxiety Mean You Don't Trust God?
In the Christian church, anxiety can often be viewed as an uncomfortable subject. Many Christians grapple with feelings of shame whenever they battle with anxiety.
The message that can come across to Christians from the church is that “to have issues with anxiety is to have issues with faith and trusting in God.” Many have been living with this message their entire life and, consequently, believe that they are not “good enough Christians” because of their crippling anxiety.
But is this true? Does battling with anxiety mean that a person is lacking in faith or not a “good Christian”
Let’s unpack this.
What Is Anxiety Really?
First, let’s define what anxiety is.
Anxiety is generally characterized by enduring sensations of nervousness, unease, or worry.
It frequently arises in response to upcoming events or situations where the results are unpredictable. Unpredictable circumstances are often what trigger emotions of anxiety for many people.
Self-esteem and confidence play a significant role in how one navigates the unpredictability of the future. Individuals who possess a secure sense of self often feel better equipped to manage life's challenges, which typically results in lower anxiety levels. Conversely, those struggling with low self-confidence may feel less capable of handling what comes their way, leading to increased worry.
Without a foundation of feeling steady or supported, unforeseen circumstances can easily trigger heightened states of anxiety.
How Trauma Impacts Anxiety
Trauma can also influence anxiety. Past or recent traumatic experiences can cause a surge in anxiety even in individuals who did not previously struggle with it.
When a traumatic event occurs, the safety an individual felt before is often shattered.
Even when a person is very secure in himself or herself, and the people around him or herself, all it would take to shake up his or her nervous system is one big accident or tragedy. A car accident, a medical diagnosis, a breakup, or the loss of a loved one can completely change the trajectory of a person’s life.
Knowing what anxiety is and when it appears in our lives is only half of the battle. But what can be done with anxiety, especially when it feels so intense that it has become debilitating?
How To Cope With Anxiety?
For a Christian, where should you turn when dealing with extreme anxiety? Although drawing strength from God through scripture and prayer is valuable, He has also granted us emotional support through the community and relationships in our lives.
Learning to work with and around anxious thoughts and feelings can feel exhausting, and if you’re doing it alone, it can feel even harder.
For those whose anxiety has reached an overwhelming or crippling stage, beginning the journey of processing these emotions alongside a professional counselor in therapy is frequently the initial move toward healing. Surrounding oneself with a support system can be healing on this journey.
There are also practices that can be done on a daily basis to help a person cope with anxiety. Examples of these practices include:
Mindfulness meditations and intentional breathing exercises. Learning to train your mind to let anxious thoughts come and go can be accomplished through these meditation practices.
Intentional journaling, reading scripture, and practicing gratitude. Taking time to express gratitude for the things you enjoy in life can decrease chronic stress.
Participating in hobbies. Engaging in enjoyable activities also helps reduce anxious feelings.
Support groups and/or individual therapy. Getting connected with a professional therapist or a support group of people can provide a safe space to talk through anxious feelings and thoughts.
You Don’t Have to Deal with Anxiety Alone
Hope Healing Counseling offers counseling care that doesn’t leave faith at the door, but also does not discount the very real physiological nature of anxiety. If you are battling anxiety alone, we have licensed professional counselors who would love to walk with you. Our counselors also provide trauma therapy, which focuses on safety as a foundational focus of healing. You don’t have to fight alone.
