Anxiety

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a turbulent situation? It might have been a literal storm or a challenging situation that made it nearly impossible to go about life as usual. One common challenge that many people face is anxiety. This is not only the everyday anxiety that affects us all, but crippling anxiety that makes it hard to function. Taking self-care for anxiety seriously is one way to cope well with anxiety in its many forms. When you’re feeling anxious, it can feel like you’re in the middle of a storm, tossed about by racing thoughts, a pounding heart, carrying the feeling of dread, and a knot in your stomach. Anxiety is a common struggle, but it is one that’s often misunderstood and not attended to properly. Through effective support, you can bring your anxiety under control. You’re not alone in your anxiety Being anxious is a deeply human experience. We’ve all felt anxious at one point or another, and there’s a place for anxiety in our lives. Being anxious is a physiological response to danger, and that response can be lifesaving in certain circumstances. When you feel anxious about your first day at work or school, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing if it helps you prepare adequately. Anxiety can even help you as you do something simple like cross a busy street. Many folks experience anxiety of the kind I’ve described above. It’s one of the many mechanisms in our bodies that allow us to navigate our world successfully. It is helpful to a point as it keeps you alert to your environment and enables you to prepare. However, anxiety can often become something more. Instead of being a help, anxiety can become a burden, keeping you up at night as your mind [...]

There’s a phenomenon in psychology called psychological responsibility that describes the situation that you might be in right now. If you’re a woman in a heterosexual relationship, chances are that you’re the partner who carries the majority of the mental baggage in the relationship. Research shows that in traditional families, the wife or woman is the one who is in charge of the logistics of the household. Our society has universally accepted that fact for generations. This responsibility, while it’s culturally acceptable, can lead to overwhelming anxiety. Historical Context of Overwhelming Anxiety A few decades ago, this model of the woman being the overseer of the home worked more seamlessly than it does today. While women did work outside of the home back in the 1970s and before, their numbers were much lower than they are today. It’s amazing and noble that women have fought and are continuing to fight for equal rights in the workplace and political spectrum, but there’s still a disconnect when it comes to home life. Many women today are taking on dual roles. While women are working just as many hours in the workplace as their husbands or male counterparts, they’re disproportionately responsible for the home life, too. Cultural attitudes about women being in charge of housework, cooking, and managing schedules haven’t updated with labor laws. Many women in our modern culture are tasked with working outside the home and also carrying a heavy workload once they’re done with their full-time job. Psychological Responsibility In addition to doing chores and working a full-time job, women often carry the psychological responsibility for multiple people in their lives. Their mental responsibility is complex and generally consists of three exhausting phases. Phase 1: Anticipation As a woman, you’re likely the one who sees your family’s needs before anyone [...]

The stressors that first responders face are unique to their careers. Their work demands that they be consistently vigilant, quick to make decisions, and emotionally resilient as they face situations where lives are at stake. Along with this dedication come the challenges that accumulate emotionally and mentally. We don’t always see the internal struggles first responders face daily. Anxiety reduction is vital to helping these individuals maintain focus and clarity as they serve effectively. The process of managing anxiety includes the acknowledgment that these pressures are real and that seeking support is not a sign of weakness. Intentional strategies that will address anxiety are required for first responders to avoid burnout, compassion fatigue, and diminished capacity to respond effectively in the critical moments of their daily work. Scripture reminds us that we can come to God with everything we think and feel. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NASB) This is true for first responders, too. The Hidden Weight of Constant Readiness First responders are required to maintain a high-alert mindset. They need to be ready to respond at any moment. This often means that their nervous systems rarely experience true rest. Their daily life has a perpetual readiness woven into every minute, making it difficult to distinguish between on-duty and off-duty. When the brain adapts to this pattern, there are consequences. Sleep disturbance, irritability, and difficulty relaxing are common experiences that first responders must navigate. Christian counselors understand this hypervigilance and can help navigate intentional counterbalancing practices that allow the body and mind to rest. There is an unspoken message that surrounds first responders as they absorb the cultural message regarding their profession. That message is that first responders are unshakeable and [...]

Anxiety affects millions of people in the United States annually. Extreme anxiety can lead to physical and mental conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stomach issues, headaches, panic attacks, and unexplained aches and pains. Extreme anxiety can interfere with your job and relationships. It can keep you from taking action on good opportunities or attending special events. Anxiety can rob you of your confidence and self-esteem. God created your body to react to stress to protect you from danger and predators. Unfortunately, our minds perceive danger to also include stressful events or late mortgage payments. Other factors, like brain structure or function, brain chemical imbalance, genetics, family history, trauma, or environmental factors, contribute to increased levels of anxiety. You can learn to control extreme anxiety through lifestyle changes, professional treatment, and support. Tips for Overcoming Extreme Anxiety Overcoming extreme anxiety means looking at the condition from all angles. You need an approach that addresses physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. If you rely solely on one, you risk neglecting other areas. For example, if you concentrate on using exercise to fight anxiety and depression without addressing negative thoughts and challenging old beliefs, the thoughts will continue and fuel your anxiety. Think of your brain like a giant computer. Anxiety is like an open tab running in the background. Perhaps you are not working on that screen currently, but it is still running and consuming power and resources from your computer. Anxiety is like that underlying tab, leaving you feeling worried, on edge, and mentally frazzled. The following are several tips for overcoming extreme anxiety. Seek counseling Counseling provides the opportunity for a safe space to delve into the root of your anxiety, identify anxious thoughts, challenge negative beliefs, and learn how to reframe thoughts to result in positive [...]