Anxiety – The Vine

There is hope for Anxiety

amanda — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 22:34:34 +0000

Scriptures about Fear:

Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 46:2, Psalm 91:1-5, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 41:13, Isaiah 43:1

John 14:26 (NIV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.

Scriptures about Worry

Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 10:19-20, Luke 12:22-34.

Philippians 4:6-7

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Scriptures about Peace

Psalm 29:11, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 48:18, Isaiah 55:12, Ezekiel 34:25, Luke 1:76-79, John 14:27, John 16:33, Romans 5:1, Romans 8:6, Galatians 5:22, Colossians 3:15

Books for Teens about Anxiety

My Anxious Mind: A Teen’s Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic, by Tompkins, Martinez, and Sloan

The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook For Teens, by Shannon and Padesky. Describes CBT techniques in a workbook format, gets rave professional reviews.

There is hope for you if you suffer with anxiety. Many people have anxiety, and many people have learned new ways to cope and to reduce anxiety. It can help to talk with someone. The Lord himself will help you.

Do I need help for anxiety?

amanda — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 21:56:25 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1598220443569{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]If you have anxiety symptoms that last for more than six months or significantly impact your life, or if you have panic attacks, you may need to talk with a counselor. If it occupies your thoughts most of the time or if it is altering your relationships you may need help. Sometimes there is a physical aspect of anxiety just like there is for anxiety. There are medications that can reduce your suffering. Anxiety often emerges is a person who is deprived of appropriate nurture. Counseling for anxiety involves learning how to receive nurture, how to manage your thoughts that cause anxiety and how to self-soothe. A healthy spiritual life is also important because anxiety can be calmed by understanding what makes you secure. There is hope in Christ, always. It is o.k. to talk about it and to learn new ways to cope. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Anxiety Definitions

amanda — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 20:12:07 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section title=”Anxiety” tab_id=”1598213580871-3cdb4df9-264e”][vc_column_text scheme=”vine”]Another word for anxiety is worry or fear. Some fear is normal, but anxiety can reach levels that interfere with life, and it can be difficult to control. Indicators of anxiety include restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge; being easily fatigued; difficulty concentrating or mind going blank; irritability; muscle tension; sleep disturbances (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep).[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Phobia” tab_id=”1598213606775-02d500fe-5c91″][vc_column_text]A phobia is an intense fear of a particular thing like snakes or spiders.

This website from Mayo Clinic describes it in detail and describes treatments:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/phobias/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20023478

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Panic Attack” tab_id=”1598213608724-6dd48bea-38ef”][vc_single_image image=”1627″ img_size=”200X200″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text scheme=”vine”]A panic attack is scary. You feel out of control, and with the possible chest pains, sometimes people think that they are having a heart attack. Don’t suffer a panic attack alone. Reach out to someone and get help. Human beings are not intended to be able to handle every situation on their own. We need another person sometimes. This is one of those times. Consider the diagnostic criteria below. When you reach out to someone, share this website with them. It can explain a lot that you don’t have to explain and helps the person be able to relate to you.

A panic attack involves four or more of the following:

Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
Feelings of choking
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea or abdominal distress
Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint
Chills or heat sensations
Paresthesias (numbness of tingling sensations).
Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself).
Fear of loosing control or “going crazy”.
Fear of dying.

(these criteria are from the DSM-V)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Agoraphobia” tab_id=”1598217971443-86a9eeb8-615d”][vc_column_text]Agoraphobia is the avoidance of public places where a person might have little avenues of escape. A person with agoraphobia can become afraid to leave his/her house.

Again, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America has good information.

https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/panic-disorder-agoraphobia

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Hoarding” tab_id=”1598218094621-bb84a7f5-3941″][vc_column_text]Hoarding is another disorder on the anxiety spectrum. It is the inability to throw things away regardless of their value. It can become extreme seriously impacting the person’s quality of life.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America is a good resource.

https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/hoarding-basics

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”OCD” tab_id=”1598218963563-9e5bf494-1e74″][vc_column_text]Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is commonly known by its acronym, OCD. OCD is a disorder on the anxiety spectrum. OCD involves unwanted and unreasonable fears that result in repetitive behaviors to control the fear. Examples are repetitive hand-washing, counting steps, checking locks, having to do a certain behavior a certain number of times to create a good outcome and the fear of a bad outcome if the compulsion is not followed. This disorder is treatable with the right help. The Mayo Clinic has some good information:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ocd/basics/definition/con-20027827

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Stop the Fear Cycle

amanda — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 19:13:48 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text scheme=”vine” css=”.vc_custom_1598212414584{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]Often without even realizing it, we allow and foster a fear cycle growing inside. One negative thought causes some fear. That fear causes a more negative thought which in turn produces greater fear.

Before you know it, the fear has grown to a very large proportion. As it gains momentum, the fear begins to direct us, it takes over and we are swayed along.

How do you intervene in the increasing fear cycle?

1) First be aware of the inner dialogue that is happening. Notice the thoughts and the effect of those thoughts.

2) Then, grab one thought and make a conscious decision to do thought replacement with a thought that is more positive. This is actually a basic principal in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Or another way to say it, if you will take that thought and run it by Christ. Let Christ examine the thought and substitute a thought of which he would approve. “….we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

In this way, we exercise our faith. As we do this again and again, we change our inner space and can stop the fear cycle.

Rev. Dr. Amanda Ragland, LMFT[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]