Since graduating college in May I've had trouble adjusting to work. Maybe it's because for so long I've done nothing but school. But with this adjustment disorder and my anxiety I've had trouble finding a job that I can stay with and save enough money to go to grad school next fall. I've been on many different medications in the past for skin problems that I just don't don't want to take any more pills. So I was wondering if anyone here struggles with anxiety or has had a similar experience adjusting to a new situation but was able to overcome it. Or still struggles with it but doesn't let it interfere with everyday life. Thanks and God bless!
Overcoming anxiety
- Thread starter jsr1221
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K
I have struggled with anxiety most of my life and can tell you it's not a easy battle at times which I'm sure you know. I too, have tried several medications off and on over the years for depression, anxiety and have found the ones for depression some have side effects that bother me, or make me feel nothing. I don't want to live my life feeling NOTHING, but at one time in my life I was considered AGORAPHOBIC, I didn't/couldn't leave the house without HORRIBLE panic attacks, I didn't drive anywhere alone for a couple of years. It was a horrible "EXISTENCE" that's all I felt it was, an EXISTENCE. It was a struggle just to get through every day. I can tell you this...In MY experience, what helped me was baby steps. Once I decided enough was enough that there was SO much out there in life to enjoy and be happy and I was tired of living or existing like that. I remember for the driving issue, I would drive one day just a little way up the road, the next day just a little further, the next time, just a little further and so on. Until I overcame that fear of driving. When those ANXIETY feelings of panic or fear would try to creep in I would sing to a song on the radio, call a friend of my cell, (which I don't recommend for safety reasons) yell, scream, anything to get my mind off of those scary feelings and thoughts that try to creep in and torture me! In my case when my anxiety was at it's PEAK I was also drinking alcohol. I tried to self medicate, which I learned is NOT the answer! The withdrawals from the alcohol the next day would only make my anxiety WORSE! So it became a never ending cycle for me for quite some time. Once I learned how to DESENSITIVE myself to situations, that helps a lot. But, I can tell you that EXERCISE is the BEST natural form of anxiety and stress relief!!! It REALLY helps! When you have a good workout, aerobics, or whatever it may be it helps release the natural serotonin in your brain which helps reduce anxiety. In my case it worked WONDERS!! At one point and time in my life through exercise and the proper diet with eating nutritional and healthy food I was able to go off ALL medication. Though over time and with the death of my child in 06 I have been back on medication for anxiety for years again now. However, I am in the process of weaning myself off medications and I pray a lot to the Lord, and I am going to start working out again because I KNOW it definitely helps. I hope some of my experience has helped you. If you ever need/want to talk more about this please feel free to contact me! In the mean time, I will be praying for you!! YOU CAN DO THIS!! Don't let that ole devil creep in those self doubt thoughts!!
S
I know you do not want to be on meds, but it is a tool to help. Thank goodness those are available now; they were not many years ago. I have a daughter on 3 different meds and with the therapy program she is in, she should be able to be off one or two of them eventually. Exercise does help, and so does getting enough rest.
Hi, I did a study a little while back on anxiety and thought I would share some Bible verses about anxiety\that could be applied to anxiety. Maybe they'll help as they have helped me numerous times:
Matthew 6:25-34 "“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (ESV)
Philippians 4:6-8 "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise--dwell on these things." (HCSB)
1 Peter 5:6-7 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (NASB)
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit." (NASB)
Psalm 94:19 "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." (NASB)
Proverbs 12:25 "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad." (NASB)
Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." (NASB)
Luke 10:38-42 "Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (NASB)
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (NASB)
In the following passage, the disciples were anxious and worried. In our storms (trials and hardships of life), we shouldn't look at all of the waves and wind (our problems), but focus on God and seek to strengthen our faith. God cares and knows about our problems.
Mark 4:35-41 "On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”" (ESV)
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Matthew 13:1-9 "That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. "Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. "But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. "Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. "And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. "He who has ears, let him hear." (NASB)
Matthew 13:18-23 "Hear then the parable of the sower. "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." (NASB)
(Note on the above: Don't let the worries of this world choke the word).
Matthew 6:25-34 "“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (ESV)
Philippians 4:6-8 "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise--dwell on these things." (HCSB)
1 Peter 5:6-7 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (NASB)
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit." (NASB)
Psalm 94:19 "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." (NASB)
Proverbs 12:25 "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad." (NASB)
Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." (NASB)
Luke 10:38-42 "Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (NASB)
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (NASB)
In the following passage, the disciples were anxious and worried. In our storms (trials and hardships of life), we shouldn't look at all of the waves and wind (our problems), but focus on God and seek to strengthen our faith. God cares and knows about our problems.
Mark 4:35-41 "On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”" (ESV)
-
Matthew 13:1-9 "That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. "Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. "But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. "Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. "And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. "He who has ears, let him hear." (NASB)
Matthew 13:18-23 "Hear then the parable of the sower. "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." (NASB)
(Note on the above: Don't let the worries of this world choke the word).
In my experience it's usually charismatic churches that run those helpful groups to overcome things like codependency or depression, anxiety etc...if you can't find one in your area maybe you can suggest it to some local churches, maybe a few churches would have enough people to form a group. There are lots of good course books check the Christian book stores. I hope you find one!
A very big help to anxiety is to get some magnesium malate or magnesium citrate supplements. Walmart sells a good one in its pharmacy section, its by webber naturals in a white bottle. I use it regularly. I used to get panic attacks and when I started taking magnesium they went away...I have read that most of north americans are deficient in magnesium because it is depleted in the soil (and because most of us don't eat much leafy greens or nuts anyways).
All I can say is it works! I wish everyone who says they have anxiety would take it for at least a month and see if it makes a difference
A very big help to anxiety is to get some magnesium malate or magnesium citrate supplements. Walmart sells a good one in its pharmacy section, its by webber naturals in a white bottle. I use it regularly. I used to get panic attacks and when I started taking magnesium they went away...I have read that most of north americans are deficient in magnesium because it is depleted in the soil (and because most of us don't eat much leafy greens or nuts anyways).
All I can say is it works! I wish everyone who says they have anxiety would take it for at least a month and see if it makes a difference
U
Anxiety is a misfiring of adrenaline caused by the 'fight or flight' response. Fight or flight responses are meant to happen when you believe your body or life is at risk, by your body shooting adrenaline to help you either stand your ground and fight, or run away. You don't need to be in pain.
Most people who develop anxiety are worriers. Sometimes people who are not naturally worriers can develop anxiety by being in high stress situations for long periods of time. Like months of major financial difficulty.
Battling anxiety is partly retraining yourself not to worry about things so much and partly about recognizing the symptoms so as to not the let symptoms feed your anxiety.
Early on in anxiety you can bypass meds usually (not always) if you get into counseling quickly. If your anxiety is too severe or goes on for too long using meds to take your minds emphasis off the symptoms so you can deal with the root causes through counseling is typically best.
Stay off off caffeine and sugar. Exercise. Along with counseling, that should be helping you retrain your approach to problems and stress while dealing with the root of the anxiety issue. As always eating decent and staying on a regular sleeping schedule will aid as well as they both lean to helping your mind stay clear.
Once you work past things there is always risk in getting anxiety again, so seeking out natural supplements and keeping some handy is a good idea. Gaba in capsule form is one good method. Open the capsule and pour it into water and take with a small dose of B6. Also Kava Kava (or Kava Root) is good as well. When i battled anxiety attacks the first time i used both. I would dump the capsules into a bottle of water, then put the Kava (was in liquid form) into the capsule and take the capsule. The Kava was pretty nasty tasting, so this helped. Just don't burp. ( ;
Most people who develop anxiety are worriers. Sometimes people who are not naturally worriers can develop anxiety by being in high stress situations for long periods of time. Like months of major financial difficulty.
Battling anxiety is partly retraining yourself not to worry about things so much and partly about recognizing the symptoms so as to not the let symptoms feed your anxiety.
Early on in anxiety you can bypass meds usually (not always) if you get into counseling quickly. If your anxiety is too severe or goes on for too long using meds to take your minds emphasis off the symptoms so you can deal with the root causes through counseling is typically best.
Stay off off caffeine and sugar. Exercise. Along with counseling, that should be helping you retrain your approach to problems and stress while dealing with the root of the anxiety issue. As always eating decent and staying on a regular sleeping schedule will aid as well as they both lean to helping your mind stay clear.
Once you work past things there is always risk in getting anxiety again, so seeking out natural supplements and keeping some handy is a good idea. Gaba in capsule form is one good method. Open the capsule and pour it into water and take with a small dose of B6. Also Kava Kava (or Kava Root) is good as well. When i battled anxiety attacks the first time i used both. I would dump the capsules into a bottle of water, then put the Kava (was in liquid form) into the capsule and take the capsule. The Kava was pretty nasty tasting, so this helped. Just don't burp. ( ;
anxiety/tention/stress/inflamation!,
it is the result, in the 'big-picture', of TODAY, which pertains to just about everyone who is 'plugged-in'
to the system on such a level that they are consumed by it, and of course it will draw one
away from their Creator and His Ways...just one more of man's many inventions'...
at a recent 'birthday-lunch', everybody at the table had their 'cell-phones' out and were actively
responding to them, while hubby just sat there watching - it felt to him like he wasn't really
even there in their hearts or minds...these are very old 'friends', who are totally into
modern religion...
we really DO have a CHOICE to 'plug-or-un-plug'...our degree, thus far is 'computer & land-line' -
I'm just waiting for hub to finish his studies...by the way, we have lived, in the past for years
without any electricity - and we would like add, those years were very much some of the
very 'best-years' of our lives...
it is the result, in the 'big-picture', of TODAY, which pertains to just about everyone who is 'plugged-in'
to the system on such a level that they are consumed by it, and of course it will draw one
away from their Creator and His Ways...just one more of man's many inventions'...
at a recent 'birthday-lunch', everybody at the table had their 'cell-phones' out and were actively
responding to them, while hubby just sat there watching - it felt to him like he wasn't really
even there in their hearts or minds...these are very old 'friends', who are totally into
modern religion...
we really DO have a CHOICE to 'plug-or-un-plug'...our degree, thus far is 'computer & land-line' -
I'm just waiting for hub to finish his studies...by the way, we have lived, in the past for years
without any electricity - and we would like add, those years were very much some of the
very 'best-years' of our lives...
P
Not everyone has anxiety disorder. Everyone has stress because that's life. And they cope with it naturally and normally. Then they produce steps as to how they handled it. A person anxiety understands what it feels like to be anxious. It's a disorder and one needs to understand it. It's like any other disease such as diabetes, blood pressure, etc. I wish people understand it.
Is anxiety often amplified by the fear of anxiety, which leads to panic attacks, which
makes the whole thing worse?
If I get anxious, I go through why am I anxious. I look at each real problem and consider
what is the real risk.
It is amazing, when you actually look at the real risk, you find ones anxiousness is unfounded
and there is nothing to fear.
But for some being anxious defines there is something to fear. That is a self inflating response.
Anxiousness is a disconnection between the real world and the world of emotions.
So calming measures helps, breathing exercises, imagining where you are is perfectly safe.
I did this when climbing on a climbing wall. I am 15ft up, hanging on. My legs begin to shake.
But I am perfectly safe, with a rope, being held, I have the strength, it just looks dangerous.
So I force myself to look and see myself safe up a wall, able to cope, and it all calms down.
And I should be anxious, because it is dangerous without ropes and someone to rely on.
So if I was not anxious I should be worried, but to let it rip is also wrong. To learn to hold
the feeling in check takes practise, skill and training. But it can be done.
My son had a phobia about needles, and blood. He works on knowing his reaction, calming
himself down, and focusing on what is real. He now copes with this strategy like everyone
else, though he will always have a reaction more than most, the strategy brings it into
check.
Have faith, reach out, and ask Jesus to help. It really does work.
makes the whole thing worse?
If I get anxious, I go through why am I anxious. I look at each real problem and consider
what is the real risk.
It is amazing, when you actually look at the real risk, you find ones anxiousness is unfounded
and there is nothing to fear.
But for some being anxious defines there is something to fear. That is a self inflating response.
Anxiousness is a disconnection between the real world and the world of emotions.
So calming measures helps, breathing exercises, imagining where you are is perfectly safe.
I did this when climbing on a climbing wall. I am 15ft up, hanging on. My legs begin to shake.
But I am perfectly safe, with a rope, being held, I have the strength, it just looks dangerous.
So I force myself to look and see myself safe up a wall, able to cope, and it all calms down.
And I should be anxious, because it is dangerous without ropes and someone to rely on.
So if I was not anxious I should be worried, but to let it rip is also wrong. To learn to hold
the feeling in check takes practise, skill and training. But it can be done.
My son had a phobia about needles, and blood. He works on knowing his reaction, calming
himself down, and focusing on what is real. He now copes with this strategy like everyone
else, though he will always have a reaction more than most, the strategy brings it into
check.
Have faith, reach out, and ask Jesus to help. It really does work.
From John Fenn, based on Hebrews c2-v14-15
Dealing with the root of fear
https://youtu.be/eSRdoK32d_w
Dealing with the root of fear
https://youtu.be/eSRdoK32d_w
