Experiencing Anxiety as a Christian

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
In the mental health field, we work with a host of issues and concerns. But the topic that is the most pervasive and that is interwoven into so many other concerns that we encounter, is anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety is the number one mental health concern among women in the US, and it is the second most common for men, behind substance use. It is also the number one most prevalent issue for kids and teens, with approximately 1 out of every 3 teens meeting criteria for an anxiety disorder at some point before they turn 18. “Anxiety” is an umbrella term that covers a number of different mental health conditions. For our purposes here however, I am not referring to specific diagnostic categories such as obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD), post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), or specific phobias, as these conditions have differing underlying causes, and need very specific treatments to manage. Rather, I am talking about generalized anxiety, which is a pattern of excessive and pervasive worry that tends to affect many aspects of one’s life. There is no doubt, anxiety can be isolating, debilitating and scary. Anxiety has a complex set of contributing factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality and life events. And, it isn’t your fault. 
As Christians, we may wonder...where is God in my anxiety? Unfortunately, there tend to be a lot of myths about what it means to be a Christian and experience anxiety. Here are a couple that you may recognize: “If I’m a Christian and I trust God, I shouldn’t feel anxious”, or “If my faith was stronger, I wouldn’t struggle with this so much.” These myths can lead to feelings of shame and guilt that may actually perpetuate the anxiety that many already feel. In his book, Anxious for Nothing, Max Lucado says “Anxiety is not a sin; it is an emotion (so don’t be anxious about feeling anxious!)”
Anxiety is a normal human experience, and believe it or not, it stems from a wonderful part of God’s design for us as people. Humans have a hard wired response to danger, which we call the stress response, or “fight, flight or freeze”. This is a wonderful and important protection! Trust me...if you are in the midst of a real danger, such as smelling smoke at the same time that you hear a fire alarm or walking upon a rattlesnake, you will be thankful for this gift of fear, because it will enable you to take the needed steps to keep yourself safe. The tricky part comes though, when our mind starts confusing real danger for perceived danger. Perceived dangers, or false fears, take different forms for all of us. It can look like ruminating (or getting “stuck”) overthinking situations; difficulty making decisions or over-researching things to make sure you know “all the facts” or to “get it right”; seeking excessive reassurance; wanting to socialize, participate in some activity, or move toward a goal, but finding it all too easy to justify reasons that you can’t or shouldn’t go places to do the things that you really want to; being overly negative, rigid, or critical (of both yourself and others); tending to assume or focus on the worst case scenario; or simply finding it hard to enjoy life or laugh as much as you perhaps once did.
Anxiety itself is normal and unavoidable. There is no way to completely rid ourselves of it. However, we do not have to be held captive by it. If any of this resonates with you, I would like to both encourage you and challenge you to consider a shift in how you think about what it means to be a Christian and experience anxiety. 
1. You are not alone. The statistics tell us this! There is freedom in shifting our perspective from being ashamed of our mental health struggles to seeing them as a normal part of being alive. The discomfort of talking about our experiences can open the door for sharing and create a community of support.
2. “Be Still and Know” (Psalm 46:10). To ‘Be still’ means to rest in God’s presence. Prioritize time with Him and listen to what your body and mind need. Prayer, rest, exercise, a good sleep routine, healthy nutrition, nature, etc. are critical in fighting these battles.
3. Practice gratitude and service to others. The more we focus on the gifts and blessings in our life, and shift our focus outward rather than inward, the less space there is to fixate on our worries and difficulties. These practices can provide us with a renewed sense of purpose, use of our time, and connection with others. 
4. Lean into the anxious or uncomfortable feelings and sensations that you experience, rather than trying to avoid them. The more that you do this, the more you will be able to tolerate them (Think about getting into a pool that is a little on the chilly side...the more we gradually immerse ourselves, the less uncomfortable it feels). Think about how you are currently handling anxious thoughts/feelings/situations and ask yourself, “Are my current responses moving me closer to the person that I want to be, or further away from it?” 
5. The fact that there are so many references to anxiety and worry in the Bible tell us that this has been a human struggle throughout history. Take some time to find the scriptures that speak most to you. Post them in prominent places so that you are continually reminded of these truths. Memorize them and use them as a mantra to get through moments of overwhelm or panic.
6. Finally, seek an integrated model of care. Because there are so many contributing factors, it makes sense to address anxiety from different angles. Seek consultation with your doctor, a mental health professional, and a pastor or spiritual mentor. Anxiety is highly treatable, but like most things, the sooner you seek treatment, the better the outcomes generally will be.