Faith and anxiety?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2005
Faith and anxiety?
3
Mon, 11-28-2005 - 6:24pm

Hi, I'm somewhat new here - I read the posts sometimes but don't post myself. I've been dealing with major anxiety off and on for about a year and a half. Several life changes caused it to "flare up," but when I look back, I can see signs that I always had anxiety in my life, even as a young kid.

I used to feel like I kept doing better emotionally, but that changes in my life kept making me "relapse." It made it difficult to tell if I was improving or not. I now have some stability in my life and I feel that I could really start to improve, but suddenly I'm having a faith-related crisis. It was almost as if my brain had run out of things to worry about, so it picked up on the one fear I have yet to deal with in my life: losing loved ones. Now, I worry all the time about it and worry about what happens after death. I was raised as a Christian and I guess I have an "up and down" faith - in retrospect, I didn't pay enough attention to my faith when I was anxiety-free, and now I'm stuck with all these fears revolving around God and the afterlife.

I spent the night with family on Thanksgiving. My brothers and one of my cousins were in the next room and I could hear them talking. I was trying to go to sleep, trying to fight off my worry, when the thought popped in my head along the lines of "What if there is no God and I never see anyone again and they all just stop existing." It was more terrifying than any other anxiety attack I've had before. It's almost too frightening to think about - it makes me literally want to run screaming away from what I'm afraid of, but that's obviously impossible as it's all in my head.

I really want to develop my faith, but the fear and doubt make it so hard. I wonder if I'll ever be able to truly believe or if I'll always be preoccupied.

It's odd, because it's the one thing in my life I want the most, but my brain seems to fight the hardest against it. I tell myself that there is nothing after we die, that I'm just trying to feebly comfort myself so I won't go crazy.

I'm sorry that this post is depressing. I just need someone to give me some good advice. Has anyone experienced this? I'm just so afraid I can barely function, and I feel terrible. This is making me think that my anxiety will never end and that I'll never have peace. Please help.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Mon, 11-28-2005 - 7:13pm

Welcome! Nice to have you here:) We have many folks who are eager to share their experiences with anxiety disorders. Research has shown that a combination of meds & behavioral therapy is about 80% successful.

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Mon, 11-28-2005 - 7:58pm

*this reply is very faith-related based upon my own personal beliefs and address the poster's beliefs. I don't wish to offend or upset anyone so I thought I'd give a heads-up to everyone first.

I read your post and I want you to know that I can relate. Completely. I'm also a Christian and have found myself with constant challenges regarding my spiritual beliefs. Though I believe in God so strongly and he is the center of my life and existance I find those intrusive thoughts entering my mind quite a bit. Then I feel guilty for thinking like that.

Jan suggested speaking to a clergy member and I suggest doing just that. You need someone to help reassure you about your faith. You know how it's always 'good vs. evil'. Well the good will always prevail in the end. But evil will always take advantage of all of our weaknesses and shortcomings by casting doubts into our minds. It is something that, as a Christian, you can pray about. That's how I deal with it and I am finding myself closer than ever to God.

I dare not go further into this out of respect for others beliefs. But if you would like you can email me through my profile and I would be glad to discuss this further in depth with you and help assuage any doubts you might have.

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Mon, 11-28-2005 - 8:53pm

Hi,


I am also a Christian and Dh and I talked about that last week.


We talked about their not being Heaven and all of us just ceasing to exist... Dh pointed it out that even if their is no Heaven, we won't know anyway after we die. So just keep on believing that we will all meet again and God will fulfill his promises to us.


It's called faith, not proof. That is where you have to believe...


Do you have a prayer routine? A devotional book that you read daily? That may help, I also read my Bible often.


I was just baptized again July 31st and the week before was the WORST week.... I had the WORST anxiety and panic. I just couldn't take it... I spoke to my Pastor who said that it was Satan trying to pull me away from God. Satan will do all it can to go you away from God.... you just HAVE TO BELIEVE! Be strong and know that God is with you.


When you get those bad feelings, sit and pray. Just ask God for his guidance and to feel his love and presence for you. If you read the Bible Peter has a lot about giving up your anxieties and that helped me a lot.


Let me know how you are and if you'd like to chat further about this...


God Bless You and I hope that you will find your way!

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