My Journey’s My Own

A Devotional

Anxiety, like its sister Depression, has skyrocketed in the entire population since 2020 and the global pandemic. Mental health disorders in general have increased, however, anxiety is where we will focus today’s Devotional.  

What is it?

Like many mental health disorders, anxiety is an evil beast to live with. You don’t see it, you can’t always see it coming and it can hit at any time. Most of the time those that suffer with it can’t always identify their triggers. It has a varying degree of severity as well, making it different for everyone. Leaving it hard to treat as there is no “one size fits all” treatment. No magic pill here. 

It also manifests differently for everyone. Where one person may start having shortness of breath and a racing heart rate, someone else may start shaking and feel the need to flee. Others simply have issues concentrating, sleeping, or feeling restless. 

Where does it come from though? 

Are some people just prone to it or is it from trauma? The answer is, both. Web MD states “Anxiety and depression can still be genetic if they show up in your older family members. But often, new conditions in people that are over the age of 20 are linked to painful or stressful life events.”

If you are seeing signs of anxiety in your child, ask yourself, why are they having these symptoms? Do you have anxiety? Their father? Is there any trauma in their background? 

When should you seek medical help?

For yourself and your child I would advise to seek help the minute that you notice the anxiety interfering with daily activities. School work slipping, friends changing, mood changes, behavior changes, or irrational fears. Your medical team can point you in the right direction to start getting help. Most of the time it’s changing a behavior or mind set, other times counseling, and even medications. You need to decide what’s right for you and for your family. 

Can’t we just pray it away?

Wouldn’t it be great if that would work for everything in our lives? Say a prayer and get whatever we need? However, that is simply not reality. I am a firm believer in prayer. Prayer works and performs miracles, but I am also a firm believer in modern medicine. God did not give doctors their incredible brains and skills to be wasted. He created them to be used. It’s their gift. It’s our job to utilize it. I would still urge you to pray but pray for guidance, strength and for the knowledge and skill of your practitioner to guide you out of this darkness. 

How big of a problem is this?

It was recently reported that over 301 million people globally have anxiety. Those are the ones that are known about. The World Health Organization said this “Global estimates of people receiving care for specific mental health conditions (used as a proxy for mental health care as a whole) remained less than 50%” meaning that not only do we have an astounding amount of people suffering but not enough people to treat them. 

What can we do?

Anxiety and trauma is here to stay because sin is here to stay until the glorious day that Jesus returns. Until that day arrives we can be better for each other. 

• We can reach out to each other and be good people. 
• Love the little humans in our circle, be their safe adults. 
• Check on our friends at random times, letting them know what they mean to us. 
• Hug each other at every opportunity. 
• Say hello and smile to those we meet on the street or at the store. 
• Get out of our phones and interact.
• Take our kids out on dates without any devices, human interaction is key.
• Do more yoga and pet more dogs.
• Ride a horse.
• Get a really good night’s sleep. 
• Drink less alcohol.
• Find your safe person and talk about why you have this going on.
• Listen (without responding) to the person across from you. (It’s not about you right now)
• Curl up with a good book, join a book club and meet up. 
• Go for a walk, run, hike, swim, climb, or whatever outside, enjoy nature.
• Go to church and volunteer.
• Help someone else, expecting nothing in return and tell nobody!
• Be kind, always.

Actions/Questions

See above 🙂

Please call your provider if you feel you are suffering from anxiety and need help. If you don’t have a doctor please call or text 988; 24/7 

Verses

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“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.” Matthew 6:25

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/anxiety-statistics/

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338

https://www.webmd.com/depression/are-depression-anxiety-hereditary