Stress & Anxiety
Anxiety is often described as a “future-oriented emotional response to a perceived threat.” A trip wire that sets off all sorts of land mines. It can be immobilizing, chronic, or sudden. Anxiety manifests itself in different ways: a generalized feeling that something “bad” is going to happen, a scary fear of failure, a full-blown panic attack, too much worrying, or simply an inner nervousness that refuses to go away.
Check out my three YouTube video lectures on recovering and rebuilding from depression and anxiety:
Click on this link: Depression and Anxiety by Jim Stout
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Overview | Resources | Encouragement | Get Help
Overview
Sometimes a person just feels “anxious, dread, tense, or uptight.” When these feelings erupt, people freeze up emotionally, overwhelmed and are afraid to move ahead with a project, meeting, trip, a shopping chore, or other desired task. Anxiety doesn’t like to be alone, so it usually teams up with depression, anger, or terror.
It may be difficult to pinpoint what’s causing your anxiety. Here is a short list of common signs that can help you know you’re probably dealing with some form of anxiety:
Excessive worrying—over school, work, relationships, health, finances, or other matters.
Sleep problems—difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep
Concentration issues— procrastinating, or obsessing over anxious “What If’s.”
Irritability—impatient and easily-angered
Hypervigilance—on edge for all possible negative problems
Bodily disturbances—chest pain and shortness of breath, increased heart-rate and palpitations, sweating, trembling, shaking
Feelings of terror or impending doom
Helpful Articles
Recommended Books
Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and End Panic Attacks by Barry McDonough — Tailored to people with anxiety-related struggles
When Panic Attacks by David Burns, M.D. — Helpful info on origins of and coping with panic attacks
Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud — Easy read with solid info on causes of relationship stresses and tips on ending a work, marriage, or other relationships
How Can Everything Be All Right When Everything Is All Wrong? by Dr. Lewis Smedes — Deals with upsetting incidents and offers perspectives and insights into coping with or overcoming traumas
Useful Websites
Mental Health Recovery — Excellent practical self-help resources for adults and teens on topics such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma like sexual abuse and others. One of the recovery movement’s nationally-known leaders, Mary Ellen Copeland, PhD, is their founder.
Everyday Health — Anxiety symptoms, causes, and resources
Help Guide — Anxiety disorders and anxiety attacks. Personal stories and practical helps
Anxiety and Depression Association of America — Anxiety and depression info. Causes and treatments for various anxiety and/or depression problems
Anxiety Network — Help and support for anxiety issues. Practical helps for various anxiety issues.
Man Therapy — Helpful for men struggling with depression but concerned that others will think getting professional help implies he’s weak or unmanly. Also good site for wives to share with their husbands—to encourage them to get help.
National Institute for Mental Health — Self-help info and studies.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — Varied self-help services: support groups, family and parent help, meetings, conferences for all mental illnesses.
NAMI Faithnet — Nationally-based and provides spiritual programs and resources for all kinds of faith communities. Provides resources (books, articles, programs, videos, etc.) for individuals and faith communities. Offers practical help for anxiety, addiction, mental illnesses suicide, support groups, stigma, and related topics.
Mental Health Ministries (a program of Pathways to Promise) — A national, spiritually-based organization that provides resources (books, articles, programs, videos, etc.) for individuals and faith communities. Founder and coordinator is Rev. Susan Gregg-Shroeder, a nationally-known speaker on mental illness themes.
Encouragement
Don’t worry, there’s hope! The Bible is filled with examples heroes who were angry, hurt, depressed, skeptical, doubtful of God, and/or suicidal. Check out these statements of hope.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
—Jeremiah 29:11When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
—Isaiah 43:2
How to Get help
If you are in an emergency, click the emergency hotline button below. If you are looking for long-term help, numerous mental health professionals, clergy, organizations, and support groups offer comfort and guidance on boundary-related problems.
If you are able, call a friend or someone else to tell them you are struggling. The key is to talk with someone as soon as possible about what’s going on with you.