Some good news: Treatment for America’s #1 mental health disorder is highly successful!

According to data released by Amazon in 2014, Philippians 4:6-7 is the most commonly “highlighted” portion of Scripture: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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” (NIV)

Amazon released the finding as part of a report on their customers’ preferences for most liked books and the most liked passages of those books …

Anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and phobias affect 40 million U.S. adults ages 18 and older, making anxiety the most common mental illness in the United States, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. While anxiety is highly treatable, only one-third of those affected seek treatment.

In our anxiety rich, stressed-to-the max, modern culture, is it any wonder that we are drawn to these verses?

“For those drawn to the verse because they may be dealing with anxiety or mental stress,” reports the Christian Post, “Christian psychologist and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Eric L. Johnson cautions readers against taking the passage as a direct command.”

He explained, “I think that what God is … giving us a command that is to be implemented immediately because one of the paradoxes of anxiety is the more you try and stop it the more it makes it stronger … I don’t think we should interpret that as, you know, Paul is telling the anxious person just stop it.”

Rather, Johnson believes God is inviting His creation to find freedom from anxiety though faith in Him.

“The believer is in an eternal relationship with God because of Christ’s death and resurrection and because we’re in union with Christ and all of our problems are fundamentally resolved in Christ, we don’t have to be anxious for anything anymore.”

Often exercising our faith and trust in Christ in real ways can resolve our anxieties. Yet, there are millions of professing Christians who struggle with anxiety. For these people (or anyone suffering from anxiety), there’s good news in that treatment for anxiety disorders has shown to be highly successful. If you struggle with anxiety, or have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, I encourage you to see a competent Christian therapist who will be uniquely skilled in helping you mesh your Christian faith with the supplement of Christian clinical counseling to aide you in overcoming your battle with anxiety.

THERE’S A DIFFERENCE
Many people mistakenly think stress and anxiety are the same thing, but they aren’t. Katie Hurley, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, writes about the difference:

From the outside looking in, it can be difficult to spot the differences between stress and anxiety. Both can lead to sleepless nights, exhaustion, excessive worry, lack of focus, and irritability. Even physical symptoms – like rapid heart rate, muscle tension, and headaches – can impact both people experiencing stress and those diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. With symptoms that can appear interchangeable, it can be difficult to know when to work on deep breathing and when to seek professional help.

In short, stress is your body’s reaction to a trigger and is generally a short-term experience. Stress can be positive or negative. When stress kicks in and helps you pull off that deadline you thought was a lost cause, it’s positive. When stress results in insomnia, poor concentration, and impaired ability to do the things you normally do, it’s negative. Stress is a response to a threat in any given situation.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is a sustained mental health disorder that can be triggered by stress. Anxiety doesn’t fade into the distance once the threat is mediated. Anxiety hangs around for the long haul, and can cause significant impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning.

ANXIETY DISORDERS
Most people experience feelings of anxiety before an important event such as a big exam, business presentation, or first date. Anxiety disorders, however, are illnesses that cause people to feel frightened, distressed, and uneasy for no apparent reason. Left untreated, these disorders can dramatically reduce productivity and significantly diminish an individual’s quality of life.

The American Psychological Association describes the types of anxiety disorders as follows:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): This is a chronic disorder involving excessive, long-lasting anxiety and worries about non-specific life events, objects, and situations. It is the most common anxiety disorder. People with GAD are not always able to identify the cause of their anxiety.

Panic disorder: Brief or sudden attacks of intense terror and apprehension characterize panic disorder. These attacks can lead to shaking, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and breathing difficulties. Panic attacks tend to occur and escalate rapidly and peak after 10 minutes. However, they may last for hours. Panic disorders usually occur after frightening experiences or prolonged stress but can also occur without a trigger. An individual experiencing a panic attack may misinterpret it as a life-threatening illness. Panic attacks can also lead to drastic changes in behavior to avoid future attacks.

Phobia: This is an irrational fear and avoidance of an object or situation. Phobias differ from other anxiety disorders, as they relate to a specific cause. The fear may be acknowledged as irrational or unnecessary, but the person is still unable to control the anxiety. Triggers for a phobia may be as varied as situations, animals, or everyday objects.

Social anxiety disorder: This is a fear of being negatively judged by others in social situations or a fear of public embarrassment. This includes a range of feelings, such as stage fright, a fear of intimacy, and a fear of humiliation. This disorder can cause people to avoid public situations and human contact to the point that everyday living is rendered extremely difficult.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): This is an anxiety disorder characterized by thoughts or actions that are repetitive, distressing, and intrusive. OCD sufferers usually know their compulsions are unreasonable or irrational, but they serve to alleviate their anxiety. People with OCD may obsessively clean personal items or hands or constantly check locks, stoves, or light switches.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): This is anxiety that results from previous trauma such as military combat, sexual assault, a hostage situation, or a serious accident. PTSD often leads to flashbacks, and the person may make behavioral changes to avoid triggers.

Separation anxiety disorder: This is characterized by high levels of anxiety when separated from a person or place that provides feelings of security or safety. Separation sometimes results in panic symptoms. It is considered a disorder when the response is excessive or inappropriate after separation.

TREATMENT IS USUALLY VERY EFFECTIVE!
The two main treatments for anxiety are psychotherapy and medication, and many people benefit from a combination of the two.

Psychotherapy: Talk therapy is effective in helping people identify, process, and cope with their triggers of anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective, short-term treatment that helps people learn specific skills to target their specific triggers.

Medication: Antidepressants generally have some mild side effects but help alleviate some symptoms of anxiety. Antidepressants can be used for an extended period of time. All medications should be thoroughly discussed with your healthcare provider. Any side effects should be reported immediately. Never discontinue the use of these medications without supervision from your healthcare provider.

Lifestyle changes: There are several changes you can make at home before you try medications. Daily exercise, good sleep hygiene, healthy eating, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol are all home remedies that can decrease symptoms of anxiety.

Again, the good news is that an abundance of research has demonstrated that treatment for anxiety/anxiety disorders is highly effective. Therefore, if you suffer from anxiety, do not hesitate to see a competent Christian clinical therapist who can help you overcome your battle with anxiety.

Scotty