Health & Wholeness - A Christian Devotional

13. Anxiety

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are all familiar with that feeling in the pit of our stomach, when worry takes hold of us, but we rarely think about the far reaching impact anxiety has on us, both mentally and physically. Our bodies were designed to deal with emergency situations and our endocrine system organises for the release of cortisol and adrenaline as needed but when we become continually anxious, it eventually leads to serious health problems stemming from the over firing of these systems.

Doctors suspect that anxiety develops in the amygdala, the place in the brain managing emotional responses.  As we become anxious, stressed, or frightened, signals are sent to other body parts communicating the fact that our body should get ready for fight or flight with the release of stress hormones.

While this response is useful when confronting an aggressive person, it is less helpful when we are faced with an important job interview or speaking in front of a crowd. It's not healthy for these systems to be activated on a daily basis as they impact many areas of the body, leading to:

1. Breathing and respiratory changes —During times of anxiety, our breathing may become rapid and shallow. This is known as hyperventilation where the lungs take in more oxygen and transport it around the body quickly, leading to dizziness,
feeling faint, lightheadedness, tingling and weakness. It's not a pleasant experience at all!

2. Cardiovascular system response —Anxiety can lead to changes in our heart rate and our circulation.  A faster heart rate makes it easier to flee or fight, and increased blood flow allows for fresh oxygen and nutrients to be available to the muscles. Long term anxiety can affect the heart and research has pointed to an increased risk of heart attack in people who had no previous health problems.

3. Impaired immune function —In the short-term, anxiety gives a boost to our immune system's responses but when anxiety persists, it can have the opposite effect, as cortisol turns off the immune system, leading to frequent infections and viruses.

4. Changes in digestive function —Cortisol blocks the nonessential processes of the the body not needed for fight or flight. One of these blocked processes we may notice is digestion.  Adrenaline also relaxes the stomach as it reduces blood flow there, with both of these hormones resulting in possible nausea, diarrhea, and that familiar feeling that our stomach is churning. This of course causes us to lose our appetite too! Research has linked anxiety and stress to several digestive diseases, including the increasingly common irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

5. Urinary response —Anxiety can increase the need to pay a visit to the bathroom as in years gone by when man was being chased by a ferocious animal, it would have been easier to flee with an empty bladder!

While it's clear that anxiety has immediate affects on the body, the long term effects can be debilitating! Left unchecked, anxiety can become a paralysing problem that steals our joy for living life to the full. If you believe it has become an ongoing problem in your life, it's important to seek medical advice.

Studies have shown that at least in part, anxiety is genetic but it depends on exposure to traumatic events, as well as other health issues that cause anxiety and of course the environment we have grown up in too.

For the best help with anxiety, we can look to the advice given in God's Word. David experienced many difficult situations where anxiety was definitely a factor but this verse shows us how he handled it:

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Seeking the Lord should be our natural response. We can take every one of our worries to Him because He really cares about us!

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There are many day to day things that can cause us anxiety but Jesus reminds us that worrying is futile because God supplies our needs anyway!

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:22-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Psalmist examines himself and remembers that he should put his hope in God whenever anxiety is detected.

"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul reminds us that we have God's Spirit inside of us, helping us deal with our tendency to be anxious. Sometimes when we are anxious about something, we find it hard to pray —our words won't come but look at the solution:

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26-27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When the concerns of life seem to be getting in top of you and even sleep is difficult, it's a good idea to journal. I have found great benefit in writing out my prayers or letters to God, outlining everything that is causing me concern. Like the Psalmist, I am open and honest, laying everything before Him. I am able to close my journal, knowing I have left everything in God's hands. My sleep is so much more peaceful when I do this!

Remember to consult your doctor if your anxiety is ongoing. There are many ways that they can help with this. One thing that is always very helpful is physical exercise.  Just a simple walk can do wonders when we are anxious.

Challenge:  Try writing your prayers in a journal for one week. Notice any improvements in your sleep.

Ponder: Is there a particular verse that would be helpful for you to remember in times of anxiety? Consider memorising it or writing it out to display where you will see it.

Pray:

Heavenly Father,

It is so good to be able to talk to You about everything that is happening in my life right now. I am so blessed to have Your Spirit in me, helping me at those times when I am so anxious that I can't even put my requests into words! Thank You for all of Your answers to my prayers for help and for giving me peace that transcends all understanding.

Help me Lord to remember that You have even the most difficult situation in Your hands and I do not need to worry! Help me to seek help when I need it, whether it's talking things over with a friend or seeking medical advice. You want me to be enjoying life to the full, so right now I choose to trust You and put all my hope in You. Take these things that are on my mind right now ........................................... I leave them at the foot of the Cross.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.