I find there are very few feelings one can experience that are worse than anxiety. The feeling of the heart racing, the feeling of the loss of control, or the inability to have what it takes to handle any particular situation. It can happen in relationships, business transactions, and financial issues or just about anywhere we come to the end of our resources and abilities and are faced with a sense of desperation or loss.
Anxiety can tend to kick in a fight or flight mode within our bodies. This fight or flight response is our bodies natural ability to identify and prepare for a perceived threat or attack. This fight or flight mode can and will be triggered by excessive stress or by either external circumstances or our internal worrying.
A sequence of nerve cells fire off in our brain, and chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol are released into our bloodstream. The next thing we experience is that our body changes as our respiratory rate goes up, and blood is shunted away from certain body functions and is redistributed to our muscles to prepare them for either the fight or the flight.
We are now prepared physically and psychologically for any potential attack, even if it doesnt really exist. We go on active alert looking for an enemy to engage with. Our rational ability to look at things switches off, and our logic and reasoning is no longer our primary weapon. We can tend to overreact to things that we might normally take in stride as our thinking becomes unclear. Simple comments can become trigger mechanisms to aggressive responses or fear, as we look at everything as a potential threat of danger.
Henceforth, one of the many reasons why people tend to fight with their spouse, friends, or colleagues or they will just plain leave the relationships.
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints but let them not return to folly. Psalms 85:8 (NIV)
As our body-system continues to react to our outward environment and these perceived threats, we can begin to brake down mentally, physically and spiritually. And according to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression can set in which brings on a whole new line of symptoms such as:
"Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
"Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
"Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
"Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
"Decreased energy, fatigue, being slowed down
"Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
"Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
"Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
"Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
"Restlessness, and irritability
"Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
How are we to look at things with any sort of hope when this occurs?
Well, in part II of this devotional, we will look at how the medical world is dealing with this, and we will address what God has told us to do to alleviate every bit of our daily stress without the side effects of taking drugs.
I want to encourage you today Christian, please dont worry about anything because God has a plan for your life, and it is perfect. I want to encourage you to trust Him in every aspect of it; to seek Him in everything you do, and to read His Word daily. Build your life around Him, and ask Him to show you today what He would want you to do.
STUDY QUESTION: According to Psalm 85:8, what does the Lord promise to His people, His saints?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Can you relate to the fears, pressures, anxiety, and symptoms listed above?
APPLICATION: Listen to what the Lord is saying to your heart right now at this moment. Stay focused on Him, and read your bible daily. Ask God to show you what He wants you to know and remember, and then simply apply it one situation at a time.
No comments:
Post a Comment