The storms of life (Finances, Relationships, Health, Children, Work) can come at us at any time…trying to predict and or worry about the future is senseless, as the anxiety that worry creates, only fuels maladaptive behavior. Everyone worries, and everyone becomes anxious at some point in their lives….the key is how do we address and cope with this “anticipatory worry” as it is called…in a healthy way.

When anxiety hits…here is what I recommend to group members…

—Get a check-up:    Believe it or not, there are some physical conditions (Thyroid issues etc) that can create anxiety. Having a complete physical with corresponding blood work, can help in alleviating any physical issues that might be causing you anxiety.

—In-take:  What are you consuming?  Or better yet, what aren’t you consuming?  Having a healthy diet, and limiting or removing such things as “caffeinated” drinks can go a long way in alleviating anxiety.  Perhaps you are not getting enough vitamins and nutrients?  These are issues that can be discussed with your physician.

—Exercise:  If you physician gives you the “ok” then get out there and start walking or jogging.  This is one of the top ways to eliminate anxiety.  There are many anxious people who have and/or produce excess amounts of norepinephrine. This adrenaline can wreak havoc on the body…but fortunately, physical exercise can help in “burning it up”, and subsequently eliminating some of the side effects of excess amounts, namely, anxiety.

—Meditate:  Meditation can be a wonderful sedative for the anxious mind. Meditation can be accomplished in many different ways.  I suggest you Google “Ways to meditate” and get some ideas. Pick what’s right for you and get started.

—Prayer:  Oh yes, and last but not least, then there is God. Support systems (friends, relatives, therapists) come and go. But if you are looking for 24/7 help to get through the day…there is no better resource than God.  Christ told his followers that he came so “they might have life and have it more abundantly” …and having a life full of worry and anxiety was not part of the plan for you.  While we live out this “human experience’ there will be difficult times.  But when you come to the realization that you were created by an all knowing and all loving God, who wants to be part of your life, then “this life” takes on a different meaning.

Turning to God in Prayer and meditation can help in relaxing the mind.  A relaxed mind will make better decisions and won’t be driven by impulses.  Get a bible if you don’t have one and start reading it.  I tell people to focus on Proverbs…as this book is truly a biblical “Guide for Life” so to speak. You can begin to know the “Mind of God” as you read through the bible, and see how life situations are dealt with, especially in the New Testament.  The teachings of Christ are focused on “Forgiveness” and “Love”.  What better way to go through life.

Many of the members ask just how do they become a Christian and how do they accept Christ as their savior?  I refer them to the bible, namely the book of

 Romans; Chapter 10. Verse 9

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

What does Lord mean? That he came here to this earth to rescue us from sin, and to die in our place on a cross. He experienced “this life”, a brutal life that beat him into the ground and hung him up on a cross. So he knows our pain when we are beaten down by life, and there seems to be no way out…Turn to him for help today…you might be c loser to a victory than you could have ever imagined.

Stay well and God bless…

Christian Help For Addiction Online

This constant dwelling and ruminating on past hurts can cause us such ailments as anxiety, anger, insomnia, nervousness, physical symptoms (high blood pressure), and a host of other ailments such as increased drug or alcohol abuse… God didn’t intend for us to live in such drama, and fortunately he has provided a way out….namely forgiving others…

People sometimes come to the conclusion that if I forgive somebody, then I am forgetting about the offense. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Forgiving is not “approving” of what happened….rather, forgiving benefits us in that we are releasing that person from the bondage that we are holding him or her in….letting them go….giving them over to God so to speak……and if the offense is truly horrific….God will vindicate those offended…so leave the discipline to him….

Forgiving someone will be a refreshing release FOR YOU…no more anger and hatred that will be stressing you….just give them over to God….the last thing you want to be is so stressed out of your mind that you start “self medicating”, especially after you have come so far……say a prayer for the person that offended you and move on…Life is too short to get caught up in such drama.

We at Christian Help For Addiction Online are always praying for you…..get a bible and start reading it…..you will be surprised how truly “relevant” it is to today’s problems…God Bless