Stress and Anxiety are two common
words we hear often around us today. What is stress? Stress is a combination of
a situation, an experience, a physical response to a situation, and the emotional
response. It can be an event in people’s life, or a sequence of events which
can arise around them and some of them hidden deeply within an individual. Generally
when there is an external demand placing a burden on the individual expecting
certain degree of coping and adjustment stress arises.
Stress
can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or
nervous.1 Anxiety is a feeling of fear, unease,
and worry. The source of these symptoms is not always known.2
The
symptoms of anxiety include excessive and ongoing worry and tension, an
unrealistic view of problems, restlessness or a feeling of being
"edgy", irritability, muscle tension, headaches, sweating, difficulty
concentrating, nausea, the need to go to the bathroom frequently, tiredness,
trouble falling or staying asleep, trembling, and being easily startled.3
Because each
person has a unique chemical make up, the type, number, intensity, and
frequency of anxiety symptoms will vary from person to person. For example, one
person may have just one mild anxiety symptom, whereas another may have all
anxiety symptoms and to great severity. All combinations are common.4
Some of the
symptoms of stress and anxiety can be manifested in the following ways
physically where the arousal of the Sympathetic Nervous system plays a huge
role. For example heart rate increase, cold hands, breathing rate increase,
digestive process are inhibited, mouth becomes dry, blood pressure increases, blood sugar concentration increases,
sweating and ‘goose bumps’ where even the skin changes.
Generally one
can say, changes in life can be stressful and it has to be dealt wisely. Very
often much of what distresses, frightens, worries and angers people lies in
their own interpretation of the situation. A certain amount of stress can act
as a motivation factor to perform well in anything we do but here we are
talking about stressful situation where one is always frustrated, angry,
nervous and living in a long period of fear and worry and anxiety. It was
observed scientifically stress on a prolonged period can lead to physical
illness and other complications. It is important to see that we do not go in
that ‘down ward spiral’ where one
ends up in a cage with deep depression and other physical ailments. One thing
to consider here will be a ‘life style
balancing’ which is like a healthy diet which has a combination of a
balance of different ingredients. Here we are talking about body, mind and
spirit and the balance we need to stay healthy. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones”. Prov 17:22. The Lord is for the body and has provided for it not only meat
and drink, but medicine, and the Word of God tells us here the best medicine is
a ‘merry heart’.
The word `stress` is defined by the Oxford
Stress and
anxiety are two strong negative emotions which can torment any one if
unchecked. This is like a famine to the soul where you feel one is totally cut
of from the presence of the Lord. I said this is like a famine because one
desperately needs ‘some thing’ and
that is unavailable beyond our grasp and this could have a devastating effect
on the person. Much physical pain can be endured when the soul is in agony. Scriptures
give the necessary support, courage and strength to a believer when they face
similar situations.
“Be careful
for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be
made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things
are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things
are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:6-8
"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that
fear him, upon them that
hope in his mercy; to
deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine."
Psalms 33:18-19
“For
thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise
thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and
that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when
I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were
fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How
great is the sum of them”! Psalm 139:13-17
Prayer is a powerful weapon
and hedge against this inflation of ‘stress
and anxiety’. In other words, we are communicating with our Father and He
comes in sweetly to help His beloved! Good community of body of believers will
understand these situations and will pray with you because they can
empathize. All of us who go through this
famine of our soul because of varied life situations have a ‘living hope’ in the Lord because He will
never forsake His children. When stress and anxiety strikes the soul the Lord
can be our light and He alone can fill the hungry soul. All we need to do is to
turn to Him and cry; after all King David cried and many other Patriarchs of
the Bible cried to the Living God, when they faced similar struggles in their
lives. The Lord is always willing to teach us to take our eyes off our
circumstances which arises from negative emotions and make us trust Him,
regardless of how we feel and set us free from that ‘down ward spiral’.
”I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also
out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and
established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many
shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord”. Psalm: 40:1-3
Notes:
1, 2 Stress and
anxiety:
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AnxietyCached - Similar. It
is the displeasing feeling of fear and concern. The root meaning
of the word anxiety is
'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, ..
4. Anxiety Attacks Symptoms
www.anxietycentre.com/
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5. Stress Management, the Causes of Stress, Symptoms of Anxiety and ...
Book
References:
1.Payer To Move Your Mountains, “Powerful Prayers for The Spirit-Filled Life.”
(Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville ,
Tennessee
2. Timothy Keller, Counterfeit
GODS, “The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That
Matters” New York Times Bestselling Author of The Reason for God and The
Prodigal God, Published by Penguin Group (U.S.A) Inc; 2009.
3. Jay E.Adams, ‘The Christian Counselor’s Manual, ‘The Practice of Nouthetic
Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973)
4. Timothy Keller, ‘The Prodigal God’ Recovering the Heart of the Christian
Faith; Author of the New York Times bestseller The Reason for God, Published by
Penguin Group (U.S.A) Inc:copyright @2008 Timothy Keller.
5.David G. Benner & Peter C. Hill, ‘Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology &
Counseling’ Second Edition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985, 1999)
6.Dr. Larry Crabb, “Effective Biblical Counseling” How Caring Christians can
Become Capable Counselors, (Hammersmith: Marshall Pickering, 1985), p. 100-104)
7.The Matthew Henry Study Bible, ‘King James version’ The best of Matthew
Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, World Bible Publishers,
Inc; 1994, Iowa Falls, U.S.A.
8. David Seeking A Heart Like His, ‘Beth Moore’ Life Way Nashville , Tennessee
9.Jay E. Adams, ‘Critical Stages of Biblical Counseling’ Finishing Well,
Breaking Through, Getting Started, (New Jersey: Zondervan, 2002)
10.Jay E. Adams, ‘How to Help People Change’ The Four-step Biblical Process,
(Grand rapids: Zondervan, 1986)
11.John F. MacArthur, JR. Wayne A. Mack & The Master’s College Faculty,
‘Introduction To Biblical Counseling’, “A Basic Guide To The Principles And
Practice Of Counseling”(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1994)
12.Jay E. Adams, ‘Lectures on Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1978, p.192-203)
13.The Holy Bible, New King James version, Women of Destiny Bible, “Women
Mentoring women Through the Scriptures” A Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas
Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, Copyright 1982.
14. Deuteronomy becoming Holy People, Stephen D. Eyre, p:32-26; IVP connect, An
imprint of Intervarsity Press, Downers
Grove , Illinois
add
15. Metzeger, Bruce M. (ed); Michael D. Coogan (ed) (1993). The Oxford Oxford , UK :
Oxford University
16. Mitchell, Stephen, 1987. The Book of Job. San Francisco Tower of Babel , Cambridge ,
MA
17. Stormie Omartin, “The power of a praying wife”, Harvest House Publishers,
Eugene 97402; copyright @1997; pgs81-85.
18. Timothy keller, ‘The Reason for God” Belief in an age of Skepticism,
Published by Penguin Group, USA ,
New York
19. William R. Miller, Kathleen
A. Jackson, ‘Practical Psychology for Pastors’ The University of Mexico,
Prentice Hall, Upper S le River, New
Jersey 07458; @ 1995, 1985 pgs:248-292.
Website References:
1. Stress and anxiety: Medline Plus MedicalEncyclopedia www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003211.htmCached - Similar Stress can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, unease, and worry. The source of these...
2. Stress & Anxiety | Veterans | Make the Connection
maketheconnection.net/symptoms/stress-anxietyCached
Block all maketheconnection.net results: Stress and anxiety are normal responses to difficult situations that can interfere with your life. Learn about ways that Veterans can deal with stress and anxiety…..
3. Anxiety Attacks Symptoms
www.anxietycentre.com/
Block all anxietycentre.com ads Over 100 panic and anxiety
symptoms Many not mentioned elsewhere
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Proverbs 17:22. A
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