My name is Candace - and I've recently ordered the Midwest Center tapes. For the past year, I've suffered from symptoms that I think are related to anxiety and depression, both physiological (indigestion, bloating, etc) and psychological. Never in my life have I suffered from anything close to this because I have always actually been a leader in many areas such as church, school, school fellowships, and just active in most areas of my life. I have always loved and have been genuinely interested in people. I know that last year, I've gone through some changes, but nothing that seems too different from changes in my life from the past.
I've also been a Christian all my life, and particularly grew to understand my relationship with God so much more during the past 3 years of college. So during that time, I've understood what it means to trust Him and in general, I understand that my life is all about living for Him. I've actually experienced God helping me, literally, through nervous times and tough times for me. I know that my faith is real. That's why I can't understand that I'm going through these anxious feelings and even depression at times. I feel like I must not be right with God is some way, even slight - if I'm going through this? I just can't really figure out what it is.
There is so much more I could say and explain, but first, I just wanted to try putting this up, to see if anyone has a response! I'd appreciate any input! Thanks a lot...

candelion,

Hello from a fellow believer! You are not alone here. I too have had the same questions about "why am I struggling with this? I have faith in God..." etc. etc... I thought I was doing something that was causing a separation between me and God but the truth is this:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?"
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, more life, nor angels, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus". Romans 8:35 & 38

Anxiety and Depression manifests themselves when don't take time to slow down. Anxiety is a result of overstress and depression comes when we start to think incorrectly about the problems we are going through.

Elijah had a terrible time with anxiety and depression. We can learn from his example in I Kings 18:16-45 and in Chapter 19 we see that even after all that God had done, Elijah was running scared and became depressed. The only way he overcame those feelings was to sleep, eat and be encouraged by the Lord.

So often Christians want to do it all. We are usually those that are very active in life; always busy working hard to accomplish much.
Sound like you?? I am sure from your post that you would agree you fit this profile. This is part of the reason for your struggle.

I am a firm believer that there are godly principles for taking time out. Taking time to "do nothing" but meditate on the Lord. We become so wrapped up into doing it all ourselves that we forget we can let God take over when we are tired. For some of us, it's learning to figure out just when we need to take a break and when to just be quiet with God to do nothing but listen. Psalms 46:10a "Be still and know that I am God;".

What about the story of Martha and Mary?

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me! " Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

You see, we are so busy in our lives like Martha. Wanting to get things done. Jesus even shares in this example of Martha and Mary that it is better to take time to "sit at the feet of Jesus". This is where we will find peace and the strength we need to get through our days.

You will enjoy this program. It's really helpful and teaches you ways you can cope with your anxiety and depression. Anxiety and Depression are just things everyone comes up against in life. The trick is what we decide to do with them. The choices we make regarding our anxious and depressing thoughts. We can either accept our thoughts and feelings as human and rely on God to strengthen us when we are weak; or we can become overly concerned with our anxiety and depression and fall down that slipperly slope that only causes more negative thoughts and unanswered questions.

My advice....take time out and pace yourself. Learn to treat yourself better and meditate on the Lord. Our inactivity does not have to mean we become BORED...we can actually learn that inactivity can be a time where we learn PEACE in God. It is crucial in our walk with Him.

God bless!!

Thanks so much for your reply, SMears!

As I was reading through your email, I immediately felt comforted and relieved reading through your description of someone who doesn't take the time to slow down, etc. I really thought of myself and how accurate that was. I think when all this started, I had come to this max point, with an accumulation of so many responsibilities and concerns along with some new changes in my life, and I didn't have the capacity to do it all.

My only thought after your very encouraging email was that I had actually realized that I had too much on my plate at the beginning of this summer. Therefore, I dropped many responsibilities at church, my school fellowship; I didn't take summer school as I had in the past, didn't have a job - so really, I had dropped just about any responsibility that I had!! I thought it would give me a lot of time to slow down and just get better. The thing is, every symptom actually stayed. Even up to now. I'm still taking it very easy. Just school, basically (whereas I used to take on 4 other positions on top of that!). Maybe I'm still not taking care of the anxiety that had already built up to this point. The anxiety that was created over the course of my extremely busy times might still be there because I haven't fully dealt with them... since I'm still suffering from stomach problems and tension headaches, which prevent me from feeling comfortable around people for some reason!! So, even though I might feel like I'm stress-responsibility free, perhaps all the events that happened prior to this, and the anxiety that resulted, still linger in my head.

Thank you so much for your Biblical references. The story about Elijah was especially encouraging - to know that someone in the Bible went through this too. I'm just really thankful for any response that points me in the right direction. No matter what, I know that God is sovereign, and that He knows everything. So, I am so glad that I can receive help from people who share in this same faith and understanding. This kind of support is so much more valuable to me. Thanks so much. I am really thankful for your reply - may God bless you!!

Candace

I guess how I feel is that as Christians we often feel that we have a ticket that allows to remain free of alot of junk. I know that I also have felt like I don't understand why this should happen to me as I am trusting God to take care of me and my family. But maybe my expectations for myself are too high.
We are human, and we live in a fallen world. We could ask the same thing about Christians with cancer or diabietes.
All I think is that I am going to try and learn all I can. try to get better with the resources that God gives me and hope that someday I'll be able to help someone else thru this.
Also I feel like I am developing another level of dependancy on God and seeing Him more as the Daddy I need him to be.

My day is almost over so I have to get this out real quick and I didn't have enough time to read everybody's responses but thought I would add something my mother told me and remember this is very generic......

If there are two sides "good and evil" - "God and Satan" - what would Satan try to do to us to get us to "fall away" from God? Anything and everything in his power.

She suggested that the anxiety had been given to me (in a round about sense) to make me question my belief in God. What better way to make me fall away. The more I focused on my anxiety, my every day body symptoms, my what if? thinking the less I was focusing on God and my spirituality.

shawn.

I guess in a way I do believe that too,
Satan has a plan to steer us away from God.. so hegets us to look at our weaknesses and play that up.
I worry and feel guilty over the slightest thing so that's where I believe he attacks me the hardest. Does it make it easier to deal with? Not really. But it gives me a focus to my prayers and comfort knowing that God is still for me.

I also find it interesting to read the Psalms and see that David suffers alot from depression and anxiety. And yet God called him a man after His heart.
I am rambling again

Hi Candace!

I am also a christian who has suffered from depression! I've now started my own depression support group in our church ... now that I've been healthy for the past 4 years. Here are some tips from a session called Depression: A biblical perspective.

Dismiss the myths about depression:
1. Depression is always a result of sin in your life.
2. Depression is caused by self-pity.
3. It is wrong for a christian to ever be depressed.
4. Depressed feelings can be removed permanently by spiritual experience eg: if only we would pray more or read the bible more or have more faith.
5. Depression is a lack of faith in God.

Depression is an emotion that everyone has felt from time to time. Biblical examples are like SMears said - Elijah - he depleted his energy, emotionally feared for his life. Another is Moses - he was overcome with the pressures of leadership (Exod 18) - he did not know how to delegate and felt the burden of leading people.Then there was Johah - he wanted to die - he was exhausted and angry and emotionally torn between people. David was also hiding in the wilderness and was worn out from running. He was in utter despair (Psalm 69)

God desires to refresh you as he did with Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1.
1. God gave him rest and refreshment v 5-8
2. God spoke with him gently v9-18
3. God reassured him of his continued worth
4. God provided him with a friend who would minister to him.

Key biblical principles to handling depression:
1. Depression is not a sin but a symptom
2. You need rest and relief from stress
3. Self pity does perpetuate the downward cycle.
4. Be re-assured of God's unconditional love for us.
5. The enemy of our souls can be the author of depression - fight satan with everything we have!

Hope this helps!
Donna

opps....just me again....forgot one thing...

Biblical Principles that will reduce anxiety;

1. Obey God
2. Pray Phil 4:6
3. God can/will guard our hearts and minds when we obey him Phil 4:7
4. Mediate on positive things Phil 4:8 - read God's word.
5. Focus on Godly behaviour Phil 4:9
6. Realize God wil supply all our needs - ask for what we need - not what we want
7. Matt 6:34 - Focus on one day at a time.

Donna

Candace,

If you are taking the time to take better care of yourself and reducing the amount of stress is your life and you are still feeling anxiety..

I would just say to be patient. Your own thoughts about your symptoms will keep your anxiety around and even cause depression while you are trying to figure it all out.

I remember back when things were bad for me. I thought "What am I doing wrong?", "I don't understand", "why do I still feel this way?"...statements like this to yourself will only keep your anxiety going and even allow depression come in because of your hopeless feeling regarding your anxiety.

Learn to just float with your symptoms. Remind yourself that they are only "symptoms" and although they are distressing...they are not dangerous.

Our minds are a powerful tool. We can really sabotage our own bodies by what we think about.
Our minds cannot tell the difference between what is imagined and what is real. So if we envision the worst, our bodies will feel the results of our thoughts as in anxiety symptoms.

Do not meditate on your anxiety! Or your unanswered questions of "why". Instead "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; and the God of peace shall be with you." Phil. 4:8

I read one of Claire Weekes books and I remember her sharing something about a women who was having trouble with her symptoms of anxiety. She told her to hold out her thumb and close her eyes. Then she proceeded to ask her about the sensations she felt in her thumb. She then began to focus on her thumb and she noticed sensations and they began to intensify. She opened her eyes and still could feel those sensations in her thumb that she didn't notice before. She explained that ANXIETY is like this! Once we become fixated on the "symptoms" the more intense they feel and the more attention we give it and so on. It's like entering a cycle that is hard to stop. You can stop your fixation by accepting your symptoms as only anxiety symptoms.
They are distressing and not dangerous! Make no big deal about them and soon enough you will start to focus on other things.

I would really recommend any of Claire Weekes books. You won't be disappointed! There is also a workbook by Dr. William Backus ( Christian Psychologist for anxiety, depression, anger, perfectionism) called "Learning to tell myself the truth". It's very good.

I believe you will pull through this. The more you educate yourself the more you will see the truth about anxiety and depression and be able to let it go.

Take Care!

It is really late, and I have to finish reading for my class tomorrow, but I just wanted to tell everyone who responded that I enjoyed reading through each of one of the responses! They were all so encouraging. I'm so comforted by some of the things you guys shared with me. Thanks so much everyone - I want to specifically respond to them, but I'll have to do it tomorrow when I get the chance. Thanks for the uplifting words!

Hi Candelion,
Welcome to the forum.
I know that each of us must descern if our lives are in harmony with God to see if we are right with him.

I know that mine is. However, I have a tendacy to allow anxiety to get the best of me. And that is just a reminder that I have to work a bit harder to have faith, trust and patience toward God.

There are many examples of persons in the Bible that were right with God and still suffered with depression. To name just a couple there is:
Job --Job 10:1; 29;2, 4, 5
Epaphroditus --Philippians 2:25-30; 4:18
and Hannah.

God is a God of all comfort who comforts us in all in our tribulation. --2 Cor 1:3, 4

By prayer and supplication we can draw close to God and enjoy "the peace of God that excels all thought." --Philippians 4:6, 7; Ps 16:8, 9.

Wishing you well,
Victoria

I just want to say to all who have written....it just amazes me to see how much wisdom and intelligence comes through in these posts...I know that Lucinda says that we are "gifted" people...I used to scoff at that, but really, the more I read these posts the more I am seeing that we truly are very Gifted people. There is so much "talent" and wisdom coming from all of you. I find it amazing....

Thanks Donna...
great post!