I have dealt with anxiety for many years. Recently I have been bothered by these thoughts that are attacking me. They make me feel scared. They make me feel alone like I am the only person in the world that deals with this. I had to get Lucinda's program because I feel that it was my chance for hope. I have always been a caring person. I have always been super sensitive to other peoples' feelings and I have always wanted people to be happy. But a couple of months ago I was lying in bed and one scary thought came into my head and my anxiety shot through the roof. My thought was, what if I hurt someone or committed suicide? And all these "what if" bad thoughts came into my head. I would never want to do either of those things, but now these thoughts stay with me daily and it freaks me out. It makes me feel like I am a crazy person. I don't understand where they came from. Now I am scared to do things like go fishing because what if I jump off the boat or push someone else off? Or I am scared to go somewhere up high because what if I jump? It's really upsetting me and I want these thoughts to go away because I never had them before. I have a relationship with God and sometimes I sit and pray and ask Him why I am going through this. I know He wants to build my faith in Him and break me down so that I trust Him completely, but these things bring me fear. And trust me, I read all the Bible verses about fear but I can't seem to let it go. It is really hard for me to figure out. Some of my closest family and friends do not even know I am dealing with this because I feel ashamed. Has anyone else dealt with these types of thoughts or can anyone give me advice to get through this?

First of all, you are not alone. I have had some similar thoughts and I see lots of people list the same kind of fears in the forums here.
Secondly, I pray alot and read the word and listen to Christian radio and it helps. I ordered the program in April in response to increased depression and suicidal thoughts.
I can see progress already and I do feel better.
The sessons will take a while so give yourself permission to work at your own pace and let me give you a few tips.
You might see a doctor to assess your physical health to see if it needs improving.
Start drinking more water.
Get 8 hours of sleep.
Drink less caffeine.
Start exercising if you don't now.
Learn to use the breathing techniques and learn to take time to relax.
Realize you are not crazy, losing your mind, surprising God or letting Him down.
Thousands have used the program and the Word of God to renew their minds and transform their thinking.
Come into the general chatroom and say hi. It is a safe and helpful place. Bring kleenex in case I start telling my corny jokes.
Read other peoples stories in these forums and feel free to start your own discussions.
Welcome to the first day of your new life.

You won't believe how much comfort and help you will get from the program, I too had scary thoughts and thought I was going crazy, then anxiety would set in and I would simply be sick with fear over my thoughts, then depressed and thinking there was no help,,, that no one else could ever be going through the same thing as I was, what a miserable cycle it can be! I had to MAKE myself start the program, and got Lucinda Bassetts' bood as well, they are full of help, she suffered the same problem with scary thoughts, anxiety, panic attacks, so many of the people on this forum have gone through the exact same thing. You are not crazy, and are not going to lose control, you are a good person, and these thoughts are harmless, as frightening as they can be. Get going with the program, start exercising tomorrow (give all that energy somewhere to go, you will feel better immediately),,, I pray the Lord will comfort you and give you peace, it's going to be ok, I was just as frightened, you have found your way to the answer, now make yourself begin to use it!
God bless,
Fairlight

PS Joyce Meyer's program, Enjoying Everyday Life, is a big help, also James Robinson's Life Today, both on Daystar Television, Adrian Rogers has a wonderful series on the mind and worry, it's really great and you can listen free online.

Thank you so much for your guys' responses. I have been exercising for the past 3 months and I know it always makes me feel better, but that good feeling seems to be temporary. I am in the first session of the program and I really enjoy the relaxation cd. I just struggle with feeling like I am in this by myself and I scare myself. But it really helps me to come on here and see that people deal with the same things. I just want to succeed at this program. Thank you for your advice. I really need it and appreciate it.

Joyce Meyer's book Battlefield of the Mind also addresses why this happens (from a Christian perspective). I have found it is a great companion to this program, especially starting in Session 3 when working on positive self talk, and Session 4 when working on expectations. There is also a CD series with the same title, if listening is better for you than a book. I found that listening to her CDs on the way to work really help for me.
God Bless.
Darb

WOW youre so not alone. I had those issues so much last yr and the committing suicide i still get. I think a lot of us think this way. dont stress too much on this ok?? i thought it'd never go away and it has.

Hi there JPC =) Welcome to the forums. I want to let you know that two years ago I was at the start of my journey with scary thoughts. As I read your post and I saw myself. It does get easier, I want for you to know this and you are not alone by any means. I feel God has answered your prayers by sending you to this site, He answered my prayers.

When I came onto this forum I saw how I was not alone and I felt normal to know other people were going through what I was.

It does get easier, the more you educate yourself on ways of letting thoughts go.

Please feel free to email me =)

I got Joyce Meyers book, Battlefield of the Mind. I started it last night and so far it looks like it is going to help me a lot along with the program. Thank you guys for your encouraging words.

Melissa,
I actually printed something that you wrote on another topic. It's about cognitive thinking and changing your thinking patterns. That is also helping me.

Hi JPC - I had the exact same problem when I first battled anxiety thirteen years ago - don't despair - you won't ever hurt anyone else or yourself and the fact that these thoughts scare you is proof.
You are far luckier than I was - back then I had no knowledge of this program and only had a dr. and a pyschiatrist to help me - was a long road that way but it eventually fade.
My anxiety came back again in March of this year and luckily this time I had the good fortune of hearing the radio commercial for this program - it is really helping me to keep the panic attacks to a minimum and helping me to deal with the day to day anxiety.
Anyway - no you are far from alone - take a great amount of comfort from that if nothing else. I'll pray for your full recovery.

-Wireman

JPC,

You are so not alone in your scary thought issue. i have had two points in my life when they have really given me a hard time. I have used Lucinda's program to get through them both times. I know the fear you are going through, it's like you can't trust yourself it seems. The truth is, these thoughts are likely preventing you from dealing with a real overwhelming or stress producing issue that you have in your life. They are "thoughts only thoughts". Take a listen to Louise Hay, she has some great meditations for ridding yourself of these thoughts. Learning to meditate really does help. Try shutting your eyes and focusing on the word Peace then Love then God.. You will see that this focusing on other things not only distracts you it makes you feel better.

I hope this helps.

Zoe

Dear JPC,

As you have already seen, you are not alone. I too have had the same scary thoughts about hurting my loved ones or suicide and there is hope. Not only is there hope but there will be relief. Back in 2005,i was going through anxiety and especiallly obsessing with the scary thoughts and negative thoughts. By God's grace i found Lucinda's program and followed it through. I can't encourage you enough to stick with it and follow it through and do you workbork and the exercises. It works.

Now thats not to say that for some they don't come back or bother us from time to time depending on the stress in our lives, but the difference is that we now have the tools and skills to know what's going on and how to handle the attack. To this day I still carry all the cards with me to work, on trips, etc.

I was so tempted to jump ahead to the "scary thought" lesson, but I didn't. Just follow the program. And pray,pray,pray and pray some more. Pray boldly and lay it out there to our Lord. He already knows what you are going through and why....and talking it out with Him may just give you some keys to your answers.When you start obsessing with those scary thoughts....Pray...talk to God...it is impossible to concentrate on two things at the same time.

And if you don't already, carry scriptures with you too and memorize some.One of my personal favorites is Isaiah 41:10 "Do not fear,for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (NASB)

God Bless,
Pilgrim

We're all here, because we have the same struggles as you. You are far from being alone. I'm still trying to grasp that there are others like me. I felt so alone for so long, it's hard to believe.

Your words hit home. I saw myself.

Joel Osteen has great words as well. I've always been a Joyce Meyers fan, and tried one of his books out. "Become a Better You" has been a great companion to this program. Similar messages but based in His Word.

You've come to the right place. God led you here for a reason, victory over your problems.

We're here for you. God bless.

Thank you so much Pilgrim and LisaWoo.
Pilgrim, I loved the bible verse from Isaiah that you gave me. I wrote it in my journal. It's funny you mention Isaiah because I actually just started reading that book. I am on chapter 10. My paster did a teaching on it a couple weeks back and I realized there is so much good to be learned from that book itself.

LisaWoo, thank you for your encouragement. It means so much to me. I am so thankful for all this support and advice.

Pastor Gregory Dickow is also one of my favorites and has good stuff on keeping the bad out of your head.