Hey all you you fellow believers. I have had a fear of driving any distant over 15 miles from home. I'm on session four now. I would get such a strong feeling of panic I would either turn around or stop and just cry out to God for some relief. No relief came. I would try to go and visit my grandmother in a town 30 miles away. One time it took me 90 minutes to get there because I kept stopping and turning around, but I finally got there. I was so miserable. These problems usually only happen when I am alone. If someone is with me, a "safe person" I usally make it o.k.
This brings me to my most recent episode. I had to drive to Jacksonville Fl 10 hours away. My mom went also. I am 48 and she is 71. For the first 2 hours I was on the verge of panic, but I just kept going and after 2 hours I got better. Spent two days there and went to a funeral. Started back two days later and for the first 2 and a half hours I was absolutely miserable, but then it got better. So what am I to take away from this experence?? I'm thinking of maybe taking something next time to help with that first hour or so. Maybe a small dose of xanax. Anyone have an opinion?

Tired of struggling in Mississippi!!!!

Hi Kevin,

If you look back at the original post of this topic you will see what the driver did in order to diminish his challenge of driving. He said scriptures, he prayed and he confronted the fear and panic that attempted to torment him. Be sure to speak to the problem and not allow the problem to direct you. I know it sounds kind of crazy but it works........its no different then having a self positive dialoge with yourself but now you are speaking to the problem and as a believer you are taking authority over it......

Blessings

Before you start out, did you write your negative thought in a notebook and then write a postive one to counteract? Along the way did you give yourself permission to pull over and write more postive affirmations about how well you drive? Did you focus on the details of life or how you felt? For me, getting over the hump of my body symptoms and realizing they are only symptoms of anxiety and they cannot harm me, was a big one. I repeated over and over, "the symptoms are uncomfortable, but there is no danger." This is on one of the reminder cards.
Have you thought about getting the driving cd the Midwest Center created as another help?

You know you can get there just fine--you've done it several times and nothing happened. That's because the symptoms are uncomfortable, but their is no danger.

Prayers to you on this precious present day!

I think many partake in experiences in life with judgement and without accuracy....

If one wants a positive experience....a blessed experience then I do believe one must confront the fear and panic........don't allow your thoughts to start creating false images in your head............and watch how beautiful and peaceful your experience actually develops to be.

Blessings

Believer what was your biggest fear you had to confront or stand up to?

As far as myself it was being alone. I now appreciate the time I do get being alone. I can do whatever without being interupted and or disturbed. My peace is actually greater....I can read and allow my mind to stay focused and not wander.....

Hi Sanman,

My biggest challenge use to be falling asleep. I use to be afraid something would happen to me when asleep.....lol. My goodness I would avoid sleep as much as possible and would only sleep if I had guest/family over. Then one day I became fed up with it and decided I was going to sleep!! Yes I took my power back from fear. Now I am working on developing a good and perfect sleep pattern. Since having my little one I keep getting up all sorts of different hours at night...lol....

Blessings

Believer, I am also trying patiently waiting to experience a perfect sleep pattern..lol..as I wake up different times in the middle of the night to the sounds of "mama, potty"..lol..awww I've been blessed!! I know I need more sleep, so I TRY to take naps with them. I had prayed that God would set aside a time for quiet, uniterrupted prayer time (and after the 50th time(slight exaggeration ) of waking up at 4:30am I began to realize that perhaps this was my "prayer time" I asked for...lol I said to God, "I appreciate our alone time, but 4:30 am, really????) Oh well, it works and when I wake up again at 7:30 am, I feel refreshed(for the most part) God is GOOD isn't he??? he gives me the strength everyday and for that, I submit to our "prayer time". Good day and God bless

Yes I still wake up every 2 hours at night while my little one sleeps through the night. Funny I wake up at the slightes sound..... But Glory to God I am humble for at one time I did not sleep at all. I won't take any meds to help me sleep through the night I am just believing in God to give me that sweet sleep that the bible declares. So I am standing on scripture but I need to confess them daily...

Thanks everyone for your post. I am struggling with my relationship with God it is almost like a negative fear. When i have these anxieties it hard to believe that God is there for me. Anyone experience this comments would be appreciated. I do want a relationship with God.
Thanks Patty

Hi Tap,

Why don't you start a thread about anxiety and relationship with God. You might fight some good feed back there. This thread is on confronting fear and panic and knowing that God is there regardless of how one feels. NOt to be moved by emotions by moved by fact and faith!

Blessings

Hello Tap, I pray that God will give me the words to show you comfort and His glory. I want you to know that I had always been a Christian, but have became a more self loving Christian during my trials with anxiety. I like you focused so many years on a harsh Christian faith, where I looked at the punishment and the you can't do's. Through my change of thought and self love, I found our God is a loving God, we have to teach our selves to slow down and listen for His gentle whispers, and He has given us so many that we seem to just let go by. There is purpose for each and every step we are given in life, and I know as for me once I excepted that and focused on His gentleness and love, I felt so much better with the path He has set out for us. Each of us has a different purpose in life and once we find it we will be at so much more peace. I pray God will bless you with comfort and peace.

I think believer had a wonderful idea in posting a thread for this. I know you are not alone, and His angel's will guide us in unity.

Hugs and prayers to you.

Hello, God. . .



Hello, God. I called tonight
To talk a little while...
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.

You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own.
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.

I want to ask you please to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.

Give me faith, Dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.

I thank you, God, for being home
And listening to my call;
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.

Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.

So thank-you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good-night, God. I love You, too.
And I'll call again tomorrow!

Hi Tap:
You are welcome!!! Glad you stopped by.
I think you will be able to confront the fear that you have about your relationship with God.

God is always here for us. Always.
Just rest in that fact. Don't work hard to try to find Him. Just give up everything to Him. Rest!
That is the Good News!
The fact that we don't have to do anything for
God to love us and care for us. He wants to and its free.
So just let go!!
And come back anytime!!!
A friend,
Mary Jane

Tap, God bless you anxiety shows it's form in many different fears, one of them being the fear to change. God loves you and he isn't a God that controls with fear, as a matter of fact, the good book says just that opposite." God is NOT the Author of Fear nor Confusion".."he is the God of love, peace and of a sound mind"
He knows your afraid, he wants you to lean on him and he is full of love and mercy IF we truly desire to invite him into our lives! He will subside all your doubts and he will gently wipe away all your tears and fears.
What helps me is to read the bible daily and pray continuously throughout the day. He renews my strength and I've learned to lift my head and walk courageously. It's a process, one day at a time. be patient, pray and BELIEVE.
God bless you and I wish you all the best
Robin

Its so amazing what one can accomplish in life by not allowing fear nor panic to control the path nor allowing those dreadful emotions to determine anyones path in life. Emotions are always around us but whats so beautiful in awesome is going to the presence of God by prayer and allowing his presence to quiet the mind and fill the body with peace to be able to go and move forward in life and be filled with joy and not dread. In knowing and learning this it has helped me to confront panic and fear and see that those emotions are only feelings not facts.