Anxiety is different from being anxious or nervous about something.  The latter passes when the thing we are anxious about passes.  Anxiety however stays.  It sticks to your innards like tree sap.  Even if you could reach inside your chest cavity you couldn’t pull, peal, shake, or wash anxiety out.  The uncomfortable tightness refuses to leave.  Worse, it radiates down every fiber of your muscles to even the fingertips so you can see the chronic trembling you feel.  Your hands get clammy. Your breath becomes short and labored. Your thoughts race until your brain can’t process anymore and there is nothing but blankness. The combination of these chronic symptoms can literally drive you to drink or live on Zanax, sometimes both.

According to St. Paul, we live and move and have our being in Christ.  According to Jesus, we live in Him and He is in us.  You are the temple of God even if you don’t feel that way. Christ wants you to heal but you will need to do your part.

First, breathe.  Breathe in and breathe out slowly and pray as you do so. “Come, Lord Jesus come. Fill the heart of your faithful and enkindle it with the fire of your love.  Pour forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.  Renew me in Your peace. Amen.”

Second, avail yourself to psychological treatment.  Medicine is nice but it doesn’t solve your problems. Solving your problems will reduce your anxiety in a sustained manner.  Just think, you may not need anxiety medicine anymore.

Healing isn’t magic.  It requires work.  If you are praying for the Spirit of peace to come into your heart, do your part.

Come, Lord Jesus come. Pour forth Your Spirit in me that I may serve You.

Picture has been released to public domain by Editor182 at the Wikipedia project, 2010.