“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:18-19.
Living with an anxiety disorder can feel like a bird trapped in a cage. There’s no way out, all you can do is fly around and around until you get dizzy and lay down exhausted, only to get right back up, determined to find a way out. It’s exhausting, and debilitating, and frankly its terrifying!
What is Anxiety?
adaa.org describes anxiety disorders as follows:
“A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and feelings of stress.”
It affects more people than you think. According to several sources (adaa.org and anxietycentre.com are mine) 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety disorders. That is 18.1% of the population. Out of those 40 million only 36.9% receive treatment for a disease that is 100% treatable!!
According to anxietycentre.com, $42 billion a year is spent on treatment of anxiety disorders. $22.84 billion of that is spent on treatment of physical symptoms associated with anxiety and not the actual illness itself.
Children can suffer from anxiety too!
1 in 8 children suffer from anxiety disorders. 1 in 8! I feel like that is an outrageously high number!!
Children between 3-17 years old are found to have anxiety disorders co-occur with ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder), Depression, and Eating Disorders.
80% of children with diagnosable Anxiety Disorder are not receiving treatment! (adaa.org)
There is a secret
These statistics, at least to me, are troubling! They point to a system that needs to be changed, a system that needs to stop ignoring the facts and seeing the real issues.
Anxiety and Depression are TREATABLE!
Let me repeat that….. your anxiety and depression are treatable, and your life could be saved just by breaking down those walls and seeking the help that is available!! Like physical diseases the process to recovery and healing will be painful, and it may cost everything you have, physically and emotionally, but it is worth it!!
Story time
Remember at the beginning I was talking about the bird in the cage, and the need to find the way out and not being able to find it? Well there’s a secret that no one tells you…. THERE IS NO DOOR!!!
As the birds we have been conditioned to ignore the gapping hole in the cage, trying to find another way out, until we become blind to the very existence of that hole and we believe that there is no way out! But there is!!
My entire life I was taught that anything I said or did could and would be held against me. It was ingrained in me from a young age that my thoughts and feelings were conditional upon the thoughts or feelings of other people. I couldn’t say or do anything that was opposite from the beliefs of my friends or family, because I was “wrong”. From a young age I was taught to fear confrontation or just conversation in general. I was taught that my personal emotions, or thoughts and opinions were not valid.
I was conditioned to stay in my cage, and pretty soon my means of escape disappeared.
It wasn’t until God literally saved my life that I was finally able to see the truth….
TRUTH
I could leave whenever I wanted!!
Sometimes I still find myself flying around that cage, panic building, breath quickening, feeling trapped, like there is no way out. But in those moments I reach through the deep recesses of my mind and find something to hold onto.
Personally for me its the Bible, worship music, and finding somewhere outside to walk around. I listen to worship music, recite bible verses, and find a park or go to the ocean to take a walk while listening to the music. It helps me find the door and allows me the freedom and strength to fly out.
Find your “thing”
Everyone is a unique individual, who has their own personal way of “grounding” while in the midst of anxiety. Grounding is a tool taught and used by therapists and psychiatrists to help those who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks calm down and find a way back to the ground so to say. Because sometimes when in the midst of an anxiety attack it can literally feel like you are off the ground and flying. Grounding yourself helps you focus back on yourself and take the deep breaths needed to calm down and come out of the attack.
So find your “thing” your “grounding”. What is something that makes you feel alive or calm?
Is it coloring in a coloring book?
Reading your favorite book?
Religious activities?
Jumping Jacks?
Singing?
Whatever it is, no matter how small or how silly, DO IT! Speak with your therapist, or counselor, or best friend, or whoever it might be that helps you, speak to them and figure out what works for you.
The Mountains We Face 