Just Do It.

I feel like it’s time to share something that I’ve only shared with a few, choice people. I’m one of the millions of Americans who suffer from anxiety. It all started about 8 years ago. I was sitting at my desk at work, and all of a sudden my heart started beating rapidly, I started sweating and I felt a terror come over me. I thought I was going to die, it was terrifying! I had no idea what was going on so I had a co-worker drive me home. I felt better shortly after that. It happened again several days later only this time I felt like my throat was closing up and again, someone had to drive me home because I was so terrified something would happen if I drove myself. Over the following weeks and months, I went to the doctor several times and I had no answers--nothing was wrong with me. One night I just knew my throat was closing up so I had Trent take me to the emergency room. They found nothing wrong and suggested that it was anxiety related. I brushed that off because I’m not one of those “crazy” people. But over time and many hours spent on WebMD…I accepted that it was indeed anxiety related. But why? My life was great. I was the happiest I’d ever been in my whole life when this had all started, it just didn’t make sense and I was so frustrated. I knew I didn’t want to get on medication because I don’t feel that is the answer. Medication does not deal with psychological and spiritual issues. I got therapy for awhile and it was helpful but expensive. Several years have gone by now, and I’m still dealing with these issues. But I want people to know that through it all God has been my strength and my song, and He will continue to be until He see’s fit to release me of this burden. This is really hard to talk about, and I find it interesting that even though so many of us suffer, we don’t want to talk about it and continue to suffer in silence. Probably because we’ve had it ingrained in our heads that people with mental problems are “crazy.” But most of us aren’t crazy, we’re just in bondage from Satan and his lies, but we don’t have to be because Jesus has set us free! I know there are others out there and I just want to offer my prayers and support. Let’s carry each other’s burdens! Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”