What is Anxiety?
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Excerpt: Helping Helpers - Session 3
Section: Anxiety - What is Anxiety?
Speaker: Multiple Speakers
Understanding and Addressing Anxiety: A Multifaceted Approach
Anxiety is a prevalent issue in today's society, affecting countless individuals in various ways. To gain a comprehensive understanding and develop effective strategies to address it, we can draw from the insights of several experts, including Dr. Gary Collins, Dr. Caroline Leaf, Matthias Barker, and Rebekah Lyons.
Defining Anxiety
Dr. Gary Collins provides a clinical definition:
Anxiety: An inner feeling of apprehension, uneasiness, or dread, accompanied by heightened physical arousal.
Common physical symptoms include muscle tension, a heavy chest, racing thoughts, and a hot face. These symptoms are familiar to anyone who has experienced anxiety and underscore that it is a shared human experience.
The Role of Anxiety
Dr. Caroline Leaf emphasizes the normalcy and functionality of anxiety:
Anxiety as a Normal Response: Anxiety is a natural and necessary reaction to adverse circumstances. It serves as a warning signal, urging us to pay attention to significant aspects of our lives.
Anxiety as a Gift: Rather than viewing anxiety as an illness, it should be seen as an indicator of underlying issues, guiding us to address unresolved experiences or current stressors.
Addressing Anxiety
Matthias Barker provides practical insights into managing anxiety:
Personal Fears and Uncertainty: Anxiety often stems from personal fears and uncertainties, such as job interviews, dates, social situations, or specific phobias.
Interpersonal Anxiety: This involves the fear of judgment or rejection in social settings, making it difficult to relax and "be yourself."
Contamination and Safety Fears: Some individuals have anxieties about cleanliness, germs, or safety, leading to compulsive behaviors to mitigate these fears.
Barker suggests breaking down anxiety by understanding its roots and addressing it through practical strategies.
The Cultural Context of Anxiety
Rebekah Lyons discusses the broader cultural and societal context:
Prevalence of Stress: Even before the global pandemic, a significant portion of the population experienced physical symptoms of stress, such as racing hearts, shallow breathing, and sleepless nights.
Loneliness Epidemic: Many people feel lonely and disconnected, contributing to anxiety and stress.
Shared Experience: Recognizing that anxiety and loneliness are common can reduce the shame and isolation often associated with these feelings.
Practical Steps to Address Anxiety
Acknowledge and Normalize Anxiety:
Recognize that anxiety is a normal human response to stress and adverse circumstances.
Understand that you are not alone in experiencing anxiety; many others share similar struggles.
Identify and Articulate Internal Conflicts:
Explore the inner dialogue and conflicts contributing to your anxiety.
Personify different parts of yourself (e.g., the anxious part, the critical part) to better understand and address these internal conflicts.
Practice Compassionate Self-Talk:
Replace harsh, critical self-talk with compassionate and supportive dialogue.
Acknowledge the intentions behind your critical voice and guide it towards a more constructive role.
Engage in Mindfulness and Self-Compassion:
Incorporate mindfulness exercises to stay present and reduce the intensity of anxious thoughts.
Practice self-compassion by treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend.
Seek Professional Help if Needed:
Consider therapy, such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to gain deeper insights and develop effective coping strategies.
Utilize Support Networks:
Connect with supportive friends, family, or support groups to share your experiences and receive empathy and encouragement.
By understanding anxiety as a normal and functional response, exploring internal dialogues, practicing compassionate self-talk, and seeking support, we can better manage anxiety and reduce its impact on our lives.
The Share the Struggle Helping Helpers Course is designed for helpers & leaders both formally (pastors, small group leaders) and informally (family, friends, volunteers), giving a practical and safe framework for coming alongside someone well in the middle of their struggle(s). The Share the Struggle L.E.S.S. (Listen, Explore, Share, Support) framework equips helpers with the tools for active listening, root cause exploration, 3-story discipleship, and when to involve other forms of support. Furthermore, helping helpers walks listeners through the specific considerations and tools for helping someone through anxiety, shame, trauma, miscarriage, pornography addiction, grief, eating disorders, and suicide prevention.
Share The Struggle Courses
Share the Struggle Courses are topical expert led video courses to help you understand life’s greatest struggles and provide you with tools for navigating them. Moreover, STS courses create a space for you to connect with others struggling with similar things, experience belonging, and encounter God’s nearness in a place of wilderness in your life (pain, confusion, healing journey).
What Share The Struggle Believes
Here at Share The Struggle we believe Jesus is present with us in the middle of our pain and mess, and it is in that place that we often experience and encounter Jesus most deeply.
We understand the unique challenges faced by Christians dealing with mental health. Our mission is to bridge the gap between faith and mental health support, providing a platform where individuals can find resources, coaching support and guidance, all tailored to their spiritual life and emotional needs.
We invite you to explore our resources, share your journey, and find the support you need to overcome the struggles you face.
