Facing AnxietySample

TELL SOMEONE

Another lie that anxiety likes to tell us is that we’re on our own. No one will understand, you’re the only one feeling like this, and it’s up to you to fix it. Nothing could be farther from the truth! We already established on Day 1 that everybody deals with anxiety in some way, so check that lie off the list. But, this idea that you have to fix it, or that you can’t or shouldn’t tell someone else what you’re going through is one of the worst lies you can believe if you want to actually get your anxiety under control. 

As long as you keep your issues with anxiety all bottled up and never tell anyone, then you WILL be alone in this! But, I can confidently say there are people somewhere in your life who would be more than willing to listen to you, to pray for you, and even to provide some practical help or encouragement when you’re feeling anxious. The problem is they can’t do that for you if you never tell them what’s going on. As scary as it may sound, your parents can be a great first step. If not them, maybe there’s a coach at church, or a pastor, or a teacher…someone in your life a little older and wiser that you trust enough to open up to about your anxiety. 

I get that it’s scary…I really do! No one wants to appear to be weak or to not have it all together, and there’s the fear that they won’t actually understand or they’ll judge you or something. Listen, anxiety is so widespread in our culture you would have a really hard time finding someone who hasn’t experienced it on some level. They will understand…you just need the courage to open up and say something. There is incredible power in sharing what’s really going on with someone else, and once you get those hidden parts of your life out in the open, they honestly don’t seem so big or scary anymore. So today, if you have never told anyone that you struggle with anxiety, that’s your homework. Read the following passages, ask God to show you the right person to open up to, and then tell them about it. I would bet you’ll already start to feel better simply by telling them what’s going on.