I’ve always been prone to worry. But, I never thought much of it until the worrying started to consume my days or influence my plans. For example, last fall when I started turning down events because I was afraid of driving after dark because it “may be icier after the sun sets,” I began to realize something wasn’t right. (At the time, I was still chalking it off to my husband being away on his first three-month deployment, and the stressors of running a home/property alone.)
After a bit of research, I understood what was going on inside of me was not a normal spell of “worrying.” I was dealing with something much bigger. Anxiety. And, not just those typical feelings of anxiousness about a new situation or meeting someone for the first time. It would manifest itself as intense, overwhelming and often, a days-long bout of debilitating anxiety. I could leave my house only if I knew exactly what would happen once I got where I was going. Since most situations don’t pan out that way, I often couldn’t leave my house. Occasionally, when I would mentally “force” myself to go out when I “couldn’t,” I would end up having a panic attack.
Not a fun way to live!
I began praying for a solution to this overwhelming issue. I did more research on my “condition” and determined the origin of my new problem: an electrocution that happened in the early days of fall. Once I had these things identified, I was able to begin a road to healing. I knew that I’d prefer to try a natural, at-home route prior to getting medical help and that I would need to make some serious changes in my life.
Today, I am on the road to recovery and no longer experiencing those debilitating symptoms that plagued me for months. Below are the things that I began doing to start healing my body:
- Pray– This is something that I have done for many years, but only once I had this problem did I really begin to understand the deep communication that can occur between a person and their Creator! Some days, all I could do was cry out to God for help to accomplish the most basic tasks in my day.
- Share– A friend reached out to share her story with anxiety, which is a rather common issue among women. I found that once I heard her story, I had the confidence to tell mine. And once I started sharing my experience with a few trusted friends, I had the confidence to seek real healing. I was no longer living in a place of shame or isolation.
- Supplement– The same person from #2 also told me that what helped her the most was adding a magnesium supplement to her daily diet. The benefits of magnesium include reducing anxiety and depression, support healthy sleep habits, reduce premenstrual symptoms, and the list goes on…
- Plan– I realized my symptoms would increase when I overfilled my schedule. So, I started making a point to only plan a certain number of outings per week. Once those “slots” are filled, I began to schedule the following week. Naturally, I had to learn to say, “No,” to people when they would ask to do things when our schedule was full. This is really a separate point, but I’ll leave it under this section. Learning to use my voice and prioritize my healing means that occasionally people get upset with how I do things.
- GAPS– The biggest change that I’ve had to make in healing my body is drastically changing my diet. I had been doing the four steps above, with some success for a few months, but something would trigger the anxiety and I’d be back in that cycle again. I knew it was time to make big changes. I started doing the GAPS diet, and within a week, I started seeing drastic results! This step alone seems to be making the biggest difference with my anxiety.
I fully believe that this is the beginning of a very long journey. The GAPS protocol alone lasts for up to two years. I know that I will have to maintain these healthy life changes for many years to come if I want to remain healthy.
While I do believe these are the best steps for me at this time, I am not a medical professional and would urge you to find what works best for you! If you are struggling with anxiety, please do not go it alone! Find a friend or two that can support you during your healing journey. Remember that are loved and cared for, so surround yourself with those people. Pray and read scripture even if, “it doesn’t feel like it helps.” God loves you so very much, because He created you! This sinful, fallen world has caused us so much heartache, but dear friend, take heart because HE has overcome the world! (John 16:33)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
A Post about being Proactive: https://theruralcompanion.com/if-ive-learned-anything/
A Post about Chaos: https://theruralcompanion.com/a-2020-drink-recipe-to-bring-back-you/
A Post about Peace: https://theruralcompanion.com/7-steps-to-prioritize-peace-at-home/
A Video about GAPS: https://youtu.be/MFVxSXPujQc
Thank you so much for taking the time to hear my heart on this tricky topic. If you have questions, leave a comment below. If you need help, reach out to a trusted person!
