Struggling with anxiety.

I’ve had to learn a lot about anxiety this year. I’ve learnt that it affects more people than we realise*. I’ve observed that it affects individuals differently. I’ve heard stories of many courageous men and women who give voice to their experiences with anxiety. 

There are many causes of diagnosed anxiety and mine was the result of some serious burn out. To live in an age where there is significant medical research and professional help available to those who suffer from mental health issues is beyond my understanding. I am entirely grateful for the pioneers, advocates, researchers and champions that have brought us this far. 

Anxiety often leaves me in the dark; unable to feel the warmth of yellow (community), unable to predict a storm (panic attacks) and unable to lift my gaze from the valley (depression/inertia). I’ve learnt that faith in Jesus does not mean immunity any more than we should expect to be immune to the flu. It’s been a steep learning curve; a curve I may or may not see the tail end of soon. But it is precisely faith in Jesus which helps me to know that God is concerned with all my thoughts – the good and the bad. On the cross, he entered darkness so that we might have hope, that brokenness like anxiety, will one day be a problem no more. His life is our life. His future is our future. 

Thank you to all the yellow in my life who help me to see this truth. You are a glimpse of a glorious future. 

‘If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, 

and the light about me be night,’

even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.’

Psalm 139:11-12

*Over a twelve month period, over 2 million Australians are affected.