surviving the mess of stress

Stress & anxiety, are silent, subtle destroyers of valuable emotions like peace, joy and happiness.
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Stress is normally associated with external pressures resulting from an event or a person. There is usually a beginning and an end to stress.
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Anxiety is our response to long term stress. It has moved beyond the temporary challenge and has moved in with the intent to stay. It asks questions like, “what if...?” It imagines obstacles beyond obstacles. It can be paralyzing.
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When helping people find relief, I’ve found a few practical steps to be beneficial:
1). List all the things that you are anxious about.
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2). If possible categorize these into groups. Is it relational? Is it work/school related? Is it health/physical? Is it about future issues?
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3). Ask yourself, What part of that anxiety can you control? What part is outside your control?
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4). Write out the steps to take to alleviate the part of anxiety you can control.
5). What outcome would relieve or remove altogether your anxiety in that area?
6). Tell a trusted friend your struggles. Not the one who always has the answers. Nor the one who is over the top optimistic, or the one who is always anxious. Speak to the one you feel safest around. *
There are 2 truths, that are settled in my Spirit that keep me anxiety free. These truths can’t just be “known in your head” that have to be cemented in your “heart” both, by faith and experience. The two truths are:
—God is truly in control. Totally sovereign. Nothing happens to me that hasn’t been sifted through His hand. The second:
—God is good. He is for me. He will take my mess, and the mess life or others have thrown at me, and turn it into stuff useful for me.
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Those 2 truths coupled with a trusted friend to sort out this stuff with, is the greatest cure for what ails us!