Anxiety and Anger

[Raquel Givens-Jones]

Does anyone else have a major anxiety problem? At times I find it hard to control my anger. I am taking pilates and I meditate. I pray and ask God for peace in my world. I know everyone that reads this understands how a chronic illness interupted their life. My anxiety and irriability came from me being a very athletic person who worked more than forty hours a week to disability. I want to run outside on the trail with the sunlight again one day. I have frustration and I want to control it.

[MRS.YANKSTER]

Yes i know what you mean. somtimes the irriability can be from medication. but also just frustration i over the years had to make so many changes in my life and have had to give so many things up. I owned my own busniess for several years. I have just gotten so many new things now that i enjoy to do,my life is different but Iam happy . It takes time . prayer is good god has good thing in store for you. you will see.
Love Mrs.Yankster

A PRAYER FOR PATIENCE

Gracious God, it’s so hard to wait. To wait for new things to happen in my life. To wait for you to answer my prayers. To wait for the open doors that may lead me into a new way of being. During the time of waiting, it seems that all I can think of is having what it is I am waiting for. At times I feel weary of asking and waiting, and I wonder if you really hear my prayers at all, if you are ignoring me, or if you are simply refusing to give me my heart’s desire. A part of me knows that you want my best, and that your time is not my time, but Lord, it is still so hard to wait. Deepen my trust, O Lord, during the times when my heart longs for what can only come in the fullness of time. Give me a calm assurance that your will for me is grander than anything I could ever imagine. Still my mind and heart in your love so that I am mindful of the grace you are draping around me every single day, every single moment. I ask this for the sake of your love.

I have a very soft place in my heart for children that's being abused and people who are sick. I have two boys 6 and 2. I had to take disability from my career as a Police Officer. I was a Dallas Police Officer for almost 12 years. I want to do something to make a difference.

[MRS.YANKSTER]

I think commpassion love is asking some questions related to my reply to Rachel.
I will try to explain the best I can .


Who is our God
The question "Who is God?" is a good question. It is better than asking "What is God?" This is because God exists, created us, loves us, is concerned for our being, desires to provide for us, and sent the Son to redeem us. If we were to ask "What is God?" we might be tempted to say that God is the infinite being, the creator, a presence, or something like that. In some respect, this would be true. But the first question brings us closer to understanding more of who God really is in His character and His love for us as revealed in the Bible.

The Bible teaches us that in all existence, from all eternity, there has been and always will be only one God. God was never created, is completely loving, completely just, completely holy, completely merciful, and that He desires the best for us. God is holy and He can have nothing to do with sin as the Bible says, "His eyes are too pure to look upon evil," (Hab. 1:13). This does not mean that God cannot see what someone does that is wrong. It is a way of describing how holy God is. God cannot sin. He is perfect.

In Christianity, God is a Trinity. This means that God is three persons, not three gods. Technically, the doctrine of the Trinity states that in the one God is the person of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each is not the same person as the other; yet there are not three gods but one. This is similar in analogy to the nature of time. Time is past, present, and future. The past is not the same as the present, which is not the same as the future. But, there are not three times. There is only one thing called time.

The reason the word "person" is used in describing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is because each exhibits attributes of personhood -- not in a body of flesh and bones, but in personality. In other words, each has a will, loves, speaks, is aware of others, communicates with others, etc. These are attributes of personhood and we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each demonstrate these qualities.

Because of the Trinity, God can become flesh in the form of the Son, and still exist in such a way so that He can run the universe. Therefore, the Son can communicate to us on our level.

Following are a couple verses that hint at the Trinity.

What is Prayer

Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made. Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God. Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian. Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope. Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord.
The Bible speaks much of prayer. But, sometimes, too often, we ignore prayer and seek to accomplish in the strength of our own wills those things that we desire to have or happen. For those of us who are too often guilty of this, we need to bow our knees, confess our sin, receive God's forgiveness, and beg that the will of the Lord be done above our own. God is sovereign and loving and He knows what is best for us and others, even if it doesn't always seem to make the most sense.
We so often come to the Lord with legitimate requests for healing, conversions, and needs and yet the answers we hope for often do not come. We wonder and sometimes doubt. Yet, we persevere and praise God. We pray because we know that God hears us and because we desire to see results. We should pray by faith, trusting God. We should pray consistently, trusting God. We should pray for healing, trusting God. We should pray for others, trusting God. We should pray and when our prayers are answered or are not answered remember this: If we knew what the Lord knew, we wouldn't change a thing.
Prayer changes the one praying because in prayer, you are in the presence of God as you lay before Him your complete self in confession and dependence. There is nothing to hide when in quiet supplication we are reaching into the deepest part of ourselves and admitting our needs and failures. In so doing, our hearts are quieted and pride is stripped and we enjoy the presence of God. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
I am reminded of another benefit of prayer: peace. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," (Phil. 4:6-7).
I suppose that we can test our prayer life and dependence upon God by the peace or lack of peace in our hearts. In all things we are to seek the Lord and in His continued presence peace will surely be our gain.
Prayer is the practice of the presence of God.


The Great Physician
When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no
need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call
the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Mark 2:17

Our most serious ailments are not physical, but spiritual. We are hurt far more by the malignancies in our character than by the illnesses in our body. And it is the removal of these sins in the heart that God is concerned with. The Great Physician desires to restore our spiritual health and wholeness.

If we want to improve, we must be honest and open to the truth about our character right now. Not even the Great Physician can help us if we're not willing to be examined. Trying to hide our symptoms and pretending that nothing very serious is wrong will only result in our getting worse. An accurate diagnosis will be humbling, to be sure, but we should still want to know the whole truth. David's prayer is that of an honest man: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; . . . see if there is any wicked way in me" (Psalm 139:23,24). We must desire to see ourselves as God
sees us.

But more than that, we must cultivate confidence that God knows what He's doing. Whether we understand the wisdom of His plan or not, we must trust both the accuracy of His diagnosis and the effectiveness of His treatment. We must also have the courage to submit to the healing process that He prescribes. The cancer cannot be cut away from our character without radical surgery. Because sin is so entangled in our thinking, the purging operation is always painful and often lengthy. But as with physical disease, if we're not willing to endure momentary pain in order to become healthy later on, our only option is to get sicker and sicker. We can stay in our sickly "comfort" zone or we can move toward greater health, but not both at the same time. "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).

How much commitment do we have to the truth about ourselves? For all our talk about loving the truth, do we really desire to see all that God sees when He examines our hearts? There will be no redemption for those unwilling to
face reality.


On the subject of eating right and taking care of our bodies and less medication .
Yes!

Love and Prayers Always Mrs,Yankster

[lostdog]

Hi Raquel,

I suffer with an inherited GAD (general anxiety disorder). I also think anxiety, depression and anger are related wich eachother at a 90% ratio. I take tranquillizers and anxiolytics since 27 years. I learned to live with anxiety, as well as with depression and anger, but I cannot cure it, its in my genes. But getting older, I got wiser and I also did read a lot about anxiety, relaxation and meditation. I hope you too will adapt to anxiety and anger, try to control it. You are always welcome for a chat.

Hugs, Lostdog

[Lora]

My Dear Sis,
I know what u mean.. I went from holding down two jobs 60-80 a wk. to a part time job.. to disability.
It is hard when u have been so active...just to be reduce to what these diseases do to u. I have learn so much from having my illnesses and continue to learn more about life and our Lord. I was so sick that we bought a hamick to take to my son's football games so I could lay there and watch him play. Where there is a will there is a way. Through the Lord nothing is impossible.
I have to stop, take a look at my behavior or my hubby stops me, tells me, to take a look at myself and what is happening. Your will power and with the help of the Lord which is prayer and believing and having faith in him that he is the one in control of your life, he is there for u. I have found out what pleases the Lord and how we please him. He wants us to learn about his words. That is the key. The bible is this, "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth," equals BIBLE. He will give u the fruits of the spirit if we only trust in him , his words and walk in faith. I truly believe u will run that trail in the sunlight again and I WILL BE RIGHT BESIDE U IN SPIRIT if not in body , cheering u on! I pray this makes sense and it helps u .....
Take one day at a time and things as they come. Live each day as if there might be no tomorrow.
I have seen and read these sentences over and over before but now I really understand these sentences and there true meaning. I can tell u that I did not understand until I was reborn again and have decide that I am going to walk down that narrow road with the Lord beside me. Through him I have found peace and joy and love and that is something nobody can take from me or u.
Praying for u...Your friend always, Lora

[Raquel Givens-Jones]

Thanks for the support everyone. I appreciate the care and prayers.

[Raquel Givens-Jones]

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. I am trying to learn to cope with anxiety within myself.

[CLDD]

I've been dealing with it for 16 years and have been on mild tranqualizers, which do nothing. Brain fog and not getting enough sleep make them worse. Anger comes with it, as you are always like "Why Me" ..It is inherited. I know many people with it and 3/4 of the people started when they were 21.. Every 7 years your body changes, so think it may have something to do with that. Ask your Dr if you can take liquid Doxepin... It has helped more than anything. Doesn't make you cloudy or tired. It is also for Fibro and depression, though didn't do alot for my fibro. I started with Lyrica for that and seems to be doing something

[Amy]

you know I had panic disorder starting in 1997 and no one believed me when i told them something was wrong with me...It took me taking all my lab work in the see my doc to say hey why is my WBC's 1.9 so he tested me.. I suffered from severe depression and anxiety after I almost died and someone once told my father after open heart surgery is "its because you dont trust your own body to take care of itself" which to me is true yes you can control lupus with meds but you cant cure it...trust me i know all about anxiety....i had to see a behavioral therapist regarding this..it sucks it truly does i am disbaled on medicare and medicaid and I now have a better outlook but before Lupus was enough to get me disabilty with all my hspital records.... i hope you feel better soon...

[Dawn]

Know it all too well. Keep busy when you can...start to enjoy some relaxing hobbies...it helps. It takes a bit of time to get into it, but once you start...it does help.

My anxiety turns into full panic attacks...nothing like the world come crashing down on you feeling. I have delt with illness all my life. Started when I was only a few months old with seizures, rashes, stomach problems, joint pains and stabbing pain in my legs. But 40+ years ago...they did not know what they know now. So I never new what normal was, so I worked hard to overcome that words that I hated the most...you should not do that or you can't do that...gee, I pay for that dearly today. My career is no longer...too many mistakes and sick days. At first I thought I through my college educaton away, but now thtat I think of it...it raised my two children to be where they are now. That makes it all worth the effort. I have slowed down by 75percent, but that 25percent keeps me going. I am starting to enjoy my hobbies more and learning to be a at home wife now. Ok...the OCD still haunts my house...drives the family a bit batty...I have to have everything in its place or it drives me nutz! Don't want mama any more nutz than she it, so they let me be around the house. I have taken some of that energy and put it to my hobbies as well. My potted garden full of flowers, fruits and gourmet herbs...my painting and my most favorit, Photography.

This I say only to help you learn to turn your energy that you have in fustration and learn to control it through some hobbies for now...it is a great therapy and you may like as much as I have learn to.

Hope that this helps you.

Hugz,
Dawn

[Donna Lynne]

Hi,
I can totally relate. In that this disease has taken some of the things we use to do from us because of limitations, we have to find alternate ways to regain control over our lives. If I use to run outside in the sun maybe now I can only walk under the shade of an umbrella. No more 40 hour work weeks but I can now volunteer at places of interest and really be effective in the lives of others. So I did not lose control I just had to redirect it. There is nothing much like the feeling of accomplishment to give a sense of control over our lives. Somebody somewhere is worse off than you right now. Find that person and do something for them, no matter how small of a thing it is to you. Watch what blossoms.

[Heather]

I completely understand the working 40hrs a week and working out to disability. It's awful. Are you taking an anti-depressant or on prednisone? While I was on a moderate amount of prednisone, I was extremely anxious, irriatable and started having panic attacks (which I had never had before). Unfortunately Lupus has happenned to you. The complete stop and change in your health and life is a major adjustment. What you are feeling is normal and par for the course. I asked my doctor for something to calm me down. Currently, I am on Lexapro. It is a combo anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medicine. Pills aren't the answer for everybody. But I will take anything that I think will help. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor and tell them..... and even ask them for something.