Change How You Think About Anxiety

Change How You Think About AnxietyStruggling with anxiety? If a person feels worried and stressed, they will often reach for food, alcohol, porn, drugs, shopping, or something else to help soothe and calm them. If left unchecked, anxiety can make someone turn to addiction to cope.

But there is a tool called a thought record that can reduce anxiety. A thought record can help people identify automatic negative thoughts and check to see if their thinking falls into one of the many distortions that increase stress, such as catastrophizing. How it works is that a person will write down an alternative balanced thought which states the truth.

For example, let’s say a person thinks that if they try to go to a Life Recovery Group to connect with others, it will be terrible. This would be an example of catastrophizing because they’ve already determined how something will be a disaster beforehand. (more…)

How to Stop Obsessive Thoughts

How to Stop Obsessive ThoughtsObsessive thoughts are a struggle for so many. If left unchecked, however, these obsessive thoughts can play over and over in your head like a record that has a scratch. Your thoughts can change depending on the situation. But once they’ve entered your mind, you may not be able to get rid of them.

Some examples of obsessive thoughts are:

  • Fear of getting sick or dying.
  • Anxiety over cleanliness and organization.
  • Worry over forgetting something (Did I lock the door?).

If you struggle with obsessive thoughts, you may also worry about the future. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus said, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Some things are out of your control. But in this passage, He encourages you to trust Him. In recovery, we learn what we have control over and how to surrender the things we don’t have control over. It is helpful to consider what is behind the obsession. (more…)

10 Scriptures to Overthrow Worry

Does worry weigh you down? Maybe your mind races when you go in for your annual checkup, afraid you’ll be diagnosed with a terminal illness. Or you might lie awake at night wondering if your spouse is keeping something from you. Perhaps you worry that there will not be enough money at the end of the month. Can you relate?

If so, worry is holding you back. The good news is that it’s possible to overthrow the worry that weighs you down! There are many Scriptures that give us insight on how to handle our worry and anxiety. Reading these won’t make the feelings go away immediately, but when you can gain perspective and realize that God is there for you, it becomes easier to see your way out of worry and into peace. Here are 10 Scriptures that will help you overthrow worry: (more…)