Anxiety, my Familiar Foe

Anxiety, my familiar foe

Heart racing, hands sweaty, knees trembling, and I am walking into a familiar place with familiar faces.

My body is present, and my mind is not. Thoughts racing about being judged by others for my appearance, clothing, weight.

Tuned in to all possible threats to my person, my body’s cells vibrate in motion causing my body to shake.

Anxiety my familiar foe continues to be present no matter how many reframes I provide my mind. “You are ok, there is no threat, you are safe.”

Then I ask myself, “Christian, where is your faith?”

It is not my faith in God that betrays me. I trust in God. It is my flesh, and my mind that attempts to undermine what my soul knows to be true. My flesh gets into a war with my soul to steal my joy.

Anxiety my familiar foe tries to crush my soul.

My mind will not always cooperate with my Spirit. My mind’s thoughts race telling my body to dump adrenaline and to fight, run and do something.

My spirit knows she is well and safe. My soul rests in the wings of the Almighty. My mind is tainted by fear to the body.

My familiar foe betrays my soul.

My God soothes my soul.

Then I hear the spirit say to me, “Be still.”

My familiar foe subsides and my soul rests.

Your Counselor,

Linda Goad, LPC, NCC, ALPS, Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist