WE ARE NOT OK

MENTAL ILLNESS = a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning and often results in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Quick Recap:
- ~25% of US adults experience a diagnosable disorder in a given year
- half of all cases originate before age 14; 75% of cases before age 24
- ~17% of US adults experience major depressive disorder in their lifetime
- >80% find improvement with proper treatment
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THE TRUTH

TRUTH #7
Your emotions were created by God and serve a God-given purpose..

Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity.
–Ephesians 4:26-27

TRUTH #8
Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions.

Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
– Hebrews 2:17-18

TRUTH #9
Yes, even (and especially) the ‘negative’ emotions.

He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
– Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)
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ANXIETY DISORDERS
(Fly Away and Find Rest)

QUICK FACTS
- Most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40 million adults (about 18%)

- Significant increase in children & college students since the 1950s

- Higher risk of coexisting conditions, like depression, substance abuse, etc.

- These disorders are caused by over- or under-activation of certain brain structures and a decrease of certain neurotransmitters.
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STRESSED OUT

A spike in adrenaline causes the four main stress-responses:

-FIGHT: When your body feels that it is in danger and believes you can overpower the threat, you’ll respond in fight mode. Your brain releases signals to your body, preparing it for the physical demands of fighting.

-FLIGHT: If your body believes you cannot overcome the danger but can avoid it by running away, you’ll respond in flight mode. A surge of hormones, like adrenaline, give your body the stamina to run from danger longer than you typically could.

-FREEZE: This stress response causes you to feel stuck in place. This response happens when your body doesn’t think you can fight or flee.

-FAWN: This response is used after an unsuccessful fight, flight, or freeze attempt. The fawn response is your body’s emotional reaction that involves becoming highly agreeable to the person abusing you.

Matthew Stanford:
“At normal levels, anxiety rouses us to action. It causes us to study more for an exam; it prepares us for action in a dangerous situation; it keeps us on task as we give an important presentation to our boss. Anxiety is a normal cognitive and physiological response that God designed to call our attention to the seriousness of an event or situation, and motivate us to action. With an anxiety disorder, however, the anxiety is not mild and brief, but severe and chronic.”
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WHEN PANIC STRIKES

TRUTH #10
It can be terrifying to feel you have no control over your own thoughts, emotions, or actions.

How long will I store up anxious concerns within me,
agony in my mind every day?
How long will my enemy dominate me?
– Psalm 13:2

PANIC ATTACKS
A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four or more of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes
- Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
- Feeling of choking
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or abdominal distress
- Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
- Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
- Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
- Fear of dying
- Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensation)
- Chills or hot flushes

MANAGING YOUR STRESS

Mind: For most people, a combination of therapy and medication works best. It will take time to find the right treatment.

Body: Exercise, a healthy diet, and proper sleep will aid you on your healing journey.

Body: Avoid excessive caffeine.

Spirit: Prayer, Bible reading, meditation, and worship can nourish your spirit and help bring healing.

Relationships: Spend time with loved ones and find ways to serve others.
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based on 5 Steps for Managing Anxiety, Monica Vermani C. Psych & 7 Strategies to Manage Anxiety, Dan Bates, PhD

Schedule / Routine
Sticking to a regular schedule throughout the week can help reduce anxiety.

Mindfulness
Practice being fully aware of your surroundings and environment. You are here, you are safe.

Deep Breathing
Breathing slowly and deeply helps deescalate your nervous system.

Challenge Negative Thoughts
Remember, fear is a liar. Don’t believe everything you think.

Reassure Yourself
Whatever happens, you can handle it. God’s got you!
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TRUTH #11
There is freedom in releasing control.

GOING DEEPER | Study & Discussion Questions

1. How can understanding and experiencing our emotions in a healthy way draw us closer to God?

2. Name some examples in the Gospels of Jesus experiencing intense emotions. What can we learn from those instances?

3. Why do you think Anxiety has been on the rise among young people since the 1950s?

4. How can you tell when you have crossed from healthy stress levels into an unhealthy level of anxiety?

5. Explain how we can find healing by releasing control.

ONE (MORE) CHALLENGE
one small step of discipleship every week
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Read one PSALM each day and meditate on it.