Identity

[Wrg1405]

As believers we are told our Identity is in Christ.

Can our life experiences/circumstances detract from that truth? Cause us to stumble and miss out on blessings from God.

Take me, I suffer from severe anxiety every day. Neither medical help, counselling (Christian), prayer with others and between me and God have never helped, in fact it makes it worse.

When I can't cope I drink, I used to gamble but God healed that. I'm retisant to pray anymore about it. As I said after 20 odd years it's not changed and before and after praying about it, it is worse.

So resign myself to being like this till the day I die.

So Is my anxiety now my identity?

 

[Christ_empowered]

No. That'd be like saying all the labels Mental Health, Inc. slaps on me are my identity. That's the world for you...you are what the "experts" say you are. Nothing more, nothin less.

I'm learning this as I go along. For instance: people in this town, definitely in this neighborhood, have labeled me "Schizophrenic." To that end, they'll yell and talk --at-- (not to, but at) me. They'll do it loud enough for me to hear in the kitchen, when the windows are open, or in my room (widows closed).

But who am I, really? In the world, I'd say "noooo...not Schizophrenia! Don't you know? My shrink says its Bipolar!!!" I'm now in the world, not of it--thanks to Christ, of course. So, increasingly--and thanks to much prayer and help from an older, wiser, Pentecostal lady--I can think and stand on: I'm a new creation in Christ Jesus. Right now, I have to take these pills and talk to this counselor now and then. I probably won't always. I am not Bipolar, I am not Schizophrenic, I am not even "depressed..."

I am becoming more and more who I really am in Christ Jesus. In the world not of it means that, for once, the world doesn't get to tell me who I "really am."

 

[Papa Zoom]

As believers we are told our Identity is in Christ.

Can our life experiences/circumstances detract from that truth? Cause us to stumble and miss out on blessings from God.

Take me, I suffer from severe anxiety every day. Neither medical help, counselling (Christian), prayer with others and between me and God have never helped, in fact it makes it worse.

When I can't cope I drink, I used to gamble but God healed that. I'm retisant to pray anymore about it. As I said after 20 odd years it's not changed and before and after praying about it, it is worse.

So resign myself to being like this till the day I die.

So Is my anxiety now my identity?

I suffered through a battle with anxiety/panic attacks/depression for 5 years until I finally got to a point where I could manage it. It was hard work. In my case, the medication helped (and helps as I'll probably never get off them). I take meds for depression and have handy medication should I have a panic attack. But I also learned coping skills which I can now use effectively. I read a few books and practice meditation. Really it's more like meditating on the Word and learning how God made our bodies to relax. Breathing right helps.

I still have issues and know I'll have panic attacks in the future. But no matter, it's like being sick. If I had cancer, that wouldn't define me. Same with this illness. I have a chemical imbalance that makes me think crazy at times. Medication provides balance that my body can't or won't produce.

But I know intellectually that my identity in Christ isn't determined by how well I feel. It's about the Truth proclaimed by Christ Himself. That's all I need to know to rest in the fact that I am in Christ.

 

[reba]

Not one of us is perfect.. so welcome to the family

 

[jasonc]

Not one of us is perfect.. so welcome to the family

I am repent thou heathen

 

[Angel]

No, it is not who you are, but what you experience. When I was homeless, and had hallucinations, I would drink because it was the only thing that took It away. Now it's fairly under control with medication. I will probably...no, I will never drink alcohol again. You can do really stupid things when you're drunk.

I suggest, asking your doctor about trying Xanax. It's a strong sedative. Your anxiety sounds severe. Have you tried anything like that?

 

[Christ_empowered]

Me again. Not to push Alternative Mental Health on you, but...have you ever tried Orthomolecular? Its a combo of very high (up to massive) doses of certain vitamins, mostly B3, b-complex, and vitamin C. I do extra high dose (did I mention I was once state mental hospital material?) and I also take my lil no mo crazy cocktail with it. I get good results, better than when I was on just the meds back in the day, and I don't get major side effects. Also...my once crippling anxiety, agitation, sleep problems, etc. are pretty much gone.

I don't take benzodiazepines now, but I did do a more basic version of this vitamin thing while I was on Klonopin+Ambien by Rx, and...it worked then, too. Actually, I think the vitamin combo made tapering off the tranquilizer+the sleeping pills easier than it would have been otherwise.