Faith Integration
Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s always something”? Whether it’s bills, the death of a loved one, a broken relationship, parenting, maintaining a job, or trying to make time for your marriage, life often feels like a constant balancing act. When we have so much on our plates, we can become so accustomed to carrying the weight of anxiety that we fail to recognize what it is doing to our bodies. Over time, if left unaddressed, that weight can lead to burnout.
Burnout can look like a short temper, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, lack of motivation, fatigue, or even feelings of hopelessness.
Yet, we can find hope in Scripture that helps us pause, reflect, and either prevent burnout or overcome it if we find ourselves already experiencing it. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Anxiety Often Has Underlying Beliefs
Anxiety is more than just feeling overwhelmed in the moment. It often comes from deep-rooted beliefs we carry about ourselves and the world around us. These beliefs are not always obvious. In many cases, they operate quietly in the background, shaping how we respond to stress, relationships, and even rest. In my work with children, I often hear them describe anxiety using the character Anxiety from Inside Out. This comparison is meaningful because it helps externalize their experience of anxiety. It reminds both the child and their parents that anxiety is an experience, not something that defines them, even when it feels overwhelming.
Anxiety Is Not Only a Thought
Anxiety is not only something people think; it is also something people experience physically and emotionally throughout their entire bodies. It can feel like muscle tension, an inability to rest, guilt about slowing down, and emotional hypervigilance.
Emotional hypervigilance can be described as a feeling in the body of being on high alert and scanning for danger. The common saying “waiting for the other shoe to drop” can indicate that a person is experiencing anxiety.
When Your Mind Won’t Stop Racing
It’s 3:12 a.m. Sleep won’t come, and yet you are exhausted. What started as a memory from your day has spiraled into a sleepless night of anxious overthinking and worry.
Did your boss understand your proposal? Did you come down on your child too hard? As you toss and turn, your chest feels tight, and your heart and mind just will not stop racing.
Anxiety has a way of making it feel as though the problem is happening right now.