The Bible gives specific and clear directions to overcome anxiety. When working with clients, I use the “Worry Book” to address anxiety issues. This is a journal where the client is allowed to write for only ten minutes a day in a journal about every worry, concern, or anxious thought she is experiencing. The goal is to release these feelings in hopes of reducing their effect by being participating in another activity.
I use Philippians 4 as the guideline for my Christian counseling approach. It is also a formula for preventing anxiety. When clients can be helped to be considerate, rejoice, pray, think and behave in accordance with scripture, there is an on-going procession towards recovery. The use of medication is crucial to the process also. The medications that are used to replace the chemicals in the brain and relieve anxiety enable the client to focus and deal with the anxiety-producing stress. There is much evidence in support of medication treatment used in partnership with therapy. It must be remembered that when stress is prolonged, so are anxiety symptoms.
In approach, I redirect the client back to their core-God. The client who learns to connect with God on a daily basis learns that He is in control of our lives and will bring security as they willingly trust in the His results. Jesus gives us the counseling perspective when he spoke about worry on the Sermon on the Mount. God does know about our needs and anxieties. If we give Him first priority in our lives; we can be assured that our needs will be supplied (even in being prescribed the correct medication) and there is actually no need to worry at all.
Stress causes the brain to become chemically imbalanced. This chemical imbalance is partially genetically influenced, for each person has a different threshold for stress; however, genetics, in this case, is not the main cause of chemical imbalance. The byproduct of stress is the paramount cause of a fast paced lifestyle. An important note is how often it is much easier to correct the genetically based mental disorder i.e. anxiety; than the ones caused by learned conditions creating habitual behavior. The reason is because it is much easier to treat a chemical imbalance than it is to counsel a client about changing the way they think, feel, and behave.
Our emotional reactions have usually been influenced throughout our lives within such a substantially negative construct that reflects our lack of confidence in God. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. ‘Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done”. “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. ‘His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Eliminate worry and begin moving forward to foster a stress-free life based on faith.
Don’t kid yourself! There is nothing in the Bible about us Black Americans who are descendent of slaves. Black Americans are a new race of people. We never exist anywhere in the world before plantation slavery, right.
The Bible belongs to the Jewish people and European Gentiles. There is nothing in the Bible about us Black Americans. All the different races of people in the Bible the Bible mentions them, am I right? The Bible is the Jewish people’s testimony to the world about their relationship with God and how God helped them in their troubles with other people. Why are you so hung-up on the Bible when you know that the Bible solely belongs to the Jewish people? You have more intelligence than what you are showing me.
We Black Americans are soon going to write our spiritual book like the Jewish and the Arabian people did. Anytime God visits a people and anoints a prophet then that people will write their own religious or spiritual book some day the same way the Jewish and the Arabian people did. The purpose for the religious books is to leave for the descendents of those people so that their children can read how God came to them and brought us up out of subjugation and racism in White America since we have been living like this for the past 500 years, am I right.
Now, if I’ve told you anything wrong let me know! Because I am right about everything I say concerning God.
Hello Harry. when you state that "you are right about everything concerning God", it makes me wonder about your thought processes. No one is ever always right! You sound like you are an angry guy. Did you know that Christianity is not a religion but a personal relationship with God who is actually the essence of love? Yes, the Old Testament is written in Hebrew and the New Testament is written in Greek. Jesus came to teach us how to love each other and that is what it is all about. Whatever foundation people rely on is fine that moves them forward in creating a loving world. Some people follow Oprah and that is all right. What do you believe in or have faith in that makes you the best person you can be? I am an Addiction Therapist and Life Coach. Check out my website if you need to get unstuck because everyone believes in something. http://www.mrspatthecoach.com or http://www.apositiveoption.com. Views are meant to be shared; especially for inspiration. You mentioned that I had more intelligence than what I am showing you; I believe you do to. Check this video out and then let me know what you feel, not think. I do offer free consultations. Something for you to think about: Wouldn't it be funny if Jesus came (He is the way to salvation) for people to learn how to accept others and be authentic? Does it really matter what color our skin is when it comes to love? As far as slavery, why are you unable to forgive since you did not actually go through the experience yourself? Just cut and paste http://youtu.be/cHcKzzgYnMs Saturday, October 27th 2012 at 12:42PM
Patricia Reynolds-Meade
Hello Ms. Meade,
I have said several things already and you have not shown me that I am wrong about anything I’ve said, yet you complain that I can not be always right about God. Well, show something I’ve said that is wrong.
Your respond is not more than your mis-placed opinion and criticism. I am looking for facts. What am I wrong about?
I said that Jesus was a Jewish man. And, a Jewish man can not lead Black Americans to God. Who can only lead Black Americans to God is another Black American man and I am that man. As Jesus was to the Jewish people so is our prophet is to us. Likewise, as Mohammed was to the Arabian people so must Black America’s prophet be to Black America.
Jesus was Black! A White person cannot birth a Black child without Black influence -mother or father. In the beginning it was who?
Saturday, October 27th 2012 at 1:27PM
Patricia Reynolds-Meade
Hello Ms. Meade,
I said that Jesus was a Jewish man. You are saying that Jesus was Black. At this point one of us is right while the other is wrong.
What do you mean Black? Black Nigerian. Black Ethiopian. Black Americans who are descendents of plantation slaves. What sort of Black that you are saying Jesus was?
I still maintain that Jesus was a Jew and Jews are not any kind of Black people. If you have any questions about what a Jew is the Bible has the genealogy of the Jewish people. Jewish people who are the descendents of Jesus are in the State of Israel today in the Middle East.
Tight dialogues are better than loose dialogues are, am I right.
Apparently you have not watched the historically correct YouTube account I sent you. Check it out before any more loose dialogue. Facts are facts... Opinions are just that! As you stated there is nothing about America in the Bible, but why do you capitalize the word Bible if it is just another book? Life is not about being right are wrong, it is about living it abundantly. It must be a burden knowing everything while questioning everything.
Saturday, October 27th 2012 at 3:05PM
Patricia Reynolds-Meade
Ms Meade,
The film is about proving that Jesus was Black. Nevertheless, I asked you what sort of Black was Jesus. I know that all black birds are not Crows. Some black birds are Ravens. So, my question is ligetiment. And, it seems that you can’t answer my question in real time.
Anyway, I know for certain that what ever Black you imagine that Jesus was I know that he was not a Black American as we are.
Any prophet a people have that prophet must be from those people and Jesus is not from us. Jesus don’t have our experience.
I never said I was a Black American. I am an American period. Black is not a race nor country. Born in America means I am an American.
Saturday, October 27th 2012 at 9:05PM
Patricia Reynolds-Meade
PAT , if i may call you that , i just want to add when the white missionaries translated the bible in our languages, they asked our ancestors for the name of the Almighty and they used the names our ancestors had always used for the Almighty and then told us that we did not have a belief in the Supreme.
But we now know that our priests were no less wise in their observations than the Greek sophists, the Hebrew prophets, the Arab ulema, or the Chinese literati.
Our ancestors believed in pluralism without hierarchy --- many expressions of God without saying mine is right, or the only one, and yours is bad, pagan, and heathen. Perhaps had we done that we would have stopped the alien religions at the shore, but we are the world's first humanists and we allowed others to come with their goods and their gods.
They came with a political ideology in the name of religion. It was imperialism. Imperialism brings destruction, obliteration. How could we fall for it for so long? The introduction of a book or a gun caused us to lose our footing, to stumble on our way, to denounce our fathers and mothers.
There are no other people on the earth who have had to denounce their ancestors in order to become better people. Is it because our ancestors are so strong that we are forced to denounce them before our conquerors? This is one thing you shall never find me doing because I know too much about my African contribution to history
Saturday, October 27th 2012 at 9:25PM
DAVID JOHNSON
Hello Pat,
You are taking me for a fu#king ride and I don’t want to go on any dam ride. If you are not going to answer my question fine. But, bull****ing me is not going to get it.
You said that Jesus was Black. I asked what kind of Black was he because I know he was a Black American as we are. Your dumb-ass says you are not Black and that you are an American. Idiot the question is not about you and what you think you are. The question is what sort of Black was Jesus. You dumb *****S always causing me to blow my top with your dumb ****.
Just answer the question about Jesus if you can stupid.
We are a people that complicate everything because we see everything complicated. We are a stupid. But, we are not going to be stupid much longer. I am going to turn us into some very intelligent people in my life-time.
I am tired of playing fu#king games with you! Let us have an honest and up-right dialogue.
HARRY ,YOU NEED TO STOP THIS RAVING MADNESS ,your punk ass got no right to be sounding off on anyone because they dont want to be apart of your bull**** ,,,
your just another damn fool exposed and now your delusion is catching up to you to the point you want to ruff ride the members of this site ,,back off before i start a campaign to get your ass suspended ! try me ,,,,,,,,,,,,
Saturday, October 27th 2012 at 11:31PM
DAVID JOHNSON
I apologize for Harry's behavior he has not taken his meds today and the news alert is he is a escapee from the Bellevue insane asylum ,,,,,,
Saturday, October 27th 2012 at 11:37PM
DAVID JOHNSON
STOP PUSHING YOUR WILL ON PEOPLE ,,,,,,,,,,,,
Sunday, October 28th 2012 at 12:49PM
DAVID JOHNSON
I do not understand your question about "what kind of black" a person can be nor do I care to dig that deep to study it. I have never actually thought about the color of someone's skin. i just do not see it. I look at who the person is. In trying to help you answer your own question, i pointed you to a YouTube account that I found enlightening since I never really tripped on Jesus' skin color. I do not have any answers for you Harry; plus this topic about my Savior's skin color is not an issue for me. I live and walk by faith. I am not a scientist, anthropologist, politician, or debater. I am a child of God who happens to be a therapist. What do I know? You are sounding more and more like a client to me and unfortunately for you I get paid to work with my clients. What would I tell a client? Harry, I believe you have your own answer within and you do not need me to give you one. These are your questions, not mine. If you want to explore how to better handle your anger when you do not get the results you want, schedule an appointment. If you need to identify your core values and try to live in alignment with them without imposing on others, schedule an appointment. If you want to move forward to where God wants you to be, pray and then schedule an appointment.
My article is about how I coach my clients who deal with anxiety. Did you ever take time to think that the client this relates to already believes in Jesus? No, I do not ask what color is His skin is because their hope for healing is at stake. Maybe you do not care about others who are in pain... Please limit your discussion to this topic. Curing Anxiety, not creating it within yourself. Your name calling charade requires much inner work because it is coming from a place of pain. Off to church for me. Bless you, Pat
Sunday, October 28th 2012 at 1:07PM
Patricia Reynolds-Meade
Thanks David for voicing your honest feedback. How unfortunate that Harry is off his meds. I could not imagine the anguish he is experiencing now. I have seen delusional clients who want so much to take others into their heads when it fact they need a reality check. I guess accepting feedback is harder than giving it.
Sunday, October 28th 2012 at 1:27PM
Patricia Reynolds-Meade
Please do not attack me for who I am. One way unbelievers attack Christians is by saying the Bible is not reliable. The current fad is to claim that today's Scriptures do not accurately reflect what really happened. But that argument is a lie. The Gospels and Book of Acts were written or dictated by eyewitnesses. What's more, they were written close enough to Jesus Christ's death that other eyewitnesses were still alive and could have disputed the accounts if they were false.
Looking back through history, we discover that these attacks are nothing new. Those who choose not to follow God have always felt compelled to criticize his Word. Over the centuries, lies come and go, but the Bible lasts forever, and its every word proves true. Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him”.
I will begin by quickly dismissing your claim that I need therapeutic help. All prophets even before me the average person and therapist would say all of the prophets need mentally help. So, what you are saying about me was said about Jesus, Moses and Mohammed. Therefore, what you are saying is moot.
Okay, your post began by saying that you don’t understand what I mean when I asked what kind of Black was Jesus. I think that you are just being intentionally dumb and ignorant because I had explained what I meant in my above posts. These are some of the tricks we pull on each other when we don’t have it within us to admit when we are wrong.
Let me walk you through the posts, okay. You said the Jesus was Black, dated Oct.27@1:27PM. The next post I explain what I meant when I asked you was Jesus a Nigerian Black or was he an Ethiopian Black dated Oct.27@2:15PM.
For you to now say that you don’t understand what I mean is an out right lie.
I know that Jesus was not a Black American as we are and therefore you all are wrong to be following a prophet not of our kink that God did not give to us
I am not attacking the Bible or Christianity. I have nothing against the Bible or Christianity. You are not paying attention to what I am saying. You are obviously mentally blind, deaf and dumb.
I did not answer your question to be wrong because I do not have a answer for you. And there is nothing with being wrong because none of us have all the answers. I will repeat: I do not have your answer nor do I have to prove anything to you.
Sunday, October 28th 2012 at 2:11PM
Patricia Reynolds-Meade
@Patricia, your first reply comment to Harry was so informational and so spiritually stated. Thank you. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
