Anxiety by Fay Sampson

When I wrote Prayers for Anxiety it never occurred to me to imagine the situation we find ourselves in today. Certainly, there are many causes for people to be anxious.

Some anxiety can be a good thing, keeping us on our toes to perform at the top of our ability. Anxiety disorder, on the other hand, is a debilitating mental condition that affects some 10 per cent of the population. Even under normal circumstances it can be destructive, seriously diminishing the quality of life. Today’s situation brings added reasons for anxiety. Talking to other people, and the support of friends and family, are really important. Now, most of us are in social isolation. Imagine what it must be like if you already suffer from this crippling disorder.

With the coronavirus epidemic and the restrictions on our daily lives, there is justifiable reason for the rest of the population to feel anxious. There is the fear that we, or someone we care about, will catch a possibly fatal disease. There is a grave disruption to our normal way of life. Many older people, for example, will be under increasing stress as they have to find new ways of shopping, banking or keeping in touch. The ability to mix with friends and let off steam about what bothers us has been taken away from us. Yes, we have telephones and social media, but it’s not the same as the warmth of actually being with people, is it? How many young people’s love affairs will survive a separation that may last for months?

At the other end of the scale, those in abusive relationships may find being thrown together for long periods on their own puts them in increased danger.

And then there is the economic aspect. You can hardly not feel anxious if you are self-employed and you have lost your means of income. Anyone in business is going to worry that the damage may be too great to recover from.

Food banks and shelters for the homeless have closed. The most vulnerable have lost their means of support.

Worry about all these things is a shadow over the whole country, indeed, the whole world.

We still need to be careful to distinguish between understandable worry in difficult times and anxiety disorder. The latter can produce symptoms out of all proportion to the cause. Those afflicted may be afraid to pick up the phone. They may suffer from panic attacks, a racing heartbeat, breathlessness or hyperventilation. They may wake at night drenched with sweat. They may fear they are about to die.

If you feel you are having a hard time now, imagine what it must be like to be afflicted with this condition in today’s crisis. Every time we turn on our television or radio we are confronted with messages of gloom and doom. There is a real threat to life. Normal support systems have been taken away.

Do you know someone who may be in this condition? These people need our prayers, and whatever help we can give them.

We have to hold on to the fact that, for most of us, anxiety is a perfectly natural response to a very difficult situation. But, at a time like this, all of us can benefit from the advice given to anxiety disorder sufferers.

Prayers for Anxiety is written for those who suffer from it, and for their families, friends, and the wider community, like churches, who are concerned about those who have to live with it and wonder what they can do. The book has sections for both of these groups, where a page of information and advice alternates with a prayer. There is a list of resources and organisations that can help. If the burden of anxiety is weighing heavily on you, or on someone you know, this book is here to help.

We can all benefit from the advice about relaxation, exercise, eating and sleeping, to help us cope. We certainly need to talk, even if we now have to find different ways of doing this.

And now, more than ever, we need the solace and strength of prayer.

I haven’t even begun to address the question of depression, which is also likely to be a consequence of what is happening. For some, this too can be a debilitating clinical state.

Prayers for Depression is written along the same lines as Prayers for Anxiety, with information, advice and prayer for both those who suffer from it, and those who care about them.

These are hard times. I offer you this advice from Prayers for Anxiety: ‘Smile. It does actually make you feel happier.’

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Each day, we will post a short article by one of Darton, Longman and Todd’s amazing authors, offering a personal reflection on our current situation in life. Sometimes this will be written with reference to one of their books, and sometimes about how they are living in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus and our current world situation. We hope it will give you a taste of the depth and diversity of DLT’s list – books for heart, mind and soul that aim to meet the needs and interests of all.

Today’s post is by Fay Sampson, author of Prayers for Anxiety. You can buy an eBook copy of the book here, or a physical copy here.