Reflections on Anxiety
People of my generation fondly remember the movie, High Society. We watched with delight as Sinatra and Crosby crooned their way through reels of celluloid. Unfortunately, we are now living in a situation that could be described as High Anxiety as we struggle through miles of clogged roads, cope with high pressure jobs and juggle competing demands.
Anxiety is more than fretting about a big problem. It's a generalized feeling of gloom and doom. It's that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach on Sunday evening as you think about going to work on Monday morning. Anxiety is also that demon that wakes you up in the middle of the night and causes you to worry about nothing in particular.
To lessen anxiety, people often ingest Maalox, Pepcid AC or other over-the-counter remedies. They sign up for cruises and getaway weekends. They roam through shopping malls buying things they don't need and will never use. They binge on potato chips and cookies. Even worse, they may resort to alcohol, drugs or other forms of degrading behavior. Alas, such remedies don't work. Instead, they compound the problem. Meanwhile, anxiety spreads like an epidemic. Indeed, I sometimes think that Washington is not just the nation's capital, but the anxiety capital!
That's the bad news. But here's the good news. At every Mass, after the Our Father and prior to Holy Communion, we ask the Lord to "deliver us from all anxiety" Our prayer indicates a belief that someone can do something about our anxiety. That someone, of course, is the Lord. Emboldened by the Lord's words, "be not afraid," I'd like to propose for your consideration a partial list of tips for reducing anxiety in daily life.
Tip #1: Pray
The greatest and best reducer of stress is daily prayer. I say this for two reasons: first, Jesus invited us to confide our cares and worries to Him; second, prayer is the only way we get to know the Lord--it's the gateway to experiencing His love. Of course, by prayer I mean a real communication with the Lord--talking to Him like you talk to your best friend on this earth. I also mean listening to the Lord in the silence of your heart. So carve out a little time each day to tell the Lord your problems, worries and fears. Consider turning off the radio, CD player or cell phone while you're stuck in traffic. Take the Lord at His word when He said, "come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you."
Tip #2: Repent
Repentance may not sound like a stress reducer, but more like an anxiety producer! You may even be thinking, "I picked up these Reflections hoping to reduce stress in my life, but now that old Cardinal is asking me to wallow in guilt." Not at all. Repentance is not wallowing in guilt. Rather, it's doing something constructive about our guilt. We all worry about our shortcomings, failures and sins. Instead of stewing about our foibles, why not entrust them to the Lord's love and mercy? In the Sacrament of Penance, the Lord encourages us to admit our sins. Even better, our merciful Savior frees us from our sins through sacramental absolution.
Tip #3: Get a "Soul Friend"
By the phrase "soul friend" I mean a regular confessor or spiritual director--someone who can understand our interior lives and give us the freedom and compassion to speak about ourselves as we are. What a relief it is to unburden ourselves, to speak frankly about our lives in the context of confession and spiritual direction. Of course, we shouldn't always expect a response of praise. Our "soul friend" should provide a reality check when we try to deceive ourselves into thinking our vices are virtues. And while confessors and spiritual directors can't insulate us from the problems of life, they can help us find the truth, peace and love of Jesus in every situation that we encounter.
Tip #4: Be Humble
We live in a competitive society. The competition starts early and often gets fierce. The upshot is that we often think we have to be good at everything. We may feel anxious and inadequate when we find ourselves surrounded by individuals who are more talented and charming than we are. But there's a cure for that. It's called the virtue of humility. Humility is God's way of helping us see and accept ourselves as we really are. It's an honest snapshot of ourselves, not an airbrushed, glamorized photo--a false image to which we must conform. Humility rejoices and gives thanks for all the gifts God has given--to ourselves and to others. It helps us focus more clearly on the real contribution we can and should be making at home, work and in society at large. Of course, we have to leave open the possibility that we have hidden talents that emerge only later in life. But we also have to have a healthy, realistic appreciation of our limitations. We're not always destined to be the star of the show.
Tip #5: Set Priorities, But Not Too Many
We live in a demanding culture. It should be asking us to give our very best whether at home or at work. Instead, it asks us to do it all and have it all. So many people are anxious because they are striving for too many goals all at the same time. They are striving to make lots of money, enjoy phenomenal professional success, win social acclaim and have plenty of time left over for a pleasant home life. In the midst of it all, they hope to become reflective, thoughtful people. In the words of the old song, "something's gotta give!" We simply can't do it all. What we do need to find out is what the Lord wants us to do. He gives each person a mission in life, a vocation. We can't be really happy if we don't take the time and trouble to find out how the Lord wants us to spend that precious commodity called time. If you are married, you owe it to your spouse and family to pray and talk about what's really important in life. If you are single or a young adult, you should set appropriate goals for yourself. Don't be shy about checking out your goals with someone older and wiser. Pray about them. Ask the Lord what He wants you to do.
Tip #6: Live Sensibly
I'm not Dr. Gabe Mirkin, so please don't expect too much medical advice from me. But let's not forget the old maxim to the effect that "God's grace builds on nature." We shouldn't discount the role of a healthy diet, regular exercise and adequate rest in reducing stress. We don't all need to be health and fitness experts, but we do need to take care of ourselves.
My prayer for you and your loved ones is that anxiety will give way to trust--trust in the Lord who loves us more than we could ever ask or imagine!
Copyright © 1999 Archdiocese of Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
This item 3518 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
