So, my panic attacks. To catch you up, I had about 4 more immediately following after getting on some meds. They weren't nearly as bad, but definitely scary. Woo Hoo for medicine!
Although this 'weakness/ flaw/ illness' is fairly embarrassing for me, I have openly shared with people what's been going on. You would not believe how many people have shared with me their own struggles with anxiety, depression, post pardom depression, and post traumatic stress syndrome! Satan thrives on secret keeping because it isolates us from others. In that isolation he is better able to feed us lies. In isolation we are weak, vulnerable, like a lamb separated from the flock. 1 John i:5 says, "God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all." The Bible also says that two are better then one. If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
TELL somebody. Find somebody you can trust.
While many people have had bad church experiences, the truth is that there is no such thing as a perfect church, but some are better then others. Join a small group or Bible study. You can find a group of believers who are trustworthy and honest, and loving. I know. I have some friends such as these. Former alcoholics, gambling addicts, pornography addicts, self- worshiping addicts (me); the prideful (again, me) the stubborn, the mean hearted, the abused, those who've had affairs, the broken are all people I know. And I love them. They are my friends. And we are loved by the King who forgives and can change ANYONE. I want to be healed and saved from the tyranny of myself.
Isaiah 61 (condensed. Spoken by the prophet Isaiah, sent to write these words down for us to read in 2009)
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
proclaim freedom for the captives,
and release from darkness for the prisoners
to comfort those who mourn,
provide for those who grieve
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes
joy instead of mourning,
a garment of praise instead of despair.
This is the God I worship.
He is so powerful.
And good.
