Is drugging the best way to cope with anxiety?
Jenny Taitz, a clinical psychologist and assistant clinical professor in psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal, “The danger of relying on anti-anxiety drugs,” (January 26, 2024) challenging the notion that drugs are the best way to manage common anxiety. In writing about a patient named Cameron, who was becoming reliant on drugs, rather than learning how to work out his issues, she observes:
When it comes to navigating anxiety, facing your fears rather than running away from them—or drugging them into submission—is essential to reclaiming your freedom. Having uncomfortable emotions and sensations is normal. Taking a sedative is about escaping those sensations and emotions, when what we actually need to learn is to accept them. It’s almost a painful paradox that in instances when we most need to think, this medication blunts the capacity to be shrewd. I told Cameron that if he continued to take a pill to “calm down,” in case of a nerve-racking situation like turbulence, he was setting himself up to become dependent on the pill instead of learning to navigate his anxiety.
Christian Science has a solution to anxiety. Spiritual mindedness.
As the Bible says, “To be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). Thought filled with truth and love is at peace.
I had severe anxiety for many years. Incapacitied and homebound. Tried many methods for handling it. Finally turned to Christian Science. Throughout the day, I would mentally sing a hymn or state the 23rd Psalm or 91st Psalm. I would sing hymns to myself at night for insomnia and night terrors. Finally, it subsided and I was able to function again. At times, there seems to be a mild return but I know now who my comforter is.
Thank you for sharing your experience Sarah. You demonstrated strength, perseverance in finding a solution, and coping skills. You are a wonderful example for anyone suffering from severe anxiety. I’ve always felt that CS (Christian Science) stands for “coping skills”. Knowing that God deeply loves and cares for all of His/Her children is extremely comforting and reassuring. We are never, ever alone. When we align with God, solutions to life’s problems always unfold.
Merciii
Thank you Evan for bringing light on the topic. Indeed there is a much better high or drug when facing doubt or anxiety. Thank u for the Bible verse which concords with Eddy’s teaching. There is better médecine ( spiritual one)when facing the material challenge ( mortal mind), it is ok to recognize a situation when we feel trap and disturb in our own thinking and also not to be though with ourselves when that happens.
But also get to work as soon as possible on the spiritual level ( the real and authentic Thinker ( Spirit)) who is the only Presence as soon as possible .
Look in the direction you wish to go. .Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life” When we follow Jesus, filling our thoughts and actions with Love, that is what we find. “Beloved Christian Scientists, keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them.” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 210:2–4). And the good news is that Truth and Love are always readily available and free…What a comfort..
Hmmm, I woke up thinking about this very subject this morning. Last year, several very challenging, anxiety inducing, human experiences seemed to provoke the idea that seeing a specialist might help resolve what was fast becoming the belief of panic attacks. I gave in to the desire, and sure enough, I got what error sent me out for to see. After one, one hour chat, I received, or rather I will say, I was draped with, a certain diagnosises (Here, don our latest Parisian garment) and a prescription for a mood stabilizer.
That was several weeks ago and even though I sought the world’s sense of instant relief, I couldn’t bring my Self to allow the idea that an unintelligent drug, or mindless thoughts, can have the power to help or harm me. I, as the article in this post suggests, started staring fear down, bit by bit.
I turn my thoughts back to God each time error attempts an ambush, sniper attack, or cunning and devious misperceptions to alter my understanding of reality. People, places, circumstances, and things are all perceived according through subjective human conditioning, which is false indoctrination. It is imperative that we CS not lose our hold on the reality of being.
We cannot serve two masters. The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8) Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-10)
It is clear to me how imperative it truly is to meditate on What Our Leader Says. “Beloved Christian Scientists, keep your mind so filled with truth and love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them. It is plain that nothing can be added to the mind already full. There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armour; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefitted.
When I feel fear creeping in, I dismantle the acronym, (False. Evidence. Appearing. Real.) word by word, applying each to the intrusive thoughts, and soon, I find myself loosed from all illusion and back in the Kingdom. Things are gradually turning around for me and I am happy to know that there is Life and Power in the word of God. We have the victory. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing move you, always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
(1 Corinthians 15:58)
Let Love win!
Thank you Love! Thank you for sharing the practical Truth!
Dear Love, Thank you so much for sharing that with us. You certainly did let
Love win! Lovely! No matter what the issue, Love does win every time.
I like your idea of being ambushed. When I feel like that I can know I am with God and I am Spiritual and I don’t have to hide from or fear the ambush. God is loving me and in control. Thank you Love.
Yes Marian I also liked the way Love pulled back the veil on cowardly error, describing its tactics as “…an ambush, sniper attack, or cunning and devious misperceptions to alter my understanding of reality.” But the ambush is powerless as we are clad in the panoply (the full armor) of Love/God, as Mrs. Eddy says. So you’re right, we don’t have to cower or hide from or fear these so-called attacks.
Love thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us and for your great spiritual courage. Many blessings to you as you continue seeing more Truth and Peace revealed. A good example for all of us in standing up to lies and standing, sticking, staying and resting only with almighty God.
Think, can I take one step, then another, . . . then another, without falling back toward instability?
As you explained, keep your gaze on the Lie and Power….the WORD of GOD. Your contribution is very helpful, to turn me around, and “give myself fully to to work of the LORD.”
Yes, chilisands … and as Mrs. Eddy writes on pg 444 of S&H,
“In some way, sooner or later, all must rise superior to materiality,
and suffering is oft the divine agent in this elevation. ‘All things
work together for good to them that love God,’ is the dictum of
Scripture…. Step by step will those who trust Him find that ‘God
is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Amen to that!
Amen. I love this!
That was a beautiful treatment, Love. It helped me see clearly regarding a challenging issue which causes me quite a bit of fear and anxiety. No more “sniper” attacks.
I Love the peace and contentment in this message and photo this morning, dear Evan –
it is very calming. The unconditional love is so healing and such a blessing. In a world that
seems so volatile and unsettled these days, in so many ways, being anxious about all that
is going on seems like it is “normal”. Having to face so many issues when seemingly alone
can often feel overwhelming. I recently had a dear friend pass on who I used to rely on and
share thoughts with, who would help calm thoughts of fear, anxiety, worries, concerns, because
she also had some of the same challenges. Having the healing effects of CS is the glue that holds
together these times of confusion and discontent. It is so comforting to share with like minded
“children of God” here, who share these spiritual truths and I thank you all so much.
May the Spirit brings you réconfort for the dear friend !
Thank you so much Pp ! Life is eternal and her wonderful qualities
live on. She had told me she would occasionally come to this site for
inspiration (altho she was not CS), so the other day when someone with
her same name had posted a comment, it brought a smile. She had never
posted here, that I am aware of, but did find comfort from the spiritual
thoughts.
She did love the hymnal sent to her and uplifting, comforting
expressions of Spirit/God and she was always appreciative of them,
for their calming and peaceful support.
One never knows what blessings are happening “behind the scenes”
with the love that is shared here.
I was healed of severe panic attacks many years ago. My testimony is in the September 2015 Journal, if anyone wants to read it.
Thanks, as always, Evan, for these healing and inspiring posts.
Thank you for sharing this Jeff.
“Healed of substance abuse and panic attacks” By Jeffrey Gresham Tinkham:
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/h0wy1v7z7g?s=e
Wonderful! Thank You Jeff for mentioning and Thank You J for posting
Jeff, thank you for your article. I could substitute your name with the name of someone who is near and dear to me, as this is also his story (with the exception of a Christian Science mom). What you have written is more helpful than you know. And, J, thank you for posting it.
Thinking about anxiety medication/drugs – the side effects alone are very scary. When a person experiences anxiety it’s a very crippling mental, hopelessness. So when they take the meds to calm down this feeling, they can feel dizzy, confused, light headed, have slurred speech, memory problems, etc. People react differently to different drugs. Sometimes these drugs lead to other major physical problems like stroke, heart attack, diarrhea, etc. One drug treats for this and then that happens, then they need another drug to stop that to avoid that it’s an endless cycle of hopelessness. As we know in CS everything is mental, it’s a change of thought so we don’t need drugs for anything. The pain medications are really bad as far as side effects. I would rather have a complete healing in CS than take drugs and possibly have a stroke or heart attack or end up dead. Saying it bluntly, but it’s the truth. I feel bad for the people who won’t even try CS and think they have to live in a vicious cycle of unhappiness. I am going to study, Science, Theology, and Medicine. Mrs. Eddy says a lot about drugs and side effects.
I like your idea of being ambushed. When I feel like that I can know I am with God and I am Spiritual and I don’t have to hide from or fear the ambush. God is loving me and in control. Thank you Love.
Feels like that third paragraph needs quotation marks around it to be clearer. At first it read as if Evan was recommending that we accept anxieties as normal, so had to go back to see where that was coming from.
“A permanent healing of panic attacks” by William Whittenbury:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1ccit1b9pts
I think the paragraph at the beginning: “When it comes to navigating anxiety,” is a quote from the psychologist not Evan – correct?
Yes I believe that whole paragraph is a quote from the psychologist’s article, as Evan prefaced it with the words, “she observed.” I had to keep in mind that even though she advocated a clear-headed, non-drug approach she still voiced a material perspective by saying that the emotions and sensations of anxiety are normal and must be navigated/tolerated.
But Evan of course goes higher, directly to spiritual mindedness. So we don’t have to just cope or manage, we can heal or dissolve the painful belief of anxiety. Anxiety implies a feeling of danger, unsafety in some way which has at its base a belief in some force or power other than God, that can harm us. People are suffering and just want relief and are looking in many directions, it is very heartfelt. I am all too familiar with these feelings. I pray to see that we are all embraced in God’s Love every moment, and free from these wrong ideas.
My dear husband, who is not a student of Christian Science, seemed to buckle under life’s pressures, and began to suffer with anxiety and panic attacks. He is not a pill taker, but he decided to try the anti-anxiety drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist,–partly so he could be relieved of the inability to sleep. Of course I was praying fervently to heal my own thought of this picture during this trying time. My husband soon found that the clouding and stupefying effects of the drugs were intolerable and counterproductive, gave them up, and ended up talking to a Christian Science practitioner for help. So happy to report that he soon regained his mental peace and poise, and now sleeps like a baby!
As Evan says, the remedy for stress and anxiety is spiritual mindedness. Christian Science reveals the truth that stress and strain, worry and anxiousness are mesmeric states of thought unknown to the divine Mind that is God, and therefore are not the mind of His image and likeness man. In reality they can have no power over us. We can combat these mortal mind aggressive suggestions successfully with the potent truths of man’s God given serenity, clarity, composure, and natural sense of good as Mind’s reflection.
Linda thank you, so good to hear about your husband’s great results, all blessings to both of you.
“How to be resilient in tough times” by Beverly Goldsmith:
https://christiansciencecanberra.com/category/beverly-goldsmith/
Thank you Evan for addressing this topic. This is a struggle for many, and it’s so important for children and adults to develop coping/problem solving skills and resilience. A class we took at work was on Stress Management. One step for coping and problem solving is to always ask yourself, “What’s my Plan B?”. When we pray and listen, God (Mind) always gives us the right answers and direction. It’s so encouraging to look beyond the limited human view, and know that divine Mind always has an infinite number of ideas constantly unfolding…how comforting is that!
J thank you for a “triple play” today! Three articles that we can savor over the weekend, much appreciated.
J, the link to the article by Beverly Goldsmith didn’t bring up a
readable article for me. I tried 3 times. Rose, were you able to read
that last article?
Dear Lori, I am sorry you were unable to access the wonderful articles
on the link J provided. I hope you will somehow be able to see them,
because they are really inspiring and helpful. Thank you so much, J . Like
the uplifting messages on the 7th, this, too, has great tips … letting our spirits
soar and our thoughts be elevated. I love how relevant these buoyant thoughts
are!
Thank you Rose dear for your blessings! Much love to you.
Weekend reading 🙂 …a wonderful weekend to all!
“Resilience” (When it seems as if a crisis would hold us down, spiritual buoyancy helps us meet the challenge and move forward.) by Jeanne Steely Laitner:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/2162u9567bq?s=eotw
Thank you very much, dear “J” for that article “Resilience”, just this moment needed by me. It`s very helpful with all the Bible instances and Mrs. Eddy`s experiences!
And I am really very very grateful for this loving and healing SpiritView forum!!
Thanks “J”, and wish you and all a happy weekend, as well! 🙂
awefully sweet the foto up here, thank you dear Evan! Like this I also was on my couch, but having my sweet guinea pig on my lab, cuddling it, but that was decades ago.
Awww, how sweet, Uta – I have had “piggies” throughout
the years, as well. They are wonderful little creations of
God’s Love. One used to sit on my shoulder. They showed
so much affection – such sweet beings of happiness and
contentment. Thank you for the reminder of them.
A lovely weekend to you, too, and All.
Thank you dear Angel, that is very sweet what you say about these lovely creatures, Guinea piggies. I loved them too very much, and I had at least two of them at a time. But over many years I had a lot of those sweeties. Animals have a healing effect when someone is sad. But also this quality comes from God.
Animals do teach us so many God-like expressions, dear Uta
and the love they give is so divine and beautiful. Especially dogs,
who give such unconditional love, God’s Love. The bond and
comfort they share is so heartwarming.
Thank you dear Angel for the angelic divine thoughts about God`s lovely creatures, the animals, which you give us here so lovingly. I also had a cat and birds a long long time ago, and I agree fully with the truths you mention here about animals, thank you very much!!
God’s Love
Highlights our Soul
Bringing compassion and
Joy to our heart
Knowing with God,
Always a part … (of us)
Anxiety melts away like
The snow
(Why all the fuss?) …
Forever warmed by God’s heavenly glow.