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b'Anxiety is not always cured just by taking a deep breath or going on a nature walk. While these things\\u2014along with getting enough sleep at night, eating well, and praying\\u2014can help, sometimes they\\u2019re not enough. If you are still feeling anxious, know that you\\u2019re not alone.\\nThere is no reason to be embarrassed about your anxiety. We live in a broken world where things are difficult and confusing. God made our minds and our bodies good, but since the first humans sinned, all kinds of death and sickness entered the world, including mental illness. Whether it\\u2019s having unending thoughts about \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153what-if\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d scenarios, feeling like we\\u2019re in danger even when we\\u2019re not, or some other form of anxiety, God has compassion on us and offers us help. One way God helps us is through other people.\\nIf you have anxious thoughts all the time, or if you cannot find the calm and peace you seek, it\\u2019s ok to ask for help. God has given us each other to comfort, encourage, and help one another. Some people can also give advice on how to deal with anxiety in healthy ways, such as counselors and pastors. God provides people you can talk to about what you\\u2019re experiencing.\\nAlso know that God is not unaware of your anxiety. In fact, God knows about anxiety because He lived through it. Jesus experienced anxiety while on earth, especially as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, knowing He would soon face death (Luke 22:39-44). Psalm 22 even offers us a glimpse into what it was like for Jesus as He experienced a high level of anxiety on the cross as He bore the sin of the world. Jesus cares about what you\\u2019re going through. He\\u2019s been there. He knows. He sees you and everything that is going on in your life.\\nWhen we seek God, He helps us. Sometimes He helps through other people. Sometimes He gives a moment of peace or reveals a truth in His Word that offers hope. We can talk to God when we feel anxious, being honest about what we\\u2019re experiencing and asking for help. Sometimes, thanking God for His blessings can help us remember that He is loving, powerful, and trustworthy. When life feels overwhelming, we can also take a break and spend time with friends, and we can reach out for help when we need it.\\nThrough Jesus\\u2019 life, death, and resurrection, we can know God\\u2019s love for us is stronger than anything, including anxiety. When Jesus returns, He will heal all mental illness for good! In the meantime, we don\\u2019t have to be afraid to admit when we\\u2019re feeling anxious. Many people feel the same way, and with help from God and each other, we can move toward a life of peace. \\u2022 Bethany Acker\\n\\u2022 If you\\u2019d like to talk to someone about anxiety but you aren\\u2019t sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.\\n\\u2022 God lives in perfect community as the Trinity (three Persons in One), and we are made in His image. Because of this, we are designed to live in community. And, if we know Jesus, the same Holy Spirit lives in each of us, uniting us around the gospel. It\\u2019s because of this unity that we can be open and honest with each other about our struggles, including struggles with anxiety. Who is a trusted Christian you can talk to about your questions? How can you listen with compassion when other people tell you about their struggles? \\n\\u2022 Even if you don\\u2019t struggle with clinical anxiety, we all feel anxious from time to time because we live in a broken world. What things are you worried about right now? If you\\u2019re ready, yo'