Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders: “An intense and excessive uneasiness, worry, nervousness, fear, & dread in your everyday life.”

Death anxiety is widely regarded by mental health professionals to be the most important underlying problem which gives rise to all other mental disorders. Illustrating the point, an Australian psychologist said that death anxiety is "the Worm at the Core of Mental Health" (Rachel E. Menzies). She borrowed this statement from the famous American philosopher, William James, and adapted it to mental health. Originally, William James was emphasizing that mankind's fear of death is "the worm at the core" of the human condition. Other psychologists, like Sheldon Solomon, have agreed with this assessment, especially when it comes to anxiety disorders. 

“This idea is based on evidence that death is a significant feature across a range of anxiety-related disorders.” – Lisa Iverach PhD

​Do you agree? You don't need to go through thousands of counseling sessions of psychotherapy to realize this commonality among all mental health patients. Rather, you could just read the Bible. 

“…deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” – Hebrews 2:15

“…the spirit of bondage again to fear” – Romans 8:15

According to the Word of God, lost sinners are trapped in a spiritual "bondage" that makes them psychologically tormented by the "fear of death" (Heb. 2:15, Rom. 8:15). This is a spiritual problem with only one real solution! Consequentially, the LORD has authored a divine plan of salvation that liberates sinners from this terrible bondage. Read more scripture from Romans and Hebrews for the details.​ True Christians are no longer afraid to die because of a divinely granted assurance of eternal life ministered to the soul through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” - John 14:26-27

Suffice it to say, even the best minds of psychology cannot improve upon the message of the Bible (1 Cor. 1:21). They have a lot to learn about the worm as it pertains to the Doctrine of Mortality. No manmade coping mechanism will bring relief to this problem. Terror management tools are futile and useless when divine justice is making sinners afraid (Prov. 1:27-33, 3:25-26, 10:24-25, Ps. 9:20, Lk. 12:26, Rev. 6:15-17, 1 Thess. 5:3). The endless philosophical discussions about terror management theories are circular and self-defeating. ​One thing is certain! Death is coming for all of us. This is a judgment from God upon sinners. 

“Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.” - Psalm 9:20

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Rom. 6:23

This whole situation needs to be reevaluated in the light of Holy Scripture. A professional diagnosis of normalcy is subjective based upon the worldview of psychology (Col. 2:8). What is a diagnosis like this worth if these people refuse to read the Bible? The end goal of your Doctor is to get you feeling better based upon a worldview that needs to be informed and corrected by the Word of God.

Sin, righteousness, spirituality, and God should be a part of the diagnosis. These factors of life have a massive impact upon your environment and the stress that can be produced by any given situation. Given the unique circumstances of your environment, some fears are reasonable. Other fears are unreasonable! Some anxiety is necessary, advantageous, and realistic. Other forms of anxiety are fantastical and absurd! The interpretation of these things will determine when peace is warranted or delusional. Who is to be the judge of these things? 

“Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker?” - Job 4:17

“God forbid: Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” – Rom. 3:4

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” - Psalm 19:7-8

In reality, most people who are deemed mentally healthy are too comfortable and happy in this world (Ps. 10:6-7, 36:1, 1 Jn. 2:15-17). This is made possible through a delusional peace that suppresses the fear of death to the point where the anxieties of these people are insignificant and seemingly under control. Nevertheless, such people will quickly lose their composure when tragedy strikes. Ignorance is not bliss! 

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”  - 1 Thess. 5:3

Until tragedy strikes, it is easy for proud sinners to point the finger at others (Ps. 73:5-6). They are deluded by a false peace because they are blinded to the real danger at hand (Ps. 73:17-20). Meanwhile, others who are deemed mentally ill by the system are fearful of death for good reason. Experiencing more tragedy in life often brings a needed sobriety and wisdom (Eccl. 7:2-6). Notwithstanding, an even larger company of people are deemed mentally ill and diagnosed with an anxiety disorder because their fear of death is outrageous and unreasonable. Literally, these people are harassed by many delusional fears that don’t make any sense! This brings us to three possible categories of people in this complicated situation. 

1. Mentally healthy people who are comfortable and fearless because of a delusional peace.
2. Mentally ill people who are uncomfortable and afraid because of justifiable concerns that are supported by the Bible.
3. Mentally ill people who are uncomfortable and afraid because of unjustifiable concerns that are delusional fears. (There are demons at work in this situation.) 

Ultimately, we need grace to proceed in this matter by discerning the difference between rational and irrational fears according to the Bible. Firstly, our study will focus on the people in categories one and two. The bulk of the population in America should be able to relate. However, category three is unique and therefore unrelatable to most people. This situation is extraordinary because most of the delusional fear of anxiety disorders is demonic activity. Literally, the intrusive thoughts, graphic images, voices, and whispers are coming directly from the presence of a demon that is living inside the person. This news should come as a relief to those who are suffering this cruel bondage. Why? Because if you expel the demon, then the mental illness will be healed. 

​Health Anxiety

People struggle with anxiety out of concern for their health and physical wellbeing. Essentially, they fear becoming sick or dying. Given the frequency of random people getting horribly sick and dying through virtually inescapable diseases like the flu, this concern isn’t unfounded (Job 33:19-29). “The CDC estimates that the flu has resulted in 9.4 million – 41 million illnesses, 100,000 – 710,000 hospitalizations, and 4,900 – 52,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2022.” (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention). Likewise, if the statistics of all such diseases were reckoned up and accumulated with all the other known threats to mortal life, the numbers would communicate a message that would invoke fear in people. 

“Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.” - Psalm 90:3

Making things worse for some, science has graphically brought into view what used to be invisble. The fact that there could be a lingering presence of microscopic germs all around you is now something that can be visualized by the common people. The pathogens could be airborne! They could be creeping about your living quarters! Sometimes, albeit rarely, these little bugs can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, you could say that there are a lot of reasons to be afraid of “the pestilence that walketh in darkness” (Ps. 91:5-6).

Pestilence and disease have left an indelible mark upon human history. One way or another, people eventually come to realize how life is fragile and beauty is fading. Suddenly, people die! It all happens so quickly. Over 153,000 people die worldwide every day! Mortality is a force to be reckoned with (Job 4:17-21). 

“For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”  - James 4:14

Death is inescapable! While living, we are all in the process of dying. It is inevitable. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our heart unto wisdom.” (Ps. 90:12). Statistically, a staggering 56 million people worldwide die every year! This comes out to around 6,000 people every hour, 106 people every minute, and ≈2 people dying every second of the day. Immortals looking on at this situation are amazed to behold the destruction. 

“They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.” – Job 4:20-21

Are you ready to die? Most people are unprepared because they are deluded by a false peace (Lk. 12:16-21). Most people are far too happy and at home in this evil world (2 Cor. 4:4-7, 1 Jn. 2:15-17, James 4:4). Therefore, for many, death comes like a thief in the night! People don’t see it coming. 

Agoraphobia & Claustrophobia ​

People spend a fortune on homes and properties because they are grasping after a sense of security, identity, stability, and peace. They depend upon it. They trust in it! In reality, they trust in themselves (Jer. 17:5). Home is an environment they imagine to be completely under their control, even though nothing at all is really under their control. 

“Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.” - Psalm 49:11-12

“And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.” – Amos 3:15

Deception breeds delusion! Proud bones will be broken (Lam. 3:4). False peace is a nightmare situation (1 Thess. 5:2). When a delusional sense of security is suddenly and violently disrupted, sinners can become permanently traumatized as a result. These same people come to feel extremely vulnerable when faced with danger in other locations or places. This leads to agoraphobia and claustrophobia. Such experiences should inspire men to seek God (Ps 107:25-31)! However, only a minority of people ever come to do this (Matt. 7:13-14). Therefore, divine sovereignty arranges more bad thunderstorms, car accidents, turbulent flights, and near death experiences to get the attention of the people (Ps. 107). 

“And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” – Matt. 7:26-27

This is the robbery of the undying soul from its refuge of false security. Seeking security in earthly things is like grasping after the wind, especially if the LORD intends to disrupt the harmful fantasies of carnal security. Feeling safe, sound, secure, and at peace as a sinner isn’t a good thing! “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7). If divine wisdom acts to break the object of our trust, it is so that we will put our faith in God. 

Social Anxiety & Separation Anxiety ​

Manifold insecurities fuel anxiety! Insecurities about your body, called health anxiety, and insecurities about your location or place, called Agoraphobia or Claustrophobia, are common because people are chiefly concerned about the protection and preservation of themselves. Coincidentally, the same could be said about the glorification of self in how it fuels social anxiety and separation anxiety.

Sinners crave attention! You can call this glorification. Everything that they do is deeply motivated by a desire to be seen and recognized by men. They are lonely and miserable without it! Therefore, they don’t ever desire to be separated from their acquaintances, friends, family, and loved ones. 

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men…” – Matt. 23:5

“This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings.” - Psalm 49:13

Furthermore, when sinners get the attention that they so earnestly desire, if it isn’t positive and reinforcing to their self-esteem where they are receiving the honor and acceptance of their peers, it will then lead to feelings of social anxiety like embarrassment, self-consciousness, and shame. People just want to be successful and live with pride. This kind of thinking resonates with people because they all lust for the honor of men. 

“How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” - John 5:44
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“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” – Prov. 16:5

“…for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” - Luke 16:15

No real happiness is achieved by godless sinners (Mal. 3:15). People are secretly plagued with a tormenting sense of loneliness and anxiety as they worry about the relationships of their social life. Don’t let the sparkle and glitter of those who appear to be happy deceive you! Living for the glorification of self is hurtful, horrendous, animalistic, and deadly. 

“Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” – Psalm 49:20

Death is inevitable. It is the ultimate deglorification of self! It is inescapable. Therefore, death anxiety fuels separation anxiety for many people. Nevertheless, there is an alternative to death and condemnation. It is the Cross of Jesus Christ!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”  - Matt. 16:24-27

The Cross is an instrument of execution! The Cross will eliminate the problem of self and bring salvation to the soul. This is good news from a perfect Creator who promises everlasting life to sinners. 

Anxiety Disorders with Delusional Fears, Panic Attacks, & Demonic Possession ​

It is foolish for mental health professionals to omit God from the national conversation about Mental Illness. Consequentially, when speaking about the stress factors of the environment, there is no discussion about sin, righteousness, condemnation, salvation, the Holy Spirit, or demons. Nevertheless, all these things will have a massive impact upon our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Think about it! What if our desires are evil? Similarly, due to ongoing sin, what if someone is experiencing a demonic attack?

Sinning will not help your sanity! Rather, sinning is a real path to insanity and demon possession. Oh, that men would taste and see that sin is bitter! Nobody gets demon possessed who doesn’t deserve it. Sin opens the door to the devil. Of course, God doesn’t want anyone to be inhabited by devils! Therefore, universally, when we sin against God, we are forced to hear about it in our conscience. This is because mankind has been endowed by God with the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17, 3:22). Therefore, when we commit sin our conscience acts as a mental reprover. The word “con-science” literally means “with-knowledge”. 

“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” – Acts 24:16
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“…their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another” – Rom. 2:15

Our conscience will make us know when we have done something good or evil. In other words, an offended conscience makes people feel guilty. Having a knowledge of the good and discovering that we have done evil brings guilt and shame. This is also called conviction in the Bible. The conscience brings conviction as an enforcer of guilt when sin is committed. This is a good thing. 

“And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” - John 8:9

Men and women have been created in the Image of God. Consequentially, we are intrinsically conscious of morality and immorality. We are not amoral creatures, like the animals, who are oblivious to morality and exempt from divine judgment. Therefore, for us, a guilty conscience is a heavy burden! This is just the tip of the iceberg. Sin is more bitter than death! The knowledge of it being committed in our lives is a mental, emotional, and spiritual affliction. In other words, it is painful to realize the wretchedness of our sinful condition before God.

This realization makes us sorrowful and afraid (Gen. 3:8-10). However, most people try to ignore this pain as they go about their life. They don’t know that this causes the problem to fester and get worse. A lifetime of sin causes these fears to grow into ferocious and uncontrollable anxiety disorders. 

“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.”  - Prov. 19:3

There are a lot of anxious people in America! “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. and affect over 40 million adults, or 19.1% of the population.” (Forbes Health). Anxious sinners pay a visit to a local Doctor and are immediately prescribed benzodiazepines. Mental health professionals will tell you that these anxiety disorders are not referring to the common experience of stress and worry in your everyday life, but something much more intense. Therefore, the people go away believing that they have a chemical problem instead of a sin problem. They continue on a path of rebellion against God without even realizing that they are suffering demonic attacks as a result of ongoing sin.

There is a cause and effect to everything. The Holy Spirit uses the conscience to bring conviction to sinners (John 16:7-11). Yielding to this work will compel people to repent of sin and seek God for salvation. Contrastingly, when sinners ignore the conscience and disregard sin, this will eventually warrant demon possession. Demons will then harass and afflict these lost souls with temptations, enticements, accusations, and threats! In other words, this is a demonic attack that makes people panic through delusional fears.

Statistically, a majority of mentally ill people who are diagnosed with anxiety disorders are uncomfortable and afraid because of unjustifiable concerns that are delusional fears. Out of the 40 million Americans who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, a staggering 36 million of them experience panic attacks every year! These panic attacks are in fact demonic attacks. Hence, in the scientific community, it is widely recognized that delusional fears are closely associated with repeated episodes of panic attacks.

Naturally, even one panic attack can be so traumatizing that it changes the trajectory of life for people and severely inflames anxiety disorders. Literally, the fear of having another panic attack can itself provoke subsequent panic attacks. It is a downward spiral. The suffering of these people is so intense that many find themselves drifting into delusional fears without even realizing it.

Have you ever experienced a panic attack? A pounding heart, a racing pulse, chest pain, sweating, chills, trembling, hyperventilation, suffocation, stomach pain, nausea, weakness, dizziness, numbness, tingly hands, and even the inability to walk, move, or speak! All this happens because you are experiencing a feeling of unexplainable dread and terror at your own impending doom. This is the fear of death! Even though you are certain that you are going to die, so it seems, you feel completely helpless about it. You feel lost! You are unable to do anything but wait until this violent storm passes by and you return to sanity. 

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:37-41

Whatever storm you encounter in life, if Jesus Christ is with you in real time, this changes everything. The storm vexed seas fall silent and still before the Lord! Do you believe this? The most important thing about you, is what you think about Jesus Christ. The Miracle Worker of Israel often said, “…as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” (Matt. 8:13). Do you believe? 

“And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.” – Luke 6:17-19

Indeed, you may be vexed by the unclean spirits of devils! Nevertheless, even though perhaps no one else can understand your situation, Jesus Christ knows exactly what you are going through. To be vexed by a demon literally means that you are teased, provoked, irritated, troubled, agitated, disquieted, and afflicted (Websters 1828). The Greek word for “vexed” (ὀχλέω) is used only two times in the New Testament, and both times it is describing how people are basically being harassed and mobbed by demons (Lk. 6:18, Acts 5:16). Sound familiar? You don’t have to keep going through this torment! You need Jesus Christ. 

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;” – Isa. 61:1-2

Every time the Son of God encountered a demon possessed person in Israel, the spiritual prisoners were immediately liberated from the power of the devil. Even so, you will be treated no differently if you come into the presence of Jesus Christ. It is time for you to come! You should not delay any longer. It is time for you to seek the Lord (Jer. 29:13)! If you believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the promise of the Gospel. Herein, you will find rest and quietness (Isa. 30:15, Php. 4:6-7). Demons cannot enter a house that is occupied by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28-29, 43-45, 1 Jn. 3:8, 5:18).