Spiritual Warfare What I Did to Combat Anxiety, Fear, Depression and PTSD

Monday, April 23, 2018

Healing from Anxiety, Panic Attacks, PTSD, and Depression: My Journey with God

God doesn't always do the quick healing; sometimes, he takes you on a journey. Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, or PTSD? I’ve been there, and I know the pain. For me, much of this turmoil stemmed from a difficult and painful experience with the Board members in my community and some City/Town workers in two towns, same guy, Lucky me, (sassy comment). It took a toll on my emotional and physical health, and I found myself in a dark place. But I want you to know: there is hope. The Lord healed me from depression; it's gone, and I want to share with you what helped me along the way—guided by God’s wisdom.

The Panic Strikes

I still remember the first time I thought I was dying. It was terrifying. I was having panic attacks that felt like they would never end. I went to the ER twice, convinced I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt tight, and I had chest pain, which made me think I was having a heart attack. The reality? I wasn’t dying. When I asked the nurse, she smiled and said, “Sweetie, you couldn’t get more oxygen if you tried.”

It turned out I wasn’t breathing properly—not from my abdomen, but from my chest. This shallow breathing made my lungs feel tight. But I didn’t know this at the time, and it left me scared. I was afraid to let my heart beat too fast, convinced something was wrong. Eventually, I learned that the chest pain was just gas—when I drank some water and started to burp, it helped.

Still, the panic attacks kept coming, one after another. I had bronchitis, PTSD, severe anxiety, and panic attacks that seemed unrelenting. It was a cycle of terror and confusion, and I didn’t know how to break free. But I’m here today to tell you there is a way out.

Seeking Help: You Don’t Have to Fight Alone

I want to encourage you: don't be afraid to reach out for help. Whether it's counseling, therapy, or talking to someone who can support you, seeking help is a critical step in healing. I strongly recommend finding a Christian counselor—someone who can help you navigate through the pain with the love and wisdom of God. I am not a doctor, but I am someone who has been badly bruised and healed by God. If you're reading this, I hope my experience can encourage you to keep fighting, to keep believing, and to keep moving forward.

I also sought prayer from pastors who had an altar of fire, because I believe it matters who prays for you. I prayed for healing, and I trusted that God would work on my behalf. And, friend, He did.

The Struggle with Medication

For me personally, I chose not to rely on medication. That was a decision I made after praying and seeking guidance from the Lord. This is not to say that medication doesn’t help some people—it’s a personal choice that you need to make after speaking with your doctor, understanding side effects, and considering your own health.

I was prescribed Xanax during my ER visit after one panic attack. But when I took it, I didn’t feel better. I felt numb, “high,” and detached from the problem. How was that supposed to help me? The situation causing me torment remained the same, and the meds only made me feel disconnected. I tried medication a few times in the past, but each time, I found myself asking, “How does this help me heal?”

I didn’t want to rely on something that would numb me or make me dependent. So, I trusted God instead.

God’s Healing: A Journey of Faith

In the beginning, God healed me slowly—just enough to get me off the medications and start my journey toward complete healing. Eventually, He told me I was healed. My healing didn’t come in one big moment, but in steady steps. Over time, I began to feel stronger, and I began to trust God’s timing.

What I want you to know is this: there is an end date to your struggles. You don’t have to be stuck in this place forever. God loves you just the way you are, brokenness and all. You can make it through this. You will make it through this. It might not be easy, but God’s power and love are greater than any fear or anxiety.

Trusting in God’s Plan

Today, I am healed. The torment that once consumed me is gone, and I’m living proof that God’s healing power is real. He didn’t just help me manage my pain; He healed me. And I believe He will do the same for you.

While you’re walking through your healing journey, keep in mind that God has a plan for you. He sees your pain, and He will deal with those who have caused you harm. They will be held accountable in front of Jesus, just as I will. But the only thing I can control is what I do in God’s sight, and that means choosing to forgive, to trust, and to walk in faith.

Friend, There Is an End Date to Your Struggles

Friend, there is an end date to your struggles. God loves you just the way you are, brokenness and all, and He is sovereign. He is faithful to perform His promises in your life. You may not see it yet, but His timing is perfect, and He will show up at just the right moment.

You don’t need a huge amount of faith—just the size of a mustard seed. That’s all God needs to move mountains in your life. If you have that small mustard seed of faith, you are already on your way to healing. I want you to hold onto that hope. You can manage this. God will carry you through.

Final Thoughts: Healing is Possible

I know it’s hard, especially when it feels like your pain will never end. But I want you to know that healing is possible. Don’t give up. Keep trusting God. He will bring you through this. You might feel broken right now, but you are not alone. God is with you, and His healing is available to you.

I have been where you are, and I’m telling you: God will heal you, too.

God bless you. I hope this encourages you to take the next step toward healing.

First get a physical exam to rule out and medical conditions so you know you are not having a heart attack and you are not dying. Stress can cause many things. Keep walking, keep it moving if you can get used to the symptoms of panic (and there are over 100) and still keep moving you can stop focusing on your breathing and/or your physical body. I read of a heart doctor who told a patient after a heart attack healthy heart is a beating heart. Our hearts are made to have a rapid heartbeat at times, it happens when we are moving a lot, eating, having anxious thoughts but most of us do not recognize it, unless you have anxiety, then you recognize it. Ignore it, don’t focus on it. Repeat this, “A healthy heart is a beating heart”.

Do an Intake-Why am I anxious? Did I eat? Is it hormonal? Is my sleep disrupted? Have I drunk enough water? You can have allergies with clogged ears and that can set off a panic attack. I once had bronchitis and it was setting off panic attacks. Check for an imbalance and see if you can fix it. Journal your anxious thoughts, then you don’t have to think of them again once you write them down.

What are you confessing with your mouth? - This anxiety, depression etc.… is not yours do not claim my anxiety instead say this anxiety. Do not take ownership. We must always remember to speak life. Keep confessing that you are healed even during a panic attack. Do not verbalize your symptoms as if they are sticking around. Anxiety is a liar! It can cause you to have crazy thoughts, thoughts that make you think you are crazy or going to go insane, but don’t worry you are not crazy. Crazy, people don’t know they are crazy. Remember Satan is a liar, John 8:44,

This anxiety will not be with us forever and we can and will learn to manage it until the Lord heals us completely. Healing is a promise to destroy every disease including mental illness, anxiety, depression, panic attack, PTSD it is all included. Jesus paid the price for all of our sins; he took them upon himself and crushed them all at the cross. These panic attacks are actually a spiritual attack. We become frightened and/or frozen, we cannot think straight, and our patience becomes thin. When this happens, we are at war, and at war our weapons become our words and our prayers. Sometimes all you can muster is a whisper, but that is all you need. (Rachelle Bleakly) Just Say JESUS!

Panic attacks stop quickly if you can get out of your head. It was explained to me by a doctor that it’s like the ocean, once it gets stirred up, the waves come crashing in, over & over, but if you calm the waves, they will slow down and eventually stop. Try to stop the panic in its tracks; it helps. Get up move around, wash the dishes, take a hot bath, take a walk; nobody will even know you are having a panic attack because they are so focused on their own selves. Sometimes your brain is going too fast, so you cannot read, listen to the bible app, watch a TV sermon, or a podcast on your phone. The same goes for depression: move a muscle, change a thought. Worship music is a weapon use it!,

I was angry-I hated the Board members and the City, I couldn’t even bring myself to pray for them at first. Anger will eat you up on the inside- It causes you to be anxious so FORGIVE. Forgiveness isn't about letting anyone get away with anything it's setting yourself free. What I did was allow the Lord to work in my life by doing it his way. I understand some situations you just don't feel it. Ask God to help you and he will. I’m grateful for their disgusting behavior, because now I can be a light in someone else’s darkness. God has blessed me for every horrible thing that the enemy has done through these people and I am so in love with Jesus. The Lord makes your enemies your footstool and here it is in this blog. Don’t get me wrong they aren’t sorry, one iota, they were still try to attack my family, even as of last month, but I now know who I am. Who I am in Christ, I am a child of the Most High God. He is more powerful and is in control of my life. The Lord has blocked the enemy from trying to destroy my life through these people and when I move out from this neighborhood I will be grateful for ALL the Lord has done in my life in-spite of them. It doesn’t mean what they did was acceptable or that I want to hang out with them, It means I love myself and my Father enough to let it go. It also means I pray for them, even though they aren’t sorry. I keep giving it to him and he walks me through forgiveness.

Heat works to relax you-Heating pads, hot baths, I have even used the heated seat in my car. A heating pad on my chest worked wonders. Muscles get sore from being tense; my upper chest used to feel like someone punched me.

For high anxiety (not in the middle of a panic attack) Lie on a bed or flat on your back it helps to watch your stomach rise and fall. Breathe into your nose hold it and blow out through your mouth (pursed lips or whistling).

Breathing during a panic attack or at the beginning when you are concentrating on your breathing. Speak this I command my breathing to be normal, into my abdomen and not into my chest right now in the name of Jesus Christ-Amen If you are having trouble concentrating as long as you exhale more than you inhale you should stabilize Co2 levels that cause dizziness and feeling of not being able to breathe (Don’t do it of you have a heart condition).

Calmclinic.com has a bunch of breathing techniques that I have used during a panic attack.

Take 15-20 minutes in a quiet place

1. Inhale count 5 heartbeats

2. Hold Breath, count 7 heartbeats

3. Exhale count 9 heartbeats

If you are suffering from PTSD-Every damaged cell in my body I command you to be repaired right now in the name of Jesus Christ-Amen repeat, repeat repeat, in the car, shower, cleaning. Mumble it say it before bed and when you wake up.

Say it out-loud in a firm voice. Back-up Satan you are under my feet. Spirit of Anxiety, Fear, Panic, PTSD GET OUT NOW in the name of Jesus Christ; I am covered by the blood of Christ. I have yelled it on my knees sobbing and praying for God to help me so please do not feel stupid. Attacks are scary until you learn how to fight.

Get your vitamin D checked. I take Vitamin D3, Tri-B (B6, B12 & Folic Acid) I take Magnesium. It helps me, but I also got all my levels checked to make sure I wasn't over doing anything.