REMAINING IN GOD THROUGH THE THE BATTLE OF ANXIETY WRITTEN BY LYNNE TUGANGUI
A sudden intense panic ran through my body and before I
But, I was desperate and didn’t want to burden family or
knew it, first responders were in my apartment taking my
friends to operate from a capacity larger than what they
blood pressure and asking me questions about what I was
were already living from just for me.
experiencing. Turning to God just felt like the right thing to do. It was after 10 p.m. My husband was doing homework for school and our two older boys (who were toddlers at the
I attended a Sunday service at a church a friend
time) had been in bed for nearly a couple hours. It was my
recommended. The message broke me down and it was the
time to decompress, so I sank into the couch to watch the
first time I felt God's presence meet me right where I was
Food Network.
and filled my soul. My faith started a new journey and I was reaffirmed that God had been by my side the whole time.
That’s when a burst of adrenaline surged its way through
That everything I had gone and was going through was
my body, my heart raced uncontrollably, and I sensed
exactly what needed to happen in order to bring me back to
numbness in my face. My husband confirmed that my face
Him.
lost some color and it wasn’t long after that when the first responders arrived.
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according
I left in the ambulance that night and in the ER, I was
to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28
diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic attacks, and insomnia with emotional reactions. I was
Through this particular life experience, God revealed His
written a prescription, instructed to follow up with my
faithfulness in His pursuit for lost sheep. He really was
primary, and discharged.
willing to leave the 99 to bring them home. (Parable of the Lost Sheep; Luke 15: 1-7)
To be honest, I was disappointed it wasn’t something “serious” and that my labs were fine. This was proof that
I was the lost sheep. The one He had His hand over the
even I bought into the mental health stigma and needed to
whole time. Not because of who I am, but because of who
see it to believe it.
He is!
So, instead of getting the professional help I needed, I
Over a decade later from that late night ambulance ride to
continued to self-medicate and leaned on conversations
the ER, I have still experienced breakdowns. As much as I’ve
with family and friends to keep myself distracted. This
thought (and was told) that this was “all in my head” or
helped, but I needed more support. So, I turned to God.
dismissed as not having prayed enough, I’ve had to challenge the mental stigma through the unbelief
I grew up going to church, but never had a real connection
of those close to me, unlearn my own biases, and learn to
with it. My faith wasn't something I turned to when things
recognize it in myself.
were hard. Continued on pg. 30
28| DIVINE PURPOSE MAGAZINE
