How I Handle My Anxiety as a Catholic

[@vesnastihovic7014]

Sometimes I contemplate over the words of Saint Patrick in a form of prayer “Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.“

[@jcorbo7518]

"Shepherd me O God beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life" This one is my personal favorite 'Light and my Salvation' is very good too Thanks Amber!

[@Thegreatestholynameofjesus]

Religious hippie girl a fake robot

[@roseangeliefigueroa6843]

God sometimes responds my prayers through videos and today was one of those days. This week has been TOUGH! Full of anxiety and spiritual warfare. Thank you Amber

[@catholicreligionteacher295]

So many people are struggling with anxiety now. Thank you for sharing your tips - I know they will help someone who needs peace today. God Bless You!

[@nicoleyoshihara4011]

I've had anxiety since about 3rd grade. Thank you for talking about this ❤💕

[@mirianaelyse9903]

Girl I have scrupulosity too!! I have OCD and anxiety!! PLEASE make a video about this!!!!!!

[@mydecember4822]

Thank you, this video is so helpful.❤ I have social and generalized anxiety, and i get panic attacks at night ever since I was a child. So far ive only ever tried praying the rosary in such moments and it was amazing, theres nothing that can calm me down better!!

[@javieragacitua4364]

I really needed this!!! Thank you

[@me-bi5dd]

Love your input, God bless you and personaly music good music and praying has been the key... There were times there was no one, that's when we get closer to God our Maker... We start asking and searching until we find peace and until we realize peace has always been with us. God bless you. Never cease praying 🙏💕

[@diana.the.writer766]

I suffer from bipolar and other depressive type disorders. I'm in my 30s and I've been through this since teen years. Having a strong Catholic relate is gold!

[@rafaelvelasquez5455]

One of my short and simple prayers that I'd like to share when I have anxiety is: "O My Jesus, for I know that in Your Divine Wisdom & Love - You will Ordain Everything for The best." 🙏 And yes I agree, The Saint Dymphna and Saint Benedict medal are very efficacious against Spiritual attacks and Anxiety! 💒 Adoration is by far The Best Spiritual Nourishment of Mind , Heart, Body , and Soul! 🙏💒🙏

[@Nikator24]

Great video Amber.

[@erniesandoval9852]

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks 😬, some times the attacks hit me when I'm driving.and I have to pull over to clam down it's awful.

[@erniesandoval9852]

@† A Catholic Wife's Life03 † thank you 🙏

[@nicoleyoshihara4011]

🙏❤

[@mariarios-bk1pz]

I can understand how you feel. My last panic attack was 2008. I was driving looking for help. I asked 3 different persons at different times if they knew where a Catholic Church was at. I ended up at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. It was amazing!!! I asked God with all my Heart to please take away this panic attack & that I do not want to experience again. God Granted my wish. I am so grateful & now I serve my Lord as a Eucaristic Minister❤️ Never forget Jesus & his Mother Mary❤️ Awesome advises from this young lady in Utube👍

[@siobhanphoenix9789]

I am afraid of getting my license now at almost 42. I never got it when I was young because I grew up very poor, and then I lived in a small city that had a bus system plus I could walk to a lot of places within an hour or so. I don't trust other drivers for being in such a hurry. Even if I am the passenger I am especially nervous with ramps! I try not to be. It depends on the day. I know I couldn't stand the highways out west in Canada where everyone is driving at crazy alarming speeds! There it is normal but I really didn't grow up around that at all and with anxiety I would likely be having the worst panic attack I had ever had!

[@metaorange302]

Driving is the worse as a now former Uber driver!

[@luisamariavillegaslopez5822]

Thanks for these recommendations 💙

[@MegaDancergirl22]

Loved and needed this video! I love how you mentioned the rosary! The rosary puts m at ease too! I also love how you mentioned finding a therapist, that’s actually something I’ve been considering. It can be very hard speaking up about help for anxiety and depression over fear of being judged. I don’t want people to see or think of me as a sad person. There are moments when I experience true Joy and moments where my mood is very low and it can make it hard to function. It’s like a rollercoaster( both highs and lows).

[@metaorange302]

"Be not afraid!"

[@ErnestoIbarra]

I stopped watching the news (on TV/Social Media) and deleted my Facebook account. That helped a lot with my anxiety.

[@siobhanphoenix9789]

Another thing to do is to make your youtube feed and Instagram feed suit what you want to see. Stuff comes up I don't like on youtube and I say "I don't like this video", or I may say "Don't Recommend Channel". It has helped and the more I search for Catholic content the more that comes up that I can discover. Before I knew these were options it was super annoying!

[@almapimentel2283]

please pray for me you guys! i also struggle with anxiety!

[@bricktop5379]

Love your videos 👍🏻

[@annmary6974]

These are exactly the stuff I do, when I am anxious....Listening to testimonies/ conversion stories also helps me calm down

[@BlessedisShe]

Love St. Dymphna!

[@maryismymotherandjesusismy9516]

Thanks for being brave to share your witness with us! God bless you always! Can you please talk about how u handle your scrupules? I suffer a lot from it! Hugs from Brazil! 🤎🙏

[@HoldYourBreat4]

“Offer it up” 😆😆😆🙌🏼🙏🏻

[@HoldYourBreat4]

As a combat veteran, the VA and other veteran service organizations completely ignore the spiritual/religious aspects of mental health. I recommend talking to a priest before getting on board with the meds that the VA are all to happy to put you on. I too, have found the rosary effective in calming bouts of anxiety and hyper vigilance. I wear a wrist wrap rosary so it’s always on hand

[@taniaraquel6649]

Thanks for sharing, i found breathing exercises and stretching have also helped me.

[@yankees4551]

Very hectic stressy week... And it's not done yet. So on free days I put on the Psalm Cd's with the 150 Psalms sung. (11 cd's..!) enough strong encouraging texts there. The spirit is willing, but it's harder for my flesh (my body) to give up the stress. But it really helps. Let God's will be done. Our suffering is for His glory.

[@jb_benedict]

incredible tips! thank you for sharing Amber! :)

[@stmartin17773]

When RH read the Psalms it brought peace. Wonder if a catholic poet could confirm what the best translation is.

[@boyce1000]

Great advice. Until recently I had bad anxiety, thoughts repeatedly running through my head, but I found saying prayers, rosary, etc really helped just like the advice in this video, so it backs up what I found myself. Put your trust in God and Jesus, outcomes will never be as bad as you think they will turn out.

[@marymcm9302]

Amber please make a video or insta story for depression. Im struggling hard. Sometimes I just want to cry during mass.

[@yankees4551]

We went through some serious suffering..a few years ago. And during that time God was very near to us. So we have way less anxiety after that exprience. When suffering comes our way we remember God's presence. Jesus promised to be with us all the time.

[@anthonym3351]

Repeating Jesus words fills me with alot of confidence. Maybe saying some calming verses internally when anxiety hits may help people suffering

[@Thegreatestholynameofjesus]

Their days I need positive people

[@Guampilot]

i have a tattoo of "Psalm 56:3" on my arm and I look at it whenever I am anxious. "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."

[@goodman4093]

1. Most sacred heart of Jesus grant me peace 2. Jesus I trust in you Psalms 61& 27

[@barryr780]

a few years ago I wrote this story, hope you enjoy it.Early one morning, around 5:30 am, a man who worked for a construction company was leaving for a new job-site, which he was never on. After entering the address into his GPS he started on his was. It was a rainy morning, with a chance of fog as well in higher elevations. Since never traveling this way before He had to keep a constant watch on the GPS, because there were many turns. While he was going up a darkly lit road, he noticed a truck from a company who delivers material. He thought, could it be, this truck is going to the same job-site he was going to. As it turned out every time the GPS said turn here, the truck he was following also turned. All of a sudden he thought, I can relax and follow this truck as he must be going to the same spot. The next 30 minutes were filled with peace and calm as all he had to do was follow the big white truck. Then He had a thought, this is what it must feel like to follow Jesus, as He leads us through the many turns in life. All of a sudden a red light separated the 2 vehicles; however he could still catch a glimpse of the white truck ahead to see which way he needed to go. The trip was half way over and by now he was catching the truck and was thinking he is going so slow, up a steep dark foggy road, I am going to have to pass him, to get to work on time. Now instead of following he was looking back in his mirror to see if the truck was still going the same direction as he was. Now he had to go back to listening to His GPS and focusing on where he needed to turn once more. Well within 10 minutes after passing the truck he pulled into his job-site and could hardly wait to thank the driver of the Big White truck, who helped him get there. However no truck ever showed up, and thought, is there another meaning to this morning’s trip? So he thought, there are so many voices telling us where to go and what to do, however there is the voice of God who says follow me, and I will make your paths straight, but please remember if you get out in front of me, you will start to doubt and have to keep looking back for my direction for you. God then asks, what’s easier? And what did you experience? Peace and calm, that’s what I will provide, The choice is yours and Remember just because you don’t see me, listen for my voice and I will always get you to where you need to go. Have a great day! Author, Barry R

[@Michael-bv3ih]

God bless you for making the video :) Whats the name of the outro song?

[@n3huen]

1:11 3:06 4:33 5:19 6:29 7:24 7:53 9:24 9:51 10:32

[@siobhanphoenix9789]

Great video! Off topic, I am always staring at the quilts on the back of your rocking chair! Do you make them? And I love the turquoise on your walls! To me this has been in my mind the color I most associate with Mary. I love how this color looks with sacred art and sacred objects. For anxiety I myself stopped taking caffeine maybe a year ago now. Too many times I have gone back on and gone off. I have tried different sources of caffeine such as Green Tea but it is no good. I can only have de-caffeinated anything. I do have chocolate sometimes which has some caffeine but it hasn't been an issue. A couple of teas that are good for anxiety is Rooibos. I have one in the morning after breakfast and one in the afternoon. But aside from that I also am on a SNRI called Effexor. It is important to take it around the same time for most people but for me I am extra sensitive to changes of when I am taking it. So I try to take it within five minutes of when I had the day before. I don't like clocks changing time for Spring and Fall so both times in the past year since I started taking it I had to adjust. For anxiety I eat regularly because fasting can be an issue for anxiety. Associated with anxiety I have a history of restrictive eating so I don't believe God wants me to fast. I already have to avoid specific foods or limit my intake of specific ones because I have GERD which I take medication for. Fidget toys actually are great for anxiety. My favorite fidget toys is a dollar squish toy of a pink alpaca and I have a pop fidget toy. Both are part of my "anxiety bag" arsenal. Also in my bag are a couple of small and cute plush, crossword puzzle books, a sketchbook with drawing and coloring materials plus a coloring book, a bottle of lavender essential oil to smell, and an easy knitting project like a wash cloth or hand towel. A person can put anything in there they want like a particularly comforting book to read or one that is fun and draws our attention, a special rosary, perhaps a small album with pictures of saints and important people in ones life. Going back to teas a very great tea that I relied on a lot before I made the decision to start taking Effexor was Lemon Balm. When I feel I especially need it I always make the Lemon Balm with the combination of Chamomile plus Lavender. Sometimes if you are really extremely anxious it won't help as much but it usually works well. Anxiety causes fatigue so drinking it can even sometimes make you feel that you have a normal amount of energy. Great for anxiety and anxiety related insomnia. Other things for anxiety is to keep a blanket nearby and of course favorite plushes. I have a couple of big "Hug Meez" that are part of the Squishmallow squads that were sold at the Atlantic Superstore. I can't say it is comparable to hugging a body pillow because body pillows are rather flat and not nearly as soft or comforting in comparison. I also found that sunlight and fresh air is really important. In a pinch open a window and be near to it enough to breath in the fresh air even in winter. I keep my couch near the biggest window in my living room so that my eyes always see sunlight. Winter snow and reflection has caused anxiety for me in the past. In that case I have been able to get away with closing blinds on the particularly bright days or even wearing sunglasses indoors. Avoiding clutter is really important and doing our best to not overwhelm ourselves with too much even if it's something we enjoy. Walking is the best form of exercise for anxiety even if it is on a treadmill at home. Put on a show or audiobook and listen to what you need to do for speed. I suggest walking at a slower pace rather than trying to reach a certain number of steps. In years past my anxiety used to be triggered by exercise for various reasons. It was horrible! But I now again do various kinds of the exercise that I had always done before I got "anxiety". Even walking outside I could feel real breathless. So like therapy and having a strong spiritual practice it's important to consider having a discussion with your doctor about taking a prescription for it and to do your own research for it's benefits, side effects, why it might be the better choice for you. Also make sure to fully research any herbal or supplement when taking with a prescription. A number of them are fine. I am fine taking magnesium three times a day, vit d, B12 and a probiotic once a day as well as a Lavender supplement in the evening with my last magnesium of the day for extra help with sleep and anxiety. I have also taken the Lemon Balm, Chamomile and Lavender when on Effexor and it has helped a lot. Just be sure to never drive or operate machinery as you get extra sedating effects. Different times I have found that for anxiety I am better off not watching specific tv shows and movies so during those times I kept to watching sweet and innocent cartoons and some anime that make me laugh or a show like Golden Girls. Other times however my favorite kind of horror movies would distract my attention from my symptoms. Oddly I don't tend to respond to jump scares even with anxiety. But my favorite horror movies even from before I felt really drawn to Catholicism were the paranormal movies about ghosts and hauntings the after life. I also felt drawn to Catholic themes of exorcism in horror movies. I have never liked horror that would be gore for the extreme shock factor. There hasn't been many Stephen King horror movies or books I really liked or would consider to be my favorite. There was only one of his that is one of my favorites and it isn't so much a horror but a historical fiction time travel which I LOVE! I go through natural phases of being interested in some horror and other times not. But having things to laugh at that really make you laugh helps. In the summer I tend to have the least amount of anxiety because sitting on my deck, getting some sun and fresh air, hearing birds and seeing the sky and the trees contributes to my well being. Something I used to do before taking Effexor when I couldn't sleep and was anxious was to count slowly backwards in my head from 100. If I got to one I would go in the other direction and count up to 100. If I really really had trouble sleeping even with tea I would lay on my side with my hand near my mouth. Not covering completely but enough that I could feel my breath on my hand. It works I think by feeling the sensation with your hand connected with you breath but it also acting a little like using a paper bag. Focusing on relaxing the breath in your body is important rather than taking huge inhalations and exhalations. It was all a lot of work and it still is after being on Effexor but it's made my daily life a lot easier. I knew I had to get on something when I was losing interest in things more so than usual. I also was noticing some patterns over a long time happening two week before my cycle would start. With paying attention to symptoms and research and talking to my doc we together surmised that part of my problems was something called PMDD. It is no joke the way people make fun of PMS. It isn't something that can go away on it's own without medication and it is extreme enough that it could be dangerous mentally to not seek medical intervention. I still can notice a different of a week leading up to the monthly, but it isn't as bad or extreme as it had been. Not anywhere close. So it's not like sometimes I'm going to be like, " Well I've been on this for awhile. Perhaps I am better now and it is no longer a problem." It isn't like that and it will only cause more trouble to make assumptions like that. Sometimes we just need to accept that we actually do have anxiety and or depression and or PMDD which includes these two things. And sometimes we have to accept that we just can't do it all on our own whether it be without medication and or without God. Since being more into Catholicism since about mid February my anxiety has been a lot better. Even though I am experiencing a physical anxiety symptom right now it has been a lot different. A lot of things have changed. Someday I hope to be able to handle a youtube channel and create some good content. Thank you for your work on here and in your own life! And there were a lot of great questions that people asked you so thanks to everyone for that!

[@annabea7692]

Have you tried Cafix? It's a decaffeinated grain drink that tastes like a delicious cup of coffee. Hot or iced, it subs for coffee better than decaf, in my humble.

[@guyw6284]

To the Religious Hippie, I just found one of your KZbin videos, when I checked your about option, it made me smile, and thought thats right (haters will be prayed for), have you ever thought about the religious life? I assume you pray the whole 15 decade Rosary every day? If no, please do, your Mother is waiting for your prayers! Glad you attend the Pius V Rite Mass. I take the Sedevacantist position, have you ever researched this position? Sincerely Guy.

[@metaorange302]

I just wonder how much anxiety is from sin or sinful states or thinking too much on our past sins.

[@Patrick-hq8tf]

Hey, Could you pin a comment with the Spotify Playlist, they aren't in the description, God bless!

[@TheReligiousHippie]

I updated the caption

[@1Lovelife11]

Where are the links to the spotify playlists? I've been praying for some good Christian music so hopefully this is my answer. :)

[@TheReligiousHippie]

I updated the caption

[@Thegreatestholynameofjesus]

Not easy surrender to god we need faith

[@metaorange302]

Reading St Francis De Sales too! #ICKSP

[@ChristineBudgets]

Phillipians 4:6-7

[@metaorange302]

The Fr Dolindi Ruotolo surrender prayer has been helping me too as has that verse from Ezekiel! We are in the age of the purification for sure! Also mediation on our Lord's Agony in the Garden of Olives and His anxiety to the point of sweating His Precious Blood. St Therese's dream on how Sanctity terrifies the devils! #DrCarolineLeaf #VitaminB1

[@metaorange302]

Also Vitamin D/Sunshine, Omega-3's, Magnesium, Green Tea/Matcha/Theanine help.

[@markjohnson1520]

ever tried The Litany of Trust from the Sisters of Life?

[@valwhelan3533]

Just found this - it is beautiful and I plan to say it daily. Thank you for the suggestion.

[@samantha3675]

What does it mean to offer it up

[@metaorange302]

We can offer up little sacrifices (aches, pain, suffering, annoyances, etc) united with our Lord and our Lady's sufferings and sacrifice on Calvary for the salvation of others' souls or as reparation for sins.

[@bobbylee9727]

People who "talk with their hands" don't have confidence in what they are saying to they try to "sell it" with hand gestures...this is my personal theory based on seventy six years of observation.

[@Sicilian-Lover]

😘💞

[@ИванОгурцов-т9н]

Beauty

[@jamessgian7691]

You might be too enchanting.