"Afraid of All Things" I can relate to this

First of all,

This book is not a traditional self-help book for Christians. It is more than that.  It is funny, insightful, and enjoyable. Scarlet the author,  allows the reader to have many aha moments. Finally, a book about anxiety that is a breath of fresh air. Something worth reading every word. I connected to this book, I connected to the subject, I am a  person with anxiety/ afraid of  a lot of things for example, I am afraid of the dark, feeling/being trapped, snow, rain, ice, thunderstorms, weird noises, and snakes. Let me say this, I do not sit in the corner all day being afraid. I get along in life, but I have almost missed out on important moments in my family's life because I was too afraid. For example, in the summer of 2016, My younger sister was getting married, to her first husband, I was happy for her, but I was so afraid to go because the wedding was taking place in Fair Grove. A small town out in the sticks with hay and a barn. That's all, but the worst part was having to take the highway to get there. It took an hour to get there. Yes, the wedding was great, and yes, I am glad my sister got married, but I was so happy when it was over, I wanted to skip to the car. It is not that I did not want to see my sister get married, it's just that I was scared of the car ride over. I almost missed out on my sister's wedding because of being afraid. As I look back, I wonder why I let being afraid run my life and convince me the worst would happen. I did not know that, but I still believed it. Scarlet describes an fight she had with her husband about getting an security system for their home, on page 42, "Brandon and I were living in a rough neighborhood south of Miami." (They paid $600 a month for rent.) to live in a house owned by the church her husband worked for that the time. One day Scarlet came home and saw cop lights t the neighbors house. The neighbors had been robbed of their guns. They fought over getting a alarm system for the house. They did get it. She got an ADT System. It did not solve the real problem. Scarlet had a irrational fear that something bad would happen to her and her family because of a incident  that occurred that she could not control. Fears are the uncertainty of the what ifs of life. The times in life when we don't know what is going to happen. In other words, anxiety is the uncertainty of what may or may not happen. This is way people like, Me and others have anxiety about. We don't know what is going to happen and that scares us. We cannot control uncertainty or the unknown, and that scares us too. Only God does. 1 Corn, 10:13 "No temptation has come upon you expect what is common to humanity." But God is faithful, he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so that you will may be able to bear it." Simply put everyone goes through difficult times in life, God will be there to help you through it. on page 111, "There has been a few times that I (Scarlet) have been so physically affected by anxiety that I was on medication." "I (Scarlet) felt physically wound up even if I felt spiritually focused." And the medication helped." "I (Scarlet) am not a prayer and prayer alone is the answer for anxiety person." (page 111). Scarlet also quotes Pastor Tim Keller, "The Bible says anxiety is complicated and more complex." "There is no simple one solution to anxiety." People who think this way are simple minded." (page 112) Pastor Keller also says there are 3 aspects of a wounded heart" 1- physical- a chemical imbalance 2- Emotional- because you need a friend, 3- moral- conscience. And of course, faith. Scarlet says, "There is no simple answer to anxiety." "We are all different." (page 112).  When I read this paragraph, I shook my head yes, I finally someone said what I believe to be true about people who suffer from anxiety. People who suffer from anxiety and take medication like, Scarlet and I are not wrong for doing so, we are not drug addicts and we are not going to be shamed or let a false stigma make us feel bad for taking care of our mental health and well being. Yes, I pray to God, yes, I know he will get me through it, but sometimes people need help. A chemical unbalance in our brains and many other layers is why some people with anxiety take medication. It whatever works for the person.  Finally, I understand Jesus dying on the cross cast out fear. "Perfect love cast out fear." I get it. I also, get that you can recite a Bible verse to a person with anxiety like Scarlet and others who suffer from anxiety, it is not the answer. Like, Scarlet says "We have a chemical imbalance and we are different, and we are beautiful."

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