Handling debilitating worry

"What is happening to me?" gasped Maria.

Maria was shaking and visibly distressed. In fact, she felt strangely depressed. "I am always able to handle anything," she thought. Maria was having an anxiety attack. She couldn't figure out why she felt the way she did. She had a wonderful husband and family, and she always thought she had a handle on life and was a happy and well-adjusted person.

She imagined all kinds of illnesses she must have. She went to see her doctor, and her physician diagnosed her with anxiety and prescribed medicine to help her cope.

Maria refused to admit or even realize she was actually worried. She had shoved her anxieties into her subconscious. She was very spiritual and knew God would take care of anything, but for now, she couldn't feel or find any reasons she was feeling so anxious and scared. She began reading literature about panic attacks, meditated and reached deep within herself to attempt to find out what may be hidden -- that demon pressuring her into weakness, fatigue and fear. Worry IS fear, you know.

Eventually Maria was able to bring into reality what she thought may have caused her panic. One fear was about how she would survive if anything happened to her husband. She was independent, but she did almost everything with her mate. She had never thought of this before.

She remembered she was concerned about paying bills and figuring income tax forms if he were gone.

What would she do, she wondered? Her husband had been attending to business the past few years.

Maria didn't drive like she once did, with her husband working in the same town in which they lived.

She became insecure about her driving ability. "I don't even know how to put gas in my car," she pondered.

Maria finally realized some of the main reasons for her fright. There were other things on her mind, as well, but she was unaware of them until she experienced the out-of-control feelings she had recently experienced.

As she continued to delve deep within, she realized she had to be brave. She told herself she was strong. She recognized that most of her concerns could be fixed.

She could learn to complete income tax forms, put gas in the car and drive more often so she would again feel secure behind the wheel. She could take control of her life. She had to depend on herself more, again. Then she could enjoy her husband, knowing if he were gone from her, she could survive.

Maria genuinely began to live one day at a time because she realized that's all that's required. Tomorrow will be dealt with when it arrives.

"Cast all your care upon God, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

This story is just one of the many scenarios that happen in the lives of people, but most can be dealt with if you stop and reason it out.

You truly can handle one day at a time. Today is all we have, if that much. Why worry or feel guilty about what happened yesterday? It's already gone, never to return.

Why would you worry about tomorrow because it isn't here yet? "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day will have worries of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

Luke 12:24-25 says, "Consider the ravens, they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds. Who of you by worry can add a single hour to his life?" Scripture cites numerous such passages on the futility of worry.

Try to keep calm and see what's bothering you. Do your best to solve your problem and live in the present.

Worry does not show caring. It merely debilitates you.