Lyme Disease (and other co-infections) has a way of changing how your brain works. I have never had such profound anxiety until Lyme Disease. My anxiety would turn into paranoid thoughts and then to even suicidal thoughts, which are my symptoms of Lyme Disease (http://lymediseaseresource.com/Burrascano.html). Focusing my mind on the promises of God has helped me profoundly as well as reading the bible and listening to sermons online. Providentially, I came across Primitive Physick Or an Easy and Natural Method of Curing Most Diseases, a book by John Wesley, that contained information on how to address lunacy. In his book, he recommends the use of vinegar, which is something else that has helped me with the challenges of anxiety. Below are some strategies that I pray will help you with anxiety.
1. Understanding what triggers your anxiety and have a plan for next time. As a Lyme sufferer, I am acutely sensitive to sounds, lights, hot/cold temperatures and stress. However, I find that most of my anxiety is triggered by social interactions, stressful situations, physical weakness, rambunctious children, nosy or demanding adults. Consequently, after such events occur, I have a quiet time and do things that help me relieve the stress of the anxiety including applying vinegar and listening to the bible.
2. Remove yourself from what is causing the anxiety. Since my anxiety is mostly triggered by social interactions, I have a lock on my door that allows me to close the door to the world. Then, I put on a sermon and/or read a print out that is by my bed with bible verses specifically addressing anxiety (Anxiety Bible Verses and Sermon Lab on Fear). If it is caused by hot/cold temperatures, it is especially important to seek either a cool environment or a warm hat/socks for a cold environment. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
3. To relieve anxiety, apply the vinegar to your skin but avoid any sensitive areas (ex. eyes, lips, nostrils). In order to get it to work faster, I have found that I need to part my hair and apply it to the scalp. I also apply it to my hands, feet and back. To my nightly bath, I add hot water, vinegar and Epsom salt, which relieves my anxiety as it relaxes my muscles. However, avoid getting vinegar into your eyes.
4. Have a spray bottle of vinegar by your bed. This is the best advice that I have received for anxiety. Whenever I feel my anxious thoughts coming on, I spray some on my skin and smell the vinegar odors from afar. If I wait too long, I will need to use a bit more vinegar, especially on my scalp. I also keep pain creme by my bed to relieve the pain that comes with my anxiety.
5. Have someone pray for you. Don't underestimate the power of prayer that comes from an earnest heart. The prayer of one of my parents has calmed me in ways that I cannot explain. Also, I am on the prayer list at my church and have requested additional prayer from my church during very difficult times.
6. Ask for forgiveness and forgive quickly. God commands us not to be anxious about anything and to be self-controlled. It is a sin to be anxious and this anxiety leads to evil or destructive behavior (Psalm 37:8 and Ephesians 4:31-32). If it has lead me to sin in any way, I need to be ready to quickly forgive and ask for forgiveness as soon as my mind clears. (Sermon Lab on Forgiveness)
7. Be aware of your four week cycle. If you read in Dr. Burrascano's treatment guidelines, there is a re-occurring four week cycle in which the cysts come out of their inactive stage and into the spirochete or other active forms. Consequently, my anxiety heightens to levels not found during the rest of the month. I diligently record the days of my cycle (for women this is likely to be during your menstrual period) and highlight on my daily calendar as the week of nervousness. It is best to ask people to pray for you and remove yourself from what is making your nervous.
In conclusion, remembering the words of God and prayer has helped me many times stop the anxious thoughts from penetrating my mind. The use of isolation, understanding the source of the anxiety and vinegar are also other ways that may help reduce the anxiety.
1. Understanding what triggers your anxiety and have a plan for next time. As a Lyme sufferer, I am acutely sensitive to sounds, lights, hot/cold temperatures and stress. However, I find that most of my anxiety is triggered by social interactions, stressful situations, physical weakness, rambunctious children, nosy or demanding adults. Consequently, after such events occur, I have a quiet time and do things that help me relieve the stress of the anxiety including applying vinegar and listening to the bible.
2. Remove yourself from what is causing the anxiety. Since my anxiety is mostly triggered by social interactions, I have a lock on my door that allows me to close the door to the world. Then, I put on a sermon and/or read a print out that is by my bed with bible verses specifically addressing anxiety (Anxiety Bible Verses and Sermon Lab on Fear). If it is caused by hot/cold temperatures, it is especially important to seek either a cool environment or a warm hat/socks for a cold environment. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
3. To relieve anxiety, apply the vinegar to your skin but avoid any sensitive areas (ex. eyes, lips, nostrils). In order to get it to work faster, I have found that I need to part my hair and apply it to the scalp. I also apply it to my hands, feet and back. To my nightly bath, I add hot water, vinegar and Epsom salt, which relieves my anxiety as it relaxes my muscles. However, avoid getting vinegar into your eyes.
4. Have a spray bottle of vinegar by your bed. This is the best advice that I have received for anxiety. Whenever I feel my anxious thoughts coming on, I spray some on my skin and smell the vinegar odors from afar. If I wait too long, I will need to use a bit more vinegar, especially on my scalp. I also keep pain creme by my bed to relieve the pain that comes with my anxiety.
5. Have someone pray for you. Don't underestimate the power of prayer that comes from an earnest heart. The prayer of one of my parents has calmed me in ways that I cannot explain. Also, I am on the prayer list at my church and have requested additional prayer from my church during very difficult times.
6. Ask for forgiveness and forgive quickly. God commands us not to be anxious about anything and to be self-controlled. It is a sin to be anxious and this anxiety leads to evil or destructive behavior (Psalm 37:8 and Ephesians 4:31-32). If it has lead me to sin in any way, I need to be ready to quickly forgive and ask for forgiveness as soon as my mind clears. (Sermon Lab on Forgiveness)
7. Be aware of your four week cycle. If you read in Dr. Burrascano's treatment guidelines, there is a re-occurring four week cycle in which the cysts come out of their inactive stage and into the spirochete or other active forms. Consequently, my anxiety heightens to levels not found during the rest of the month. I diligently record the days of my cycle (for women this is likely to be during your menstrual period) and highlight on my daily calendar as the week of nervousness. It is best to ask people to pray for you and remove yourself from what is making your nervous.
In conclusion, remembering the words of God and prayer has helped me many times stop the anxious thoughts from penetrating my mind. The use of isolation, understanding the source of the anxiety and vinegar are also other ways that may help reduce the anxiety.
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