Author and former Women of Faith speaker, Patsy Clairmont, has a free download, From Panic to Peace: 10 Steps to Soothe Your Soul—a checklist of steps to follow when having a panic attack. You can find it here.
She mentions singing hymns as a means of refocusing your thoughts. I found that reading Scriptures that reminded me that God is with me, sees me, and would help me worked better than singing hymns, which I’d tried when first experiencing panic. I felt more empowered through Scripture.
About twenty years ago, I attended a video-driven Bible study at my church. The speaker was the kind of Christian I aspired to be. She had an active, real relationship with Jesus, and I longed for that same connection. I wanted to believe in God the way she did, to trust Him fully.
As I completed the assigned homework, I began to feel a sense of peace and God's favor. My anxiety and panic attacks lessened. There were moments when it felt like the speaker on the video was speaking directly to me, addressing my struggles. During that time, I went the longest I ever had without experiencing a panic attack.
I began to realize that staying in God's Word daily, confessing my sins, and praying consistently were essential to building a close relationship with Jesus. And, perhaps most importantly, they were crucial to my mental and emotional well-being.
God's presence became a constant in my life. He was so good to me. I was even able to return to Sunday School and choir practice after a two-year absence due to depression, agoraphobia, and panic disorder. Though I'd been diagnosed with a poor prognosis, God saved me and made me whole again.
Today, when I focus my mind on Jesus and trust in Him, I truly feel like I’m living my best life. I’ve come to realize that belief—faith—must be nurtured. My confidence is rooted in my ongoing relationship with Jesus, His Word, and daily prayer. There’s no going back! God is everything!
