Conquering Fear and Anxiety: Not attending church wasn't an option

We went to church religiously every Sunday. I can’t remember any Sunday that I missed church; as a child and into my teenage years, many times I had to drag myself out of bed, weary and tired most of the times, with no choice in the matter.

It didn’t matter if you even muttered that you were tired or not feeling well, not attending church was definitely not an option.

We were always up early during the week. By 5:00 am every morning, the radio was turned on to its highest decibels, and you could hear Alan Magnus and Dorraine Samuels, chit-chatting on RJR 94 FM during the week.

The radio was literally stuck on this station, and once you heard their voices booming through the speakers, like the roosters crowing at the crack of dawn, you knew it was time to get up.

Whether rain or sunshine, getting up early was not an option and on the weekends, there was no exception either. Rest assured if you slept through the proverbial wake up call, it was hell to pay.

Church started at 9:00 am, and was within walking distance of our home. We were always the first to arrive, and sat on the church steps and waited for everyone else; the congregants and even the pastor to open the church doors. Maybe this is where I put into practice, the phrase, ‘the early bird catches the first worms’ – always on time! –  it really didn’t spell sense to me to be at church up to two hours prior to the start of the service, but every week it became a ritual.

By the time church started, my attention span had already waned, and I fidgeted restlessly on my bench in the pew. I could not get up to go outside like the rest of the children; I had to stay put!  I didn’t sing or learn much either, because I was already tired, and hungry by the time the pastor started to preach.  I just sat there, with one eye open and the other closed, praying I wouldn’t be caught napping. Usually, I escaped, as my grandfather was very taken up with the service, and didn’t realise I fell asleep most of the times.

Going to church for me was an irony as I likened it to being a ‘one day’ Christian. It was great to be in the house of the Lord, but with hell I had to endure most of the times, what was the point. Was it to cleanse or wash away the sins of the week?

No one is perfect, but then I couldn’t understand how you could stand in church on a Sunday, and sing praises to God, yet during the week your behaviour defied all the laws and statutes of the Bible.  

I was baffled! But I soon realized, that God did not just welcome those who were saved, but those who had many faults, so that they could be an example to others of His unwavering love, compassion and forgiveness.

After church, there was the usual meet and greet, and while most persons went in their cars and drove home; with none of them ever offering us a ride; we walked home. These were the disparities I noticed even as a nine-year-old child; the difference in the soci-economic status of my family and those that attended this church.

I say this church, not with contempt, but because there were very few families that actually walked home; you could count on one hand the numbers that did, and that included us. I don’t think my grandfather was trying to measure up either, because even after I left that church, he and my grandmother, after she returned home still continued to attend.  They actually liked it there!

One day after church, as I sat on the veranda steps that overlooked the district; my grandfather got dressed in a hurry and literally sped down the driveway.  He usually walked quickly but his pace quickened, and whatever it was seemed like an emergency, and he was quite jittery and anxious.

He never said what it was until he came back! In between gasping breaths and moving around the yard at the speed of lightening he told me we were going to having a hurricane, that was predicted to make landfall the very next day! Its name was Gilbert…

HOW DOES STRESS CAUSE ANXIETY?

Financial Stress and Your Health

Financial stress can have major effects on your health. Stress, in general, can cause heart attacks, strokes, and many other serious health issues regardless of the source.

Two of the most common effects of financial stress are anxiety and depression. These two conditions usually go hand-in-hand. Each one is a debilitating condition that makes it hard to focus at work, spend time with your family, and keep up with your bills and other financial responsibilities.

Five Strategies to Deal With Financial Stress

Financial stress can stem from being in debt, not earning enough money, the expense of raising kids or even being married to someone who isn’t good with money.

If you can reduce your financial worry, you will be able to focus on other important areas of your life and relax, knowing you have a plan to handle your financial situation.

Here are a few things you can do now to relieve your financial stress and make it easier to function each day.

Create a Budget
A budget allows you to decide when and how you are going to spend your hard-earned dollars. This spending plan makes sure you cover your immediate expenses, while still working towards your savings goals. It can also help you find extra money to put towards debt.

Get an Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is a savings account meant to cover unexpected expenses and financial emergencies. Although a car repair can be expensive and stressful, if you know you can tap into your emergency fund to cover it, a lot of the stress will go away. It is also easier to use the money in your budget the way you planned if you know you have the extra money in the bank ready to cover the unexpected emergencies that may crop up.

Get Outside Help
If you are really struggling with getting a handle on your budget and spending issues, do not be afraid to get outside help. You can take classes on basic money management and investing, that will help you plan out a budget and do the things you need to succeed financially.

A financial planner can also help you create a long-term saving and investing strategy that will help you take care of your current needs and plan for the future.

Determine What You Can Change
If you are having financial issues, you may have an income issue, a spending issue, or a combination of the two. If you know that you do not make enough money to keep up with your current bills, decide what you can do to change the situation. It may include options such as going back to school to qualify for a higher paying job.

Track Your Progress
While this may sound like it’s not a solution to your financial problem, it can make a big difference in the amount of stress you feel each day. Find positive aspects of your financial situation by tracking your progress towards your financial goals. Looking at the positive aspects of your current financial situation can also help alleviate stress. (SOURCE: www. helpguide.org; http://www.healthline.com; http://www.adaa.org; www.headsup.org.au, www. stress.org, www.cambridge-credit.org , www.thebalance.com)

Keisha A. Hill is media practitioner and communications consultant. Send feedback to kanhillcommunications@gmail.com or editorial@oldharbournews.com. Visit Jamaican Chronicles to read more blogs by the author.