You Can Find Emotional Tranquility and Wholeness

In this theory critique of The Anxiety Cure, Hart will provide strategies for dealing with anxiety. Hart has made a connection between the world of anxiety and stress and understanding the connection between anxiety and the effects anxiety has on our bodies. He also emphasized the importance of being aware of our bodies. Hart (2001) first explains how our brains natural tranquilizers are depleted through a combination of stress and high adrenaline. This combination set the stage for high anxiety (p. vi).
Anxiety is produced due to a lack of important brain chemical called neurotransmitters, Hart calls them “happy messengers” (p. 4). Hart (2001) explains how being stressed or over extended; our brains are deficient in these “happy messengers”. Examples of these include serotonin or noradrenalin. We also have “sad messengers” that carry somber messengers. Some examples of these include cortisol and enzymes (p. 20). Knowing how to balance or restoring the balance of these messages can help us better control our stress and anxiety. To balance these messengers we must set stress level limits and know when to disallow other to cross these limits (p.24). To restore these messengers can include temporarily taking anti-anxiety medication, and focusing on the stress in your life and discovering ways to make life changes (p. 24). He also explains how stress is connected to the overuse of the adrenal glands (p.5).
A mild form of anxiety is called a “panic attack” and the more severe from is called” panic anxiety disorder”. Hart (2001) discusses how anxiety falls into three categories which include physiological symptoms, cognitive symptoms, and emotional symptoms (p. 6). Examples of physiological symptoms include weakness, rapid heartbeat, or muscle tension. Example of cognitive symptoms include thinking, I am going to faint, I’m going crazy, or I’m having a heart attack. Examples of emotional symptoms include feeling like you have no control over what happens to you, feeling depressed, or feeling uneasy (p. 7).
Hart (2001) explains that panic attacks can occur night, day, when you’re aggravated or even when you are relaxing (p. 42). To prevent these attacks, Hart states “winding down after a stressful situation by taking a walk or smelling the flowers”. Panic attacks can’t be predicted, but if you recognize warning signals such as tight throat, indigestion, nausea, cold flashes, or tunnel vision, you can take steps to abort this attack (p. 43). Hyperventilation is the most important warning sign if you’re having an panic attack and if you recognize this symptom early, you can stop your panic attack.
The common types of anxiety problems include panic anxiety disorder which is characterized by repeated terror with physical symptoms inkling chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath or sweating (p.9). This type of anxiety resembles a heart attack last and it only last a few minutes (p.36). The treatment for this type of disorder includes taking control of your anxiety by avoids feeling helpless. The second type of anxiety is called the generalized anxiety disorder. This type of anxiety is a constant unrealistic worry and it’s associated with fatigue and sleep disorder. The third type of anxiety is called the specific phobia which is the fear of an object or situation. This fear in this type of anxiety has to be excessive. A fourth type or “social anxiety disorder” is the fear of embarrassing yourselves in front of others (p.10). A fifth type is called agoraphobia, which is the fear of being in public. The sixth is obsessive compulsive disorder which is persistent worrying such as worried if you turned off your stove. The seventh is post traumatic stress disorder which is an extreme fear of a traumatic experience. The eight is acute stress disorder which also occurs as a result of a traumatic experience. The ninth and last type of anxiety problems is separation anxiety disorder. This type of disorder is usually associated with childhood or adolescence and it’s the fear of being separated from love ones (p. 10). Hart (2001) explains how anxiety is treated with a combination of cognitive-behavior therapy and medication. In cognitive-behavior therapy, clients learn how to see the panic situation as controllable and how breathing exercises or refocusing our attention away from anxiety-triggering situations (p. 61). Cognitive-behavior therapy patients are taught alternative self-statements such as “it will pass or it’s only uneasiness”. These statements modify the thought patterns and the patient gains more control over his or her anxiety problem (p. 61). Another approached that Hart mention is called explosive therapy. Explosive therapy is where the patient is gradually exposed to a threatening situation. This will help the patient alleviate the fear that may result from panic disorder (p. 61). Hart explains how each “treatment is different for each individual patient depending on the severity of the symptoms and the level of function” (p. 11).
Hart (2001) explains how some medications are needed to provide an effective result and we have to overcome prejudice against anxiety medication (p. 11). Harts states however that “you will need to make some urgent changes in your life so you will not become dependent on this medication” (p. 11). The major medications used in the treatment of panic attacks or panic disorders are (1) benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Ativan, or Klonopin, (2) Tricyclic Antidepressants such as Tofranil and Anafranil, (3) Monoamine Oxide Inhibitors, and (4) Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.
Next Hart (2001) recommended getting some type of counseling. He goes into details about finding a competent professional who has the proper credentials and training in treating anxiety disorders and someone knowledge in psychopharmacology (p. 64). He also suggests first starting with a pastor, counselor, psychologist, social worker, psychiatrist or even seeing your family doctor.
Hart (2001) discussed key strategies for enhancing your natural tranquilizers. These strategies are done through behaviors that increase our natural tranquilizers (p.95). Behaviors that increase our natural tranquilizers include changing our negative thinking habits, learning to rest and relax, meditating spiritually and tranquility, laughing, and taking control of our environment (p.99-102). Hart also mentioned foods like vegetables or fruit and natural health supplements that increased our natural tranquilizers.
According to Hart (2001), if you want to preserve your sanity and achieve a healthy life “you have to make some choices, and resolve to live a balanced life “(p. 3). The first choice include creating your own tranquility by being responsible for your own life and also by inviting God in your lives and asking Him for the help you need (p. 49). The next choice includes taking personal control of your tranquility by being responsible for your recovery (p. 48). We can do this by being encouraged instead of feeling hopeless.
Hart (2001) explains how many that suffer from anxiety believes that God is punishing them or they feel that they are failures. He want the Christian reader to know that taking medication or getting professional help for anxiety doesn’t mean their faith is God is lacking. He feels that it is important for the Christian reader to know that we as Christians are prone to higher level stress and there is a connection between stress and our adrenaline (p. 13). He next talks about Scripture and how many Christians need to resolve the issue of whether Scripture condemn anxiety. He answers that by stating that some form of anxiety is condemn by Scripture, however with the many forms of anxiety, we need to determine which one is condemn and which one isn’t (p. 14). Worry anxiety is condemned by Scripture when we try to live our lives independently from God and when it is seen as a hindrance that keeps us from doing God’s work (p. 15).
Next Hart (2001) gives us the twelve steps to personal empowerment for anxiety suffers and they are:
1. Claim your strength and promises from Christ
2. Feel the power that Christ gives you and move beyond the cognitive
3. Take control of your fear
4. Drop the “what ifs” in your life and change your attitude to “so what”.
5. Overcome your personal passivity and know that anxiety doesn’t take your control away, you give it away.
6. Increase your power by knowing and understanding all that you can about your disorder.
7. Don’t be demoralized by feeling helplessness.
8. Be compassionate about yourself and don’t self-accuse.
9. Don’t let your problem dominate your life, instead give priority to living.
10. Be aware of the pitfalls of self pity and remember to ask yourself, “what can I do about it”.
11. Isolation hurt, so find a good support group of understanding peers to help build your personal power.
12. Never give up (p. 50-51).
Hart (2001 developed a seven-week plan for breaking the worry habits. The purpose of this plan was to discover and systematically record all the things that worry you, separate concern from worries, apply the differences between worry and concern in our everyday lives, catch automatic thoughts that creep up to you, learn to initiate pleasure thoughts and replacing the unpleasant thoughts, explore your self-talk and turn it around, and intentionally prolong your worries (p 153-165).
Conclusion
Harts The Anxiety Cure wanted the reader to know how to overcome anxiety disorders and he provided strategies that will help the reader find the emotional tranquility and wholeness your mind and body were designed to have.
I know that I will personally benefit from the strategies Hart provided and I know I will be a blessing to others who come to me for guidance. In (John 16:33 NKJV), “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” God created us in His own image and He wanted us to have a life filled with peace and harmony. He knew we would face challenges but through His word He has provided ways to live in this world and find the peace that He want so much for us.

Reference

Hart, A. D. (2001). The anxiety cure. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson