CONTINUED FROM BELOW....read that post first!

There are MANY non-drug therapies that one can turn to to learn to control Panic Attacks, including your trust and love of God.

I would like to reiterate once again however, NEVER stop taking any anti-depressent without your doctors consent. You don't NEED your doctors permission, but let him/her know you wish to stop taking them and allow your physician to "wean" you off then gradually and incrimentally.

Can you beat Panic Attacks?
YES!

Can you do so without medications?
YES!

Can you just quit taking your medications?
NO!!! Allow your doctor to do this in steps...especially if your dosage is greater than 10mg. daily!

I have compassion for you as both a fellow Christian and a sufferer of Panic Attacks, and I pray that you learn to control these dreadful attacks.

Many people have used the Psalms and Lamentations as a good starting point in the Bible to help them when they are fearful, worried, scared or all the above.

Here is a quote from a post I offered to another writer who also suffers from Panic Attacks that I think you will appreciate:


Here is a quote from Pastor Rob Petterson:

"Turn your worries into prayer.
Don’t be anxious for anything
But in everything by prayer and petition
(with thanksgiving) let us make our request know to God.
And the peace of God that surpasses all of our understanding
Will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus


And when I think of all the time I’ve wasted as I’ve worried
--How the Word of God could have spoken to my fear.
I will spend the time to change my mind and
meditate on Truth and all my worries will disappear.


Here is a little something else for you:

Psalm 28:7
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped..."

Psalm 23 (this one is popular with those who suffer from worry and anxiety)

Psalm 56:3
What time I am afraid, I will call upon the name of the Lord


Here is a link to a site that offers MANY verses used by those suffering from anxiety & stress:

http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/Anxiety/anx_healing-words.htm


Breatheprayer, I also oiffer you this prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Look down upon this person and thier sufferings dear Lord. You are the Great Healer, and have the power to heal all ailments, diseases, and conditions. Lord, I pray that you enter this persons body, and help heal him/her of this dibilitating condition.

Lord, please give this person your almighty strength, knowledge, and will-power to fend off these awful Panic Attacks and free thier minds of the worry and dread that Satan has planted in them.

Satan is a liar, and has continued to lie to this fellow Christian. Lord, I pray that you touch this soul who is reaching out to you.

Amen.

The very best of luck to you Breatheprayer, and God Bless. 

changed on Friday, May 27, 2005 8:06:49 PM

Please approach this very carefully; regardless of one's religious views, certain medications should NEVER be stopped without the careful monitoring and knowledge of your physician!! Anti-depressents are among those to be most careful with in regards to discontinuing on your own! (You didn't mention if your doctor is aware of this or not).

Although God is the great healer and can heal any illness; many Christians falsley believe that taking medicines for certain ailments means they don't trust or believe in God.

Below is a quote from a site that addresses this:


"Question: "Should a Christian take anti-depressants or other mental health medicines?

Answer: Panic attacks, anxiety disorders, phobias, and depression affect millions of people. Panic attacks can be particularly debilitating, as they can strike a person with no warning.

For most sufferers, what they experience is rooted in fear: fear of rejections, fear of acceptance, fear of responsibility, fear of the unknown. Something will trigger fear, which drives the person to feel like they are losing control, and feel as if they might die. Panic attacks are often both physically and psychologically intense.


Although medical experts cite that many times the above mentioned ailments originate from within a person's psyche, there are times in which a chemical imbalance is the cause.

If this is the case, medication is prescribed to help counter this imbalance, which in turn treats the symptoms of the psychological ailment.

Is this a sin?

No.

God has allowed man to grow in his knowledge of medicine, which God uses in the healing process. Does God need man-made medicine in order to heal? Of course not!

God has chosen to allow the practice of medicine to progress, and we would be foolish not to avail ourselves of it.

However, there is a fine line between using medicine for healing purposes and simple-minded reliance upon medicine for daily living.

We need to recognize God as the Great Physician, and that He alone holds the power to truly heal (John 4:14). As such, we need to look to God first and foremost for our healing.

Medicine used to treat a case of panic attack should only be used to the extent that it allows the sufferer to deal with the root cause of fear. It should be used to give back control to the sufferer.

However, many sufferers take medicine in order to avoid dealing with the true cause of their ailment; this would be denying responsibility, denying God's healing, and possibly denying others the freedom of forgiveness or closure to some past event that could be contributing to the ailment. This, then, does become sin.

By taking medicine on a limited basis in order to treat the symptoms, then relying upon the Word of God to enact transformation in one's heart and mind, gradually the need for the medicine will diminish.

The believer's position in Christ is affirmed and God is allowed to bring healing into those troubled areas of the heart and mind causing the ailment.

God's Word has much to say on fear and its place in a believer's life. Read through the following Scriptures, and allow God's Word to come alive in your heart.

These verses give confidence, and illuminate the Truth behind what being a child of God entails: Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 6:34; John 8:32; Romans 8:28-39; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:4-9; Colossians 3:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:6-8; Hebrews 13:5-6; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 5:7; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 1 John 1:9; 4:18-19. Meditate on these.

God can heal supernaturally, miraculously. Pray to that end. God also heals through medicine and doctors. Pray to that end as well. Regardless of which direction God takes, it's our faith that is the catalyst (Matthew 9:22). Believe on Him, and be healed!"

Recommended Resource: How to Win Over Depression by Tim Lahaye.

Quoted from the following web-site: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-anti-depressants.html

I do pray that you seek God to help you overcome this condition, which is one I have suffered with for almost 6+ years. I do NOT take medications for it anymore.

However, my Panic Attacks are NOT caused by a chemical imbalance; and after realizing that Panic Attacks, (although distressing) can't kill me, I just learned to deal with them when they happen.

I am happy to report that my faith in God and daily prayer has allowed me to control my Panic Attacks instead of the Panic Attacks controlling me. This isn't to say I never have them anymore, because I do; but I now deal with them with constant prayer and focusing on God's word to help me through them.

I fully understand your position; unfortunately for those who have never had or have Panic Attacks, they have NO idea the constant turmoil they have on one's psyche and how they make a person feel. It is often more than a "You should learn to worry less" solution. 

changed on Friday, May 27, 2005 8:05:07 PM

By His stripes we are healed. Remember, what the Lord said after his miracle healings... "Thy faith has made thee whole". (Amen)