Be Anxious for Nothing: A Faith-Based Perspective for Nurses

What is anxiety? Well, as per my good friend Oxford dictionary defines it as, "the state of feeling nervous or worried that something bad is going to happen." I remember feeling like this more often than not between 2020-2021. I don't want to bring up the dreaded "C" word that rolled out during that time frame but I do want to share my personal experience of managing anxiety in the workplace with you. I remember when I was told about this virus spreading like wildfire and still having to go into work. A few months before this started to happen, the workload of being a new nurse was already immense, and so add to that the fear associated with hearing about the virus, definitely made the workload that much more profound. It came to a point where the anxiety of going into work which started as a deluge of thoughts, developed into a pang of physical symptoms that my body was trying to regulate. From heart palpitations, to stomach upset and ongoing nausea, it became a whole ordeal. Anxiety is a real experience and can be a thief of joy and peace; even as a believer in Christ, it was very real for me and sometimes still is. I knew I couldn't continue in that mindset of anxiety for myself or for my patients.

I came to terms with the fact that although this virus, the situation, the feelings are VERY real and scary sometimes, so is my God. I had to trust in His Word, and the fact that I was here for a reason and that the Lord was not going to leave or forsake me in this dark hour or ever; I had to choose to believe in who He was more than what I was facing. What were the practical steps? Let me share below.

Prayer

Phillippians 4:6-7 ESV says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This scripture has become such an anchor throughout my nursing career. On travel contracts, at a staff job, the uncertainty of what to expect can create anxiety, fear and/or dread. But, as believers, this scripture reminds us that the Lord is with us in our circumstances and that talking to Him helps our minds to remain steadfast and focused on Christ who guards our minds from fear and things that can hinder us. This involves talking to Jesus on the ride to and from work, before entering patient rooms and truly just throughout the day. Knowing God is Sovereign and with us, removes the burden and weight we carry in our situations because even though they may be out of our control, yet He is in control in spite of that.

Meditating on Scripture

When we know the truth of a thing, a person, a word, we trust what we know and what is true. If someone were to tell you the sky never changes colour and is always blue, you'd know that isn't correct. You know the sky has a vast display of colours it dances with especially, in the evening time. So what would be the point in doubting what you know to be true? Similarly with the Lord and His Word, they are true and your mind naturally becomes at ease because of the promises that are held in that truth. Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV reminds us, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." To be honest when it gets busy in the week especially at work and it's a chaotic day, it's easy to forget scripture. Some ways to remember it is taking screenshots of scripture verses that you look back on in your camera roll or keeping pictures (screen shots) of different verses rotating on your lock screen to remind you of the Word and to look at it throughout the day.

Breathing Exercises

Truthfully, this has helped quite a bit. Performing the right breathing techniques helps to shift your body from a fight or flight (sympathetic nervous system) response to a more calm and relaxed state of being (parasympathetic nervous system) feeling less stressed, calmer and in control. I won't get into the physiology or detail here, but the body has certain response mechanisms based on what we do to engage them. One breathing technique that I enjoy if I'm starting to feel overwhelmed or anxious is box breathing. Its focused and intentional breathing. Breathing in for four counts 1-2-3-4, holding for 1-2-3-4, breathing out for 1-2-3-4 and holding the breath out (once you've blown out all the air) for another 1-2-3-4 before restarting the whole process over again. I'll do this for a couple minutes before I feel the effects, and you'll feel so much better as well. Doing this exercise in the washroom or while you're charting, especially if you're at work is a great place to practice this!

Distraction

Sometimes after I've managed to calm myself down a bit more and refocus my thoughts, finding a healthy distraction is helpful. There's caution you should take when going on social media after feeling overwhelmed because it can make matters worse (since you have no clue what the phone will open up to that can be re-triggering). Instead try keeping an album of pictures that make you happy or smile in your phone that can be a go to chill zone for you. A nice playlist or a go-to song definitely can help ease the mind into a different direction (especially one you can hum to on demand). Having a quick call or chat with a trustworthy co-worker, family member, partner and/or friend can help with hearing a familiar voice. Lastly, just talking out loud to yourself and reminding yourself that you are okay, you'll get through the day with one step at a time can be helpful too. Don't be so hard on yourself!

I know this job/career, circumstance, and life on a whole can be overwhelming. I want to remind you in the way I was reminded, that you do not have to be alone in what you're dealing with. Christian or not, its our perspective, how we tackle things and our belief, that can make our current circumstance and state of being much worse off than it needs to be. Is it easier said than done not to worry about how you're going to pay your bills, provide a meal for yourself/kids, be anxious about the work assignment you get when you walk through those double doors? Trust me, I've been there and although I don't fully understand your situation, God does and He comes through every time. Based on previous experiences with the Lord, it may not seem as though He has come through even in your current situation. But, I encourage you to see that the help package He sends in response to your S.O.S may not come in the way you're expecting, yet will be exactly what you need - keep an open mind and heart.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Matthew 6:25-30 ESV

Be blessed and Happy July! Rooting for you!

Your sis in Christ,

Sarah