¶ Overcoming Anxiety and Worry Workbook
Hello , hello and welcome back . Learning to live in truth . We are so glad to be before you One more . Not learning to live in truth , y'all , I'm so sorry . God's diamonds in the rough . Lord , have mercy . Y'all know it's your girl , catherine , and I'm just doing the most this morning , early this morning .
I do apologize , but anyhow , any who , however you want to call it , I am so glad to be before you one more time . Michael is not here , so you have me and I actually have a co host with me , amen .
And she's going to get into the room here just right after I pray and introduce herself , and we're gonna have a conversation today about how we can overcome anxiety and worry . Amen . So , without further ado , we're going to go ahead and pray . So , father , we thank you so much for your grace and your mercy .
Thank you , god , for allowing us this day and this time , this opportunity , father , to come before you and get into a conversation that's going to help somebody . Father , we pray for every diamond that is here and we pray even for ourselves , god , that we can be all that you desire us to be .
We pray , god , the things that seem to hold us still or hold us back , god , that they would be dismissed now and canceled . In the name of Jesus , that we could go forward to do your will , order our steps in the way that you would have us to go .
Father , we are so thankful for Miss Haley , god , and we just pray that you would use her here in a magnificent way that we would all leave out , encouraged and inspired . Father , we love you so much and so very grateful and so thankful . We pray that this prayer and all of our prayers are pleasing in your sight . In Jesus Christ's name , we do pray .
Amen , amen , hallelujah . So we're gonna have miss hayley to come in and introduce yourself , madam , to the world and to our diamonds well , my name is hayley eichert .
I am a licensed professional counselor and licensed professional marriage and family therapist , and I've been in the mental health field about 17 years . What ?
makes you , ms Haley , the authority or voice for anxiety and worry ? Why did you write this workbook ? You say you wrote a workbook about this particular topic , so can you further elaborate ?
Well , like I mentioned , I've been in the mental health field for about 17 years and one of the big things that people come to me about is anxiety . A lot of other things , too , people come to me about is anxiety . A lot of other things to trauma , grief , depression .
But one of the things I see a lot of is anxiety , and specifically anxiety as a Christian , and so I noticed I was kind of doing the same thing with a lot of people and hearing the same sort of thing .
So I just started primarily to kind of create a journal for people to , you know , write some things down and stuff , and I just thought , well , this will be helpful .
Well , this will be helpful , this will be helpful , and people would often ask me to just to help them , because it's kind of embarrassing , as a Christian , I think , for people to have anxiety , because we see so much in the Bible to not be anxious , to not be fearful , to not be afraid , and so it's kind of a hard thing for people to , you know , say I'm
feeling this way , that which the Bible says not to . And so I just created this mix between biblical principles and psychology to help people walk through anxiety and not get rid of it but to learn to manage it , because it's an emotion God gave us and I think it's an emotion that can , that can be used for good .
I mean , I think it is good as long as it's managed well . Right so that was my primary , primary purpose for it .
OK , and would you say that drew you into that field ? You said you're a counselor as well .
Yeah , I yeah , I created the book after I became a counselor , just because I was seeing it a lot . After I became a counselor , just because I was seeing it a lot , what drew me in the field of counseling was I don't I mean I can't really say specifically a clear path .
There were a few things that happened that I think God just used in my life to , you know , say this would be a field and you know when , when you're a Christian , I think God puts in your heart that you want to help people , and not that that's exclusive to being a Christian , but I think that when you are , you really do have a compassion and empathy for
people , and so you know God leads that in different ways in everybody's life . So this is the path that he led me on .
Right , I'm a firm believer that you know that God makes us a solution to a problem for someone . I truly believe that we are a solution to a problem and not for us not to get so caught up in our particular circumstance .
You know what I mean , because you know , when you think about this scripture not to be anxious and not to be fearful and all of those things well , he teaches us that principle , but it's almost I wouldn't say it's what's the word I'm looking for .
I wouldn't say that it's controversial , but somebody has to become anxious , somebody has to be fearful , in order to create the solution . Does that make sense ?
Yeah , and we see it . I mean , why did God say it , unless somebody felt it ? exactly , exactly yeah , yeah , I think that , but god says I am also the solution like I am I can give you , like by trusting in me . You don't have to be that way , even though you feel that way .
Um , and I think , yeah , through , I think , and I know that a lot of people have written their own books and their own stories and share their own stories of feeling this way and how they've overcome it through Jesus Christ . So I think that , yes , he's powerful in using other people to help other people walk through this journey and learn to manage it well .
Right . Would you say that the majority of people that struggle with anxiety and worry feel like they're alone ?
I would say , like I mentioned , it is really hard to talk about . I think Christians and non-Christians alike . I think it's hard for people to talk about in a bit . So that naturally is going to make people feel alone . But normally when you share a little bit of your story you'll hear right away that people , a lot of people , feel this way .
I hear it a lot just because I'm a counselor and once people find that out that they'll kind of share that with me . And then if I tell them I have a workbook , then they really are all for that . But you know , it's not any like . God says that and jesus says that and paul says that a lot in scripture .
It's because people feel that way and I'm I truly believe that fear and anxiety can be a good thing . It's one of those things that , if we manage it well , it is actually meant to keep us safe . It's meant to keep us cautious or plan for the future . So it is a good thing when used appropriately .
Anything in excess is bad and if we're making decisions based on fear , if we're making decisions based in anxiety , that's not a good thing and that's going to keep us from where God wants us to be .
He's given us a command or calling or something , and if we don't learn how to obey in the midst of fear , in the midst of anxiety , and trust him , we're going to miss out on some really powerful things that God has for us in our life .
So how do we get your workbook ?
Well , my workbook is actually on Kindle and in paperback form . It's on all . You can just Google the name Changing your Feelings and it'll come up in most online bookstores . But amazon's an easy place , but yeah so , but you can get it even in the ebook . Like so I'm . I was kind of wondering like , is a workbook helpful in kindle ?
But I mean , as long as you have some paper beside you , you can just write this stuff out and it makes it less expensive , because sometimes you know books , like everything else , is increasing in price , and so I and that's one thing I don't want anyone to struggle with something that God will clearly help them through .
So , whether you believe you need to heal from it or just learn to manage it , I know that there's hope and healing for people . So there's no reason to struggle with anxiety or fear at least in the excess amount or worry . There's no reason . There are clear principles in scripture that help us walk through those things and learn how to manage it well .
So I just want people to have hope and know that God is here for us . He doesn't want us to fear . He's not condemning us for our fear or our worry or anxiety , but he wants us to be able to walk through that to where he has for us .
And that's a life of peace , and doesn't mean everything's going to go well , but how to have peace in the midst of hard situations . I mean , if you've experienced a trauma or something like that , anxiety is bound to come , but it doesn't mean our life has to be ruled by that . God's bigger than all those things .
You better talk about it . I know that's right and so , yeah
¶ Comprehensive Mental Health Workbook
, absolutely . And so , with your workbook , is that the only thing you cover and just , is it solely about anxiety and worry , or is it dig into other things ?
Well , I kind of start , I kind of created it like I do like anything I would cover in a counseling session for people struggling with anxiety . So we've got the you know goal setting part in the front .
We've got a little bit about the brain , a little bit about the foundation of how to make your life mentally healthy just taking care of yourself physically , sleep nutrition , care of yourself physically , sleep nutrition , um , and then some coping skills on learning how to just cope with life , whether you use it for anxiety or not , and then learning how to change
your thoughts . I've got section on panic attacks , section on um identity being created in his image , um , specifically a section on worry , and then just um , um , yeah , and then there's even a section on if you're , if you have like a phobia of how to work through that um in a practical , step-by-step way .
It's called um prolonged exposure therapy , and so I've got a small section in that to help people like learn to walk through . I mean , those things are better to walk through with a counselor .
But again , if you can't afford it or there are things you can do , and I encourage people to have an accountability partner as they work through the workbook , just so they can bounce things off of and to know , like , if you're going to work on a phobia of like something that you're afraid of , you want someone to help you assess whether that's safe or not .
So , if you're afraid of the water but you don't know how to swim , you might need someone to tell you no , you need to go have swimming lessons first or just step in the shallow end of the pool , like something like that . Where someone can you know ?
We don't want people jumping in the deep end of the pool because they're trying to overcome a fear when it's actually not safe to do that . So that kind of helps people walk through that process of how to , and then tracking your anxiety and fear levels in the midst of as you begin to make small steps to work on those things .
And then the very I've got some things in the back of just scripture about anxiety , scripture for encouragement , about prayer . Yeah , so it covers a whole lot . I've tried to cover everything . If someone were to come to me about count , about anxiety or worry , like everything they could possibly experience , I've tried to put in the workbook .
And I do find that a lot of times when people are anxious and are having really unhealthy and anxious thoughts , a lot of that , a lot of the times you'll find that they're saying statements about themselves . So like I'm not a good mom is a very common one . So that can bring anxiety . And just raising your kids .
So a lot of the times I end up working with people on who they are in Christ , who God has created them to be , because once you can kind of grasp some of that , that helps reduce anxiety a lot .
You worry less about what people think , you are just focused on being in the lane that God's created for you , and so a lot of that stuff can kind of go down to the sides of you know it's not so like sometimes just working on on like identity , taking care of yourself physically Some of those things can just help anxiety stay where it needs to stay also .
So this is .
That's powerful . I love , I love what you're doing . It's awesome , and you know , I'm sure , that this workbook is a powerful tool to to take you out of where you were to where you are .
And I say where you were because , again , I believe that when you get stuck in depression and things of that sort , it's just really you literally is like being stuck in the mud . You can't go anywhere . You know life is happening , but you're still stuck in that same place , and so we would definitely encourage you to get this workbook .
As we dwindle down on our time , I wish that we had more time to conversate a little bit more about mental health , but I just believe , I truly believe , that this was like a one , two , three knockout type of conversation , haley , because it speaks right to the need . You know what I mean .
A lot of people had a need , and they don't want to sit and listen to , you know , a 30 , 40 minute podcast . Just give me what I need , and I just believe that God set it up . He ordained it to be this way . His plans are greater than ours , amen .
So , as we close up , haley , would you give a final word to our listeners and what your message is ultimately .
Ultimately , I will say that God is a God of conviction , not condemnation . So if you're feeling condemned because you have anxiety , don't because that's not of God . God does . He is bigger than any anxious feeling that you have , any worry that you have . He wants you ultimately to trust in him and there are some practical steps to be able to do that .
And you know practice helps that too . You know practice helps that too . So as we lean on Jesus , he will help us walk that path of peace and calmness . And it's fine if you feel worried , but learning how to . I would just encourage you can learn how to overcome that stuff and claim rest and peace in Jesus and trust .
Hallelujah , I love it . Thank you so much for being here . I certainly do appreciate you hosting with me . My , you know , my final encouraging word is to you know , not get stuck . And when you feel like you're stuck , you know , get the help that you need , because God has so much for you . He has so much for you , he has so much for you .
You are a diamond , we're all diamonds in sight , and you are a child of God . You believe that Jesus died for you on that cross . Then you know , look , he gave you a new life , he gave you a new beginning , and all you have to do is choose him and walk in it and tell the devil he's a liar . You know what I mean ?
Every lie that he would speak to you privately or in that place when you're in darkness . It is exactly that . It is a lie , because satan is the father of lies and he's not going to give you truth . You got to go to jesus with for and with truth . Amen , and he will change your feelings , amen , so miss .
So , ms Haley , would you please close us out with a prayer Amen .
I would love to .
Thank you so much .
Yes , ma'am . Dear Heavenly Father , I thank you so much for Catherine and Michael , as they are teaching and preaching your word to people all over the world . We thank you for that .
We just pray that you continue to bless that ministry and God , for those out there that are listening and that are struggling with how to walk close to you and to trust in you , because maybe they haven't had anyone that they've been able to trust .
Help them to know that you are a big God , that you love them , you're full of love and grace , and that there is no sin that they've committed . That is too big . There's no sin against them that has been committed . That is too big for you .
That you heal and that's what you promise us and that , even though we have a lot of problems , lord , help us to focus on you . You are the healer and you're the one that wants to walk with us as we walk through all things .
Help us to trust you , help us to lean on you and , lord , thank you for sending your son , jesus , to die for us and to just be able for us to come before you and be in your presence . We thank you for that . Help us never to take it for granted . We just pray and ask all this in your precious son Jesus name , amen .
Amen , amen . Thank you so much again . I appreciate you Y'all . Y'all know what y'all got to do . Go to Amazon or wherever you shop for your books , your Kindle , and find her workbook Changing your Feelings , and we're prayerfully you're going to come back with us another week for God's Diamonds in the Rough . We appreciate you .
We appreciate you so much , haley , and we just wish you so many blessings in your ministry and in everything that you're doing for the kingdom . Amen , hallelujah . So y'all know what it is . Till the next time you are a diamond in the rough , amen , and we hope you'll come back with us next week . Hallelujah , hallelujah , amen . Have a great week , amen .