Spiritual Struggles

[mvillarreal]

Hi, everyone! I am really deep into my spiritual journey, but some times the hard questions (Does God really exist? Is there life after death? How do we know what is true when so many different people make different claims about ultimate reality?) overwhelm me and exacerbate my mental health struggles. Do you know of any support for people who struggle with spirituality and with existential anxiety? I am already looking at Spiritual Directors, so that is a first step, at least. What are some other things I could look into?

[dore13]

Yourself, look into that. Why not focus your attention on being well, then when you are centered, ask yourself or others about those spiritual / philosophical questions.

[mvillarreal in reply to dore13]

But I can't just get rid of those thoughts. They intrude no matter what I am doing and can be very distracting. It's hard to be centered when my mind is on high-speed with existential questions all the time.

[dore13 in reply to mvillarreal]

You need to speak with a doctor and get professional; help to get your anxiety under control, and a good therapist to teach you DBT techniques. Good luck.

[samjon1]

Hello mvillarreal. Thanks for being open about your real experiences. It's what helps. I too was in the same situation because am in a spiritual journey since 2011 when I accepted Jesus. Similar questions came over and started confusing me. People with no anxiety might not understand but we are liable to unlimited thoughts so don't be bothered why. God is real, He created everything, wait. It's prayer time. Might get back to you

[Hidden]

Hi, yes I’ve had these thoughts and they led me to confirm my faith in Jesus Christ. I did a lot of research and I no longer struggle with those thoughts.

[HeathersWellness]

Hi! Those are some great questions and yes they can be difficult to answer as well. Personally, I do believe in the existence of God and am someone who really leans into my faith and tries to make it apply to every area of my life. With so much negativity happening in our world today, many people are starting to question whether or not God is real, how we can know for certain and even to what extent He interacts in our lives on a daily basis.

Like, does God even care about our anxiety? Yes, I really think He does and everything that affects us. I believe He even welcomes all of our questions, fears, and doubts.

Just recently, I came across some interesting reading that might help to answer some of your questions. You can look them up here -- bit.ly/2tAAMgZ and bit.ly/2yNZEFX.

I sense this is very important to you but try not to feel overwhelmed. Seeking truth is not a bad thing. I find that in life balance is essential.

I hope this helps in your search for true spirituality and also brings some relief to your anxiety. Praying for peace and a mind at ease!