Stop The Stress

 

I wrote about June 13-14, 2022, which is when I was going for a walk the other day as I was trying to calm my bloated gut pain, as well as the general stress I’ve been feeling.  So during my walk that afternoon, close to the last part of my walk, there was this owner that had a small dog, which didn’t notice me when I was coming up to them.  Then suddenly as I walked by them the dog ended up running and braking after me a couple of times.

All the owner said to the dog was no, no, but she didn’t say anything to me or do much of anything to stop the dog from chasing me.  I have this run/fear that automatically kicks in when a dog barks at me, especially if it growls or runs at me.  I ended up running really quick, as it scared and freaked me out.  I don’t want to react that way, but as I said it’s so automatic, I can’t seem to stop myself from running.

As I was saying it really stressed me out, but there was a difference in what I felt for once.  Normally all I feel in a surprise occurrence as that, is intense fear and anxiety.  I find the fear and anxiety is even more heightened, as I normally feel those emotions daily and can only manage them, instead of dealing with them.

The different feeling I felt this time, was anger.  Oh, I was so very angry, all I wanted to do was scream, yell and cry.  I was scrounging my fists and I just wanted to punch something hard.  I was angry at the owner for letting her dog run after me, and I was angry at the dog for scaring me in the first place. 

Normally me being me, I keep these emotions inside as I don’t like getting angry at anybody else, as that could hurt someone, or they could hurt me back. 

I was so frustrated, because I came out for the walk to calm my body and mind down, but I end up getting frazzled by an unexpected scare, when all I wanted to do was to Stop The Stress.

I’ve being struggling with stress for so long, that it seems the best I can do is manage it, instead of getting rid of it.  As it turns out I think God let that situation happen with the dog again, as it’s happened in the past with other dog owners, to help me see things differently.

God let me for once help me feel my real anger.  I don’t normally let that out, besides on myself.  Oh was it ever strong in there.  I could tell it just wanted to explode, but even in that, I knew I couldn’t lose myself and take it out on them.  So when I was far enough away from the dog owner and the little dog, I just went eeeerrr…, I let the tears roll down my face, and I said “Why Lord?”  He was showing me how letting that anger out is how you can Stop The Stress.

So as much as that dog made my stress worse at first, in the end, overall it made it better, as I finally got some really anger out, which is where a lot of my stress is from.  I could very much feel Elohim (God) beside me and with me in that moment.  He reminded me it is okay to get angry at situations.  He was trying to show me a way to get my anger out without taking it out on myself, and I thanked Him for that.

I knew all that intense anger, fear and anxiety wasn’t really at the dog or owner, as it was something that set it off, as I’ve been holding those very strong emotions inside of me for a really long time. 

As much as I didn’t like what caused me to get angry, and scared, I did appreciate that Elohim could show me a better way to get those emotions out in a constructive way.  I knew I couldn’t get rid of all of those very strong emotions in a moment, but He was showing me a way to let go of even a little bit of it.

The Stop sign I saw when I ways almost home, helped remind me that I just want to Stop The Stress in my life, and that expressing those feelings is an important thing to do.   I find another way for me to do that is writing it out, as it slows my racing thoughts, as I focus on what I want to say, and this blog seems to help with that as well.

I know that it is very difficult to let out strong feelings and emotions, but at the right time and safe manner it can be helpful.  When you have Elohim (God) by your side, you can come to Him with your Stress, and He can help relieve it, which will make you stronger.

Patricia <3  :)

 

1 Peter 5:6-7    Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

 

Here’s a good song about resting in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, listen to Elohim (God) quietly, and Be Still and Know He is God, as He just wants you to leave everything to Him so He can show you the way.

 

“Rest” by Aaron Shust

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur78_jDX7P4&list=PL3whQX319DaB37iB8NZpJe206iSdpe3kc&index=16