The Best of You 167: Can I Pray the Anxiety Away?
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Jul 17, 2025 Curtis Chang, a theologian and mental health advocate, shares his journey through anxiety and how it can serve as an invitation to healing. He discusses Jesus' own experience with anxiety, challenging the shame that surrounds mental health. The conversation dives into strategies for parents to support their anxious children and emphasizes the importance of authentic connections over social media's superficiality. Curtis encourages listeners to confront their fears and embrace anxiety as a pathway to self-love and spiritual growth.
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Curtis's Childhood Anxiety Story
- Curtis Chang shared how he experienced anxiety as a latchkey kid, coming home alone at age eight and fearing the house sounds and his parents' safety.
- His anxiety was unnamed and unrecognized in his Chinese American culture, contributing to a deep childhood fear and isolation.
Pastor's Breakdown from Anxiety
- Curtis described his severe anxiety as a senior pastor leading a struggling church, including weeks of sleep deprivation and emotional breakdown.
- He hid his anxiety due to shame and stigma, which worsened his condition until he confronted it openly.
Anxiety as Spiritual Opportunity
- Anxiety reveals what we deeply fear losing and can be seen as an invitation from God to spiritual growth.
- Instead of just a problem to fix, anxiety can become a doorway to discovering our truest self in God.
