Anxiety is a frequent topic...
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Anxiety is a frequent topic in current medical and psychological literature, as it is the most common form of mental illness today. Anxiety -- ranging from general, non-specific conditions of distress to more complex varieties of anxiety disorders -- takes up many pages in textbooks, physicians' reference and diagnostic manuals, and self-help books. Even when people do not suffer symptoms or anxious feelings with enough frequency or severity to warrant a clinical diagnosis of anxiety, the process of worrying or being anxious results in tension and strain in both body and soul. Anxiety can play a role in many diseases, including: high blood pressure, ulcers, heart conditions, diabetes, chronic pain and asthma. When persons suffering from these conditions learn to monitor themselves and begin to consciously control the level of anxiety in their lives, their health often improves and symptoms of disease or illness may become less severe. Anxiety is not a new phenomenon in human life, although we have developed highly sophisticated technologies to measure its impact on our lives. The teachings Jesus shared in his Sermon on the Mount contain much wisdom and spiritual guidance. His words are not merely a prescription for the healthy life of the soul; they include sound medicine for the body as well. -- Parker
