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Defusing a Panic Attack:
Taking Thoughts Captive When Fear Strikes

Watch on Facebook
This conversation originally aired live on Facebook on March 11, 2021. You can view the video on Facebook here.
Last November, I got on a plane and flew from South Carolina to Colorado. If you know me, you know I'm a ground-dweller. I've repeatedly told the Lord that while I will not volunteer to get on a plane, I would obey if he called me to go.

And when my baby nephew, Barrett, was born, I knew the call had come.

Out of love for my family and obedience to God, I had to face my fear of being trapped in a small space, fear of falling from great heights, fear of being on a plane while a flock of geese fly into the engine or a wing spontaneously falls off mid-flight causing us to crash into the ground but not before first free-falling in a tailspin for probably at least 5 minutes, etc., etc.

I thought it might be helpful to share what defusing a panic attack can look like in the heat of the moment. For me, this isn't theory or even a hypothetical presentation of biblical principals. This was something that actually happened, and an experience where the Holy Spirit empowered me to self-counsel during an intense battle of the mind and body.

My hope is that by sharing a bit of my own story, those who struggle with panic may observe a real-life example of what it can look like to take our thoughts captive to Christ when fears begin to overwhelm. For some of us, Spirit-empowered courage in the midst of fear looks like trembling in weakness while walking in obedience. But friends, even our weakest, shakiest walking in obedience brings such glory to God! The goal isn't to keep from trembling, but rather to keep on entrusting ourselves to God when we are afraid, second by second, over and over again (Ps. 56:3).
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Related Helpful Books & Devotionals
Help! I Get Panic Attacks by Lucy Ann Moll
Anxiety: Knowing God's Peace by Paul Taugtes
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
A Holy Fear: Trading Lesser Fears for the Fear of the Lord by Christina Fox
A Small Book for the Anxious Heart by Ed Welch
Christine M. Chappell
Author • Writer • Podcast Host • Speaker
Christine is the author of Clean Home, Messy Heart, Help! My Teen is Depressed, Help! I've Been Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder (forthcoming with Shepherd Press in 2021), and Midnight Mercies: Hope for the Dark Hours of Motherhood (forthcoming with P&R Publishing in 2022.) She hosts IBCD's Hope + Help Podcast and is passionate about advocating for biblical one-another care and discipleship in the context of the local church. Her writing has been featured at Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition, Risen Motherhood, and other Christian platforms. Christine blogs regularly at christinemchappell.com and lives in South Carolina with her husband and three children. 
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