Some thoughts about anxiety
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Some people have anticipatory anxiety, or fear of an event that hasn’t happened yet. Sometimes I do, but I’ve learned with God’s help that worrying about something that is in the future is counterproductive. There is a prayer that says we should only worry about the present, not about the past, because it cannot be changed anymore, nor worry about the future, because that hasn’t happened yet.
Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. “Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).” (Mayo Clinic). Anxiety about stress, or "anticipatory anxiety," is the mental "bleeding before being cut"—a taxing, forward-looking fear of future stressors, often magnifying negative outcomes. It functions as a misguided protective mechanism in which the brain creates a loop of worry, exhausting resources on imagined threats. (AI)
When faced with a problem on the job or mentally, we must discern how to approach it. When this problem occurs (past or future) is not relevant. Solve the problem as if it were happening today, NOW! We are reframing our thoughts; call it “what-ifs” by focusing on potential positive outcomes that you can live with.
We must learn to live in the present. That is a learning process for the brain. Some do this slower than others. Living in the present lessens unnecessary stress. Spending too much time planning or problem-solving can be tiring. Short prayers, especially uplifting ones, help.
There is of course more to this subject but these few thoughts may convince you to pray a lot asking the Lord to help unravel your anxiety and stress.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
January 8, 2026