Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by the world, all you wanted to do was hide from it? When we lived in Budapest, Hungary, I wrestled with depression and struggled to overcome anxiety. I was sad and afraid.

Sad about the loss of familiarity that comes from living abroad; afraid of speaking a new language, risking new friendships, and of an unfamiliar city.

It was tempted to just stay inside my flat all day, watching episodes of Seinfeld I brought from the US and leaning into the familiar. But I soon realized my fears were not allayed by isolation and I was not getting better.

Seclusion is NOT a strategy for overcoming anxiety and fear.

Sure, it feels good to hole up in your room with a Netflix series or even a fantastic book when the world is too much to take. But when the finale has concluded or the last page is turned, the anxious monsters that forced you into isolation to begin with will soon be knocking at your door.

Do you want to know the best way to face those monsters? Don’t do it alone.

The very best thing I did to overcome my anxiety and depression was create scheduled times of connection with others throughout the week. These were non-negotiable meetings that forced me to lace up my shoes, brave the Central European cold, and dare to look someone in the eye.

What was so groundbreaking about this strategy?

When you’re anxious or depressed, all you want to do is think about your own problems (sometimes obsessively). Connecting with others reminds you there’s a world full of people out there who can not only lift your spirits with their spirit, but who NEED YOU to focus on them a bit.

In short, COMMUNITY CREATES CARE.

You learn to care for others, understand your problems in proper perspective, and exist as a connected human (not an isolated island). And you let people care for you.

CARE CREATES CONNECTION.

Let’s get really practical about overcoming fear and anxiety by focusing on CONNECTION WITH OTHERS.

If you’re feeling overly anxious or afraid today, we want to encourage you to do the following:

1. Schedule Connection: join a church small group that meets regularly, set up a recurring coffee or lunch with a friend, or find a workout buddy you can meet with each week.
2. Care for Others: volunteer to serve in your church’s children’s ministry, take your spouse on a date, or call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Get your eyes off yourself for a while.
3. Ask for Help: meet with a pastor or counselor face-to-face, ask a friend to pray with you (in-person if possible), or go on a walk with a family member to share how you feel.

From the very beginning, the Lord God says, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). We were designed to connect with each other and THAT IS GOOD. Discover the goodness of community and overcome anxiety with others by your side.