Interview with Rachel Hauck--Overcoming Anxiety by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Rachel Hauck

RachelHauck is the author of Once Upon A Prince and of RITA nominated The Wedding Dress and RITA nominated Love Starts with Elle. She is the author of more than 16 books.

Rachel, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

RH: First, thank you for having me on OWG. I am an overcomer. In my late teens, then again in my mid-20’s I battled sudden anxiety and panic. There wasn’t a lot of talk in those days of “panic attacks” but they would hit me out of the blue and last for a few seconds, but over time, the fear of them happening or getting worse lingered.

That fear was worse than the actual “event.”

I could actually write a book about my experience and how the Lord met me. Let me just affirm and confirm, prayer and the Word work! We can overcome anything in Him.

My battle was a cocktail of hormones, open doors to the enemy, and maybe a bit of inheritance from my family. Either way, I was determined to win. I had to take up my cross daily. I had a scripture verse for fear, for peace, for love, for overcoming, for every errant thought.

I believed God’s Word was true and it would deliver me and heal me.

He is true to His Word.

I walk in peace and joy. The unfounded fears and panic are no longer a part of my life. I truly understand “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

For anyone struggling emotionally or spiritually, devour God’s Word. Make it your “bread and water. It will give you life. Change you in ways you cannot imagine.

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?

RH: I have no control over the audio versions or audio capability. I would love for Once Upon a Prince to be released in audio format. Hopefully it will soon. But I do believe e-readers have audio capability and this book will be released in e-book. So, check your Kindle or Nook for reading aloud features.

(Note: Rachel's "The Wedding Dress" and three books with Sara Evans are available on audible.com.)

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

RH: Most of my stories are about the love of the Lord and His passion for us, or His divine plan for us. In Once Upon A Prince, we meet Susanna who thought she knew what her life was going to be – she had a plan – but when her boyfriend breaks up with her instead of proposing, she is confused and lost.

Her journey is about surrendering completely. I think for anyone struggling we find ourselves battling the desire to cling to what we know – even if it’s negative – and leaping out in faith and trusting God.

It’s hard to trust a God we don’t know well or actually see. But it’s actually in that place God begins to meet us.

Susanna must face the same choice. Keep doing things her way or leap out in faith and believe God.

Plus, she meets a prince. Sigh… It’s an encouraging story!

Thank you Rachel for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

RH: Thank you for having me!

Use this link to view all of Rachel's books with links to purchase (click here.)

GIVEAWAY:  We are giving away a book of Rachel's--winner's choice of book and choice of format, this week.  Answer the question and leave your email address to enter.  Q: Have you ever had to deal with severe anxiety?  How did God help you cope?

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Anne Mateer

Anne Mateer

Anne Mateer is the author of At Every Turn and of Wings of a Dream.

Anne, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

While I have not had many definable “tragedies” in my life, I’d say the most difficult thing I’ve had to overcome, with God’s help, has been fear. Huge fear. Deep fear. Fear that spawns panic attacks and retreat from the world. Fear of everything from flying in an airplane to talking to a stranger.

I dealt with some fear, like all of us, for much of my life, but as a stay-at-home mom of three little children with a husband working insane hours, it grew out of proportion, out of the bounds of normal. But I didn’t recognize it for what it was. In fact, I thought something was physically wrong with me. I remember having two or three episodes at home where I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. I finally told my husband I needed to go to the doctor, though I didn’t specify why. (I was afraid I had cancer or some other terminal disease.) 

After the doctor gave me a physical, we started talking about my symptoms. I remember the moment he looked at me and smiled. “You’re having panic attacks.”

I just blinked at him. He had to be wrong. Christians didn’t have panic attacks. Did they? He prescribed some medication. I returned home, stunned. I told my husband then stared at the prescription for days before I filled it. After that, I stared at the bottle, warring with myself over actually taking a pill. I was terrified it wouldn’t help. And I was terrified it would. At that time, we were involved in a home group through our church that included a woman who worked as a psychiatrist, a very strong, godly woman. I talked with her about the medication, about what I’d been going through. I’ll never forget what she told me.

“Sometimes medication is necessary so that we can minimize the symptoms and be able to hear the voice of God.” She advised me to take the pills when I felt my fear spiraling out of control, but not to assume I’d have to use them forever. And she encouraged me to press in to Jesus, especially during those times when the medication settled me down.

I did as she advised. The extreme fear abated somewhat. I think I only filled the prescription twice and didn’t even finish the second bottle. But even though the medication helped in the moment, like she’d said it would, I didn’t overcome my fear in an instant. In fact, it wasn’t until several years later that the final spiritual breakthrough came that allowed me to put fear back in its proper perspective for good. But my friend was right. The medication calmed me enough to help me seek the Lord in the way I knew I ought. And while Jesus didn’t “fix” me right away, He and I started on a new journey, one that continues to this day in a deeper and more real way than ever before.
 

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

That is so hard for me to narrow down! I guess I would have to say that at this moment it is Proverbs 16:9: The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. For me, this encapsulates what God has done and continues to do in me. He has given me confidence to plan my way instead of being bound up in fear, but He is growing greater faith in me to understand that what comes to pass in spite of that planning is from His direction. I don’t have to fear when I know--really know--that He is in control. He loves me and desires my good, which, by His definition, is me growing to become more like Christ and bringing glory to Him.

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?

So far, none of my books are available in an audio format, but Wings of a Dream is in large print. I hope At Every Turn will be available in that format as well.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

I hope my books will stir in my readers a desire to trust the Lord to a greater degree in their lives. In those long years of working through my fear issues, I realized it all came down to trust. I didn’t truly trust God’s goodness or His love for me. I hope my stories encourage readers to examine their own level of trust in the Lord and to seek to trust Him in greater ways in their own lives as I seek to do in mine. I also hope my books will encourage readers to see how God is working through the unexpected situations they encounter in life rather than just seeing those as frustrations.

At Every Turn

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

While researching race tracks for At Every Turn, I came across the history of Speedway Park, located near Chicago. Opened in 1915, it closed three short seasons later, in 1918. The owner donated the land to the government for a VA hospital in memory of the son of the owner who was killed in France during the Great War (WWI). From what I understand, there is still a VA hospital on that site today. That story touched my heart when I read it.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

I think this story is very helpful for those who feel that God has gifted them in ways that are unusual and often outside the norm of what the church considers giftedness from the Lord. It is very easy to feel alone and unloved when you don’t seem to fit. But I believe the Lord has given us our uniqueness for a reason. Even something as seemingly unimportant as driving fast, as Alyce does in At Every Turn, can be used by the Lord to spread the gospel and to bring Him glory and should not be discounted.

Thank you Anne for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Anne's books can be purchased through Amazon, CBD, Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saturday. Your choice of Anne's books and choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.

Anxiety and Faith by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Anxiety

Panic attacks and anxiety appear to have a genetic component to them. So people who experience this shouldn’t beat themselves up over this phenomenon. We’re wired for fight or flight. So the anxious or panicky person freezes while someone else runs. 

Some fear (FEAR=false evidence appearing real) are man-made, though. With the imaginative writer-types and readers, a mental exposure to a frightening event can invoke the same physical responses tied to truly experiencing it. Which prompts one to wonder—do we really want to watch scary movies or read terrifying books when our hearts begin to pound harder, our breathing is affected, and our galvanic skin response and electrical system thinks we are under attack ourselves?  Some people are adrenalin junkies, but I diverge from my point—by allowing ourselves to entertain thoughts of situations we fear, we experience the same negative physical result on our bodies as if it had truly happened.  So, if today, you are borrowing trouble by worrying over something that may (or may not!) happen in the future, you are submitting yourself to the negative effects and not only failing to accomplish something but you are bringing bad stuff down on your body!

One promising treatment for anxiety and stress is neurobiofeedback (see EEG info's site.)  As an example, if you are hooked up to the neurobiofeedback machine watching a lovely video and think stressful thoughts, the screen will go black—triggering you to recognize what is happening.  In many instances, the person is not even aware of the thoughts racing through their head until the screen keeps blacking out, forcing them to maintain a relaxed state of mind free from distracting worrisome thoughts. 

I love my Joyce Meyer nightly devotional book.  One recent devotion urged the reader to cast their cares upon Jesus because He was in control anyway and mulling them over does no good and furthermore negates our belief that God is the one who is looking after us.  And He is!

We thank JAMIE CARIE again for appearing with us this past week and for sharing her heart and testimony in our interview.  Giveaways for this week will end at midnight today. Leave your email address to be entered.

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Jamie Carie

Jamie Carie is the author of The Forgiven Duke and ten other books including The Guardian Duke and Pirate of my Heart.

Jamie, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

When I was in my twenties, I started having panic attacks. I had always struggled with fear and anxiety due to a traumatic childhood (I’m working on my memoirs now so that story is coming eventually). My husband didn’t know how to help me which made him frustrated and afraid and I wasn’t getting much help from my church. I went to the doctor and they gave me medication but it barely helped and made me feel like a walking zombie. It got so bad that I could hardly leave my house. My husband had a second job delivering newspapers from 4:00 – 6:00 am every morning. I would always wake up terrified that he was gone (back when there were no cell phones) and I would walk in a circle around my living room just trying to breathe. My hands would go numb and tingly and my heart would race. I prayed constantly but only had small reprieves from the constant terror. After months of this, I was exhausted physically, emotionally and spiritually. I had two little boys to take care of and I wanted to die.

What finally helped was Joyce Meyer and her cassette tape series, The Battlefield of the Mind. I listened to it countless times and believed the scriptures that she taught. I didn’t have an instantaneous healing but over time and with some later counseling, I did get much better.

Today, I praise God that I have come so far. I would have never been able to do the traveling, speaking and socializing that I now do as an author without God pulling me out of that pit.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

In the context of this topic I would go with I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (NIV)

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do you have any in large print?  Some of my books are available in audio and most of them are available in large print. All are available as an e-book.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

That God loves them in a way that we can only attempt to imagine and that He has a plan for their lives that is perfect and is preparing them for eternity. We are as fading flowers here but will shine forever throughout eternity reflecting His glory. This life is a test, a race, a trial by fire. God is preparing each of us for our time with Him forever.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

So many things! Here are a few:

Snow Angel – The trek across Alaska to the gold fields in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada was an extreme adventure not for the faint of heart. I couldn’t believe how many people made that treacherous journey.

The Duchess and the Dragon – The Quakers believe in following the “inner light” which reminded me of my Charismatic roots in following the “leading of the Holy Spirit.”

Wind Dancer – George Rogers Clark had no reason to believe so steadfastly that taking the northwest territory (Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio) would be so key to winning the American Revolution except that God just put a burning desire to see it through in his heart. I was amazed at how God gets His will done using fallible, wonderful people like him.

Love’s First Light – The French Revolution came right after our own American Revolution but the differences were astounding to me! While we had good, upright men to take leadership of our new country, the French had corrupt and evil men take over. I felt so thankful and blessed to have had Godly men (fallible yes, but men who loved God) lead us into our democracy.

Angel’s Den – The devastation of domestic violence and abuse is so horrible I almost couldn’t write this story. I kept praying that God would show me Emma’s way out. Some people never get that, they die in horrible circumstances and that breaks my heart.

The Snowflake – The intricate beauty of snowflakes astound me. Here’s a quote I was given permission to use in my book: “They sat that every snowflake is different. If that were true, how could the world go on? How could we ever get up off our knees? How could we ever recover from the wonder of it?” – Jeanette Winterson, The Passion, 1987

Pirate of My Heart – One person really can change the world, or at least his/her world. I learned that the fruit of Spirit is power. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23 When it says there is no law it speaks to the power of these gifts – nothing can come against them.

The Guardian Duke – I delved into how people react when devastation happens in their lives. As a writer it’s easy to have the character react as you would. Both my heroine and hero have a devastating circumstance but they react completely different. That was interesting to explore.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

Not sure on this. I always pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to readers wherever they need it and if He chooses to bring healing through my books then I praise God for it!

Thank you Jamie for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!



Jamie Carie's books can be found on Amazon, CBD, Barnes and Noble, Lifeway, and other book stores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Jamie’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.