Faith-Centred Road Map Out of Anxiety and Depression

When we’re in a cycle of self-sabotage, depression, fear or addiction it can feel like there’s no way out of the loop.

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Heather O’Brien is a minister, author and host of the Heal with God podcast where she uses her own long journey out of anxiety and depression to offer a practical, faith-centred road map for others.

After years of struggling with depression and learning to lean on Scripture and prayer, Heather began hearing God’s voice and developing step-by-step tools that she put into her book No Fear Allowed, which helps Christians move from symptom management to lasting freedom.

“I was already through the process of healing myself, and it turned into me helping other people,” Heather said.

Heather O’Brien uses her own long journey out of anxiety and depression to offer a practical, faith-centred road map for others.

“I just started writing down their stories [and realised] I need to write a manual.”

Central to Heather’s work are what she calls the ABCs – a simple but Spirit-led process for moving towards healing.

A – Assess the situation. Heather encourages people to prayerfully look back to where their struggle began. “What was happening when it started? Was there a divorce, a breakup, a death in the family [even] a bully in school?” she said. Pinpointing those beginnings often reveals the hidden roots of depression, fear, or anxiety.

B – Beliefs. Next, she asks, what do you believe about that now? “Usually there’s a lie in the belief,” Heather said. That’s why she stresses the importance of walking with someone grounded in Scripture and listening closely to the Holy Spirit.

Central to Heather’s work are what she calls the ABCs – a simple but Spirit-led process for moving towards healing.

C – Consequences. Finally, Heather encourages people to consider not only the impact on themselves but on others. “We already know the consequences [of our addiction or belief] for ourselves,” Heather said, “but the Holy Spirit started bringing the consequences to other people, to me. And that’s really what changes the game.” For Heather, recognising how her actions could affect her children gave her fresh determination to change.

Another thing that needs to be addressed in any healing journey are what Heather calls “spiritual pets” – negative thoughts or false identities we allow to linger.

Harmful “I am” statements like “I am a failure or I’m unworthy” are not the truth.

Heather encourages people to stack their spiritual routines in a way that [makes them] part of everyday life.

“[Scripture tells us] the truth will set you free,” Heather said.

For Heather, living in freedom is a steady practise of building rhythms of Bible reading, worship, prayer, and community in a way that stacks the habits.

“When I have coffee, I have Bible time,” Heather said.

“You can stack your spiritual routines in a way that [makes them] part of everyday life.

“I turn on [the dishwasher] at the end of the night, and in the morning, I listen to the Bible while I unload it – [it’s] become super essential every day.”

Listen to the full episode of ‘UNDISTRACTED’ in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

As the title of No Fear Allowed suggests, it’s fear that can be one of the hardest things to let go of in life.

“It becomes comforting because we know it,” Heather said.

“We know how to reach to our vices and things that comfort us, which allows fear to stay.

“And then we don’t know how to reach to God because it’s too scary to let go of this one thing, to push towards God for the comfort, for the peace, to hear His voice.

“It’s not your fault [you have fear], but it is your fault if you keep letting it stay there.”

Heather O’Brien’s book No Fear Allowed is out now.

Listen to the full episode of ‘UNDISTRACTED’ with guest Heather O’Brien in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Juice Careline on 07 5551 4126.

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