Anxiety is no joke. Right now in America, nearly 40 million people suffer from some form of panic and anxiety. Worse, a lot of people are embarrassed to seek help and talk about the anxiety they’re experiencing, especially because of the societal stigma often attached to panic and anxiety. Maybe you know the drill: on the outside, everything looks fine. But on the inside, near-suffocating pressure and panic drills-down upon your soul. Cold beads of sweat cascade across your brow…and there’s seemingly nowhere to run. That’s the worst part. I know how you feel. For the last several years, I’ve fought anxiety and post-traumatic stress at a fever pitch level. But what I want you and those you love to know is that there is hope for healing. And a large part of healing from anxiety begins with our thought life; at least it did for me. While it is true that circumstances are often out of our control, an unrestrained, fear-fueled thought life added to disappointment and hard times is like pouring gasoline on a match. If you’ve experienced (or are experiencing) chronic anxiety in any way, take a few moments, shut down any distractions, and hear me out. Whatever you’re currently facing, there is hope. And it all starts here with today’s guest, Brian Johnson. By his mid-thirties, Brian Johnson had a vision for worship in the church, built a successful music label called Bethel Music with his wife, and had written award-winning songs and albums. He was at the height of his success, and from all appearances, things were better than ever. But in the midst of that success, the ghost of his childhood anxiety returned, stronger than ever, and it pulled Brian into a downward spiral of chaos and darkness. In today’s conversation, Brian shares how the panic and anxiety of his early life―panic he’d thought he’d beaten―came back to haunt him. After experiencing debilitating anxiety attacks from the age of seven into his early adult years, Brian learned what it took to finally push the panic away. And that’s exactly what you’re going to learn today. Buy the Book Panic snuck up on Brian Johnson while he was out with his son, and it clung to him on his desperate drive home. Feeling almost outside of himself, his family called 911. He was spiraling into darkness. Waiting for the ambulance to arrive, unsure of what was happening, he gathered his family around him and asked them to pray for him. Then he said these pivotal words, “This is when God becomes real.” In his first book, Brian shares how the panic and anxiety of his early life―panic he’d thought he’d beaten―came back to haunt him. After experiencing debilitating anxiety attacks from the age of 7 into his early adult years, Brian learned how worship ushered in the Presence of God and pushed the panic away. Now in his mid-thirties and believing himself free, Brian had a vision for worship in the church, built a successful music label with his wife, and written award-winning songs and albums. He was at the height of his success, and from all appearances, things were better than ever. But in the midst of that success, the ghost of his childhood anxiety returned, stronger than ever, and it pulled Brian into a downward spiral of chaos and darkness. In the year that would follow, Brian came to experience the ultimate power of surrendering the panic and chaos to God. Whether or not you’ve struggled with panic and anxiety, you’ve found yourself in pain, asking God for relief. In When God Becomes Real, Brian shares his vulnerable story of overcoming panic and anxiety. Discover how you might find God, even in your darkest hour. Buy When God Becomes Real now. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced,