As the church continues to discuss how better to serve those struggling with mental illness, I'm pleased to share this personal story from Samuel Ogles. Sam powerfully tells how he found hope and healing from a serious anxiety disorder, offering a little practical wisdom for leaders. - Paul

I had my first real panic attack in a Big Boy restaurant my junior year of high school.

I used to think that I just didn't like change. New places and experiences made me uncomfortable. When I would go to a restaurant on a date I would get nervous. "Everyone gets nervous on dates," people told me. What I couldn't tell them was that I got so nervous, I couldn't even touch my food. I got so nervous that I was afraid I'd vomit or pass out or run screaming from the restaurant. I know now that the "fight or flight" response of a panic attack will do that to you. But it wasn't until college that I learned the name for what was happening to me: Generalized Anxiety ...