Episodes

Ep35 - How Can a Good God Let Us Suffer?
James Burke James Burke

Ep35 - How Can a Good God Let Us Suffer?

When we face suffering, it’s easy to wonder where God is. We can feel lonely, isolated … even abandoned by Him. Why is this happening to me?, we ask. How can a good God let me suffer? So what do we do, knowing we’ll face suffering? Today we’re chatting with Dr Katherine Thompson to find out.

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Ep31 - 15 Years Addicted to Porn
James Burke James Burke

Ep31 - 15 Years Addicted to Porn

For years, Josh’s addiction to porn grew and had a hold on his life, affecting his mental health, sense of worth, relationships with others, and faith. Despite trying his hardest to beat the addiction, it persisted — for more than 15 years. So how did Josh eventually find freedom from the grip of a porn addiction?

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Ep29 - Is Counselling Actually Biblical?
James Burke James Burke

Ep29 - Is Counselling Actually Biblical?

We’re chatting with Noni Potter, the Head of Undergraduate Counselling at Tabor, a Christian college in Australia. She’s passionate about combining her faith with evidence-based psychological methods which, she believes, echo God’s truths.

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Ep28 - But Isn’t Anxiety a Sin?
James Burke James Burke

Ep28 - But Isn’t Anxiety a Sin?

A common thread through many of the stories we share is our guests’ experiences of being told that their anxiety or other mental health struggles are a faith issue, not a mental one. With a growing awareness of the reality and prevalence of mental health struggles, are there really people who don’t believe that mental illnesses can be a sign of our fallen world, and are instead the result of wilful disobedience to God?

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Ep25 - What if the Anxiety Comes Back?
James Burke James Burke

Ep25 - What if the Anxiety Comes Back?

How do you deal with anxiety that returns, even after doing “all the right things”? Tiffany shares what it’s like to feel like you’ve ‘beaten’ anxiety, only to have it return again. She talks about how she learned to recognise the physical sensations her body was experiencing as “somatic anxiety” — a physical manifestation of anxiety without the typical “anxious thoughts”.

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Ep24 - We Are Not Our Feelings
James Burke James Burke

Ep24 - We Are Not Our Feelings

It wasn’t until his 30’s that Akos faced anxiety for the first time, in the form of a panic attack while seated on a small aircraft. That seemingly isolated incident led to a second panic attack, and a third, until his anxiety worsened.

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Ep23 - Managing OCD With God
James Burke James Burke

Ep23 - Managing OCD With God

At first, Amelie and her family chalked her anxiety up to the usual stresses of teenagehood and highschool exams, but when it only intensified after high school, she sought professional help. It was then that Amelie was diagnosed with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

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Ep21 - When Your OCD Is About Your Faith
James Burke James Burke

Ep21 - When Your OCD Is About Your Faith

This episode we’re chatting to Mary, a young woman in the UK who has religious OCD or “scrupulosity”, a type of OCD where the obsession and intrusive thoughts are all focused around religion and faith.

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Ep19 - A Psychologist Answers Your Questions
James Burke James Burke

Ep19 - A Psychologist Answers Your Questions

Have you ever wondered, ‘What exactly does a psychologist do?’ Or maybe you’ve heard about cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and ‘measurement-based practice’ and have no idea what those things involve. Well, Dr Sarah is here to answer all our questions!

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Ep18 - Is ‘Mindfulness’ Okay as a Christian?
Ethan Toll Ethan Toll

Ep18 - Is ‘Mindfulness’ Okay as a Christian?

‘Mindfulness’ is one of the big practices that are often recommended or suggested to people who are struggling with their mental health. But as Christians, is mindfulness something that we should throw ourselves into without question? Do we need to be careful in following these exercises?

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Ep17 - When Suicide Strikes
James Burke James Burke

Ep17 - When Suicide Strikes

As our Suicide Awareness Month comes to a close, we’re taking a look at some of the bigger questions that come along with the topic, such as ‘Was this my fault?’, ‘Could I have done more?’, and ‘How could God let this happen?’.

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Ep15 - Losing a Son to Suicide
James Burke James Burke

Ep15 - Losing a Son to Suicide

In this episode we’re hearing from Pippa. Four years ago, Pippa’s faith was challenged as she and her husband dealt with their teenage son’s deteriorating mental health. Sadly, they lost that son to suicide. Pippa is raw and honest as she shares her family’s story of unimaginable grief and pain, but she also encourages us that God is no less with us in the messiness of life.

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Ep13 - Church, We Need to Talk
James Burke James Burke

Ep13 - Church, We Need to Talk

Harrison and his church’s mission is simple: to bring God into the discussions around our mental health. In a world where the topic of mental health is going to be talked about at school, university, work and many other secular places, they want to make sure that the church is talking about it just as much.

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Ep11 - Is There Tension Between Faith and Psychology?
James Burke James Burke

Ep11 - Is There Tension Between Faith and Psychology?

In this episode, we’re chatting with Chris–a familiar voice here at Anxious Faith. Chris has studied two theological degrees, planted and pastored a church, and is now studying psychology. In this episode, we’re chatting with Chris about his experiences from both sides–as a recipient of therapy, and now as a student of psychology, too.

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Ep10 - Why Hasn’t God Cured My OCD?
James Burke James Burke

Ep10 - Why Hasn’t God Cured My OCD?

Jemimah shares with us what it’s like to live with OCD, and the way it affects her life. But Jemimah is also a person of faith, and today, she opens up about what it’s like to know that she is a new creation in Christ, all the while still dealing with the intrusive thoughts and negative effects of her mental health disorder.

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Ep9 - How One Journey With Mental Illness Sparked Anxious Faith
Stephen Unwin Stephen Unwin

Ep9 - How One Journey With Mental Illness Sparked Anxious Faith

This episode, things are looking a little different. We’re hearing from James today not as our podcast host, but as our interviewee; listening as he shares about his family’s journey through mental health struggles and how they led to starting Anxious Faith.

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Ep8 - Does Gratitude Help Our Mental Health?
James Burke James Burke

Ep8 - Does Gratitude Help Our Mental Health?

If you’re someone who has been around the mental health space for a bit, whether just from reading or hearing things, or dealing with it yourself, you’ve probably come across the concept of gratitude. And that’s for a reason - gratitude is actually something that can help our mental health.

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Ep7 - Is Faith Always Helpful?
James Burke James Burke

Ep7 - Is Faith Always Helpful?

In this episode Chris shares his story, and how chasing all the answers to the anxiety-inducing questions of his faith didn’t lead to answers. Instead, he learned how to live out his faith in a more personal way, and find peace along the way.

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Ep4 - A Pastor Who’s Been Through It
James Burke James Burke

Ep4 - A Pastor Who’s Been Through It

This episode, we're speaking with Jordan, a pastor from Melbourne who has lived the experience first hand. We hear his story, but also what he's learned along the way about how he views God, and how God views him.

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