Is anxiety a sin?

I came across a TikTok that made the claim that anxiety is a sin. As someone who has anxious moments from time to time and has experience dealing with anxiety in others, I was concerned as well as curious. Is anxiety really a sin? There are numerous verses in Scripture that tell us not to worry. Jesus talks about not worrying many times throughout the gospels. But is worry the same as anxiety? I have always thought worry and anxiety were somewhat different. Worry is defined as feeling troubled about actual or potential problems. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety is defined as “an emotion characterized by apprehension and somatic symptoms of tension in which an individual anticipates impending danger, catastrophe, or misfortune.”  Is anxiety a sin? In what context can anxiety be sinful? What do we do with anxiety when we experience it? 

According to John Piper (2014), yes it is as Paul says Philippians 4:11-13 that we must learn contentment in our circumstances and trust in God. He cites Matthew 6:25 in which Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry about our lives, our food, drink or our body. Jesus concludes this lesson on worry with “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). According to Mr. Piper, “the physical brain and the spiritual soul are interdependent in ways that we cannot fully see” and since the spiritual and the physical are connected, as we grow in faith, the less anxiety we can experience” (2014). Anxious thoughts can trigger the fight or flight stress response in our bodies. And if we are in constant fight or flight mode, the stress can wear down our bodies and can mimic serious conditions like heart attacks and digestive issues. This has been true for me in many aspects; however, I think anxiety goes a bit deeper than that. 

According to Joe Carter (2019) of The Gospel Coalition, if anxiety is a sin depends on the context. Fear and anxiety can have four types. First, it could be a God-given emotional response for our benefit. Anxiety is an emotional response to a real or perceived future threat. A warning system of impending danger for survival. This could not be perceived as a sin. Second, it could be clinical anxiety. Clinical anxiety is a disordered physiological response. A malfunction that can be debilitating and interferes with daily functions such as eating, sleeping and social interactions. This could not be perceived as a sin. Third, anxiety could be the result or natural consequence of sinful behavior. For example, some long term recreational drug use can lead to the development of anxiety disorders. Another example is someone with a gambling addiction and then worries about paying their bills. Lastly, anxiety could be a sinful response to God’s providential care. This anxiety results because an individual has a lack of trust in God. This is what Jesus is referring to in Luke 12:22-30 and Matthew 6:25-34 when he teaches about worry. 

So which type are we dealing with? When we encounter anxiety in other people, we need to be careful how we approach it because we do not know which type someone is dealing with. Proverbs 12:25 says that “an anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” If you come across a person who is dealing with anxiety, speak softly with comforting words. Do not assume someone’s anxiety is due to sin when it could easily not be due to sin. However, when we are dealing with anxiety ourselves, we can have a clearer picture of our circumstances. We should search our hearts and examine our emotions to determine whether our anxiety is stemming from something we cannot control or it is connected to sinful behavior. If the anxiety is due to a psychological stressor, we can learn the various breathing techniques to help relieve the physiological response such as the Box Breathing technique. Box Breathing is inhaling for 4 counts, holding the breath for 4 counts, exhaling for 4 counts and holding again for 4 counts.

In conclusion, a blanket comment that anxiety is a sin can be damaging and simply wrong. Can anxiety be the result of sin? Yes. Is all anxiety sinful? No. It is important to remember to never assume someone’s anxiety is due to sin. So, what can we do? In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells us to “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Simply, turn your anxiety into prayers. Take your concerns to God and open your heart to him about your worries and concerns. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Let God shine a light on where our anxiety can be the result of sin and let him take it away if it is not. 

References

American Psychological Association. Anxiety. https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety. Retrieved January 18, 2026.

Carter, Joe (March 26m 2019). Ask TGC: Is Anxiety a Sin? The Gospel Coalition.  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/ask-tgc-anxiety-sin/. Retrieved January 7, 2026.

Piper, John (February 19, 2014) Anxiety: Sin, Disorder or Both. Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/anxiety-sin-disorder-or-both. Retrieved January 7, 2026. 

Hoarding: more than not just taking out the trash

When A&E premiered their show Hoarders (2009-2013), many people didn’t know about hoarding. The show as well as TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive (2010-present) has opened people’s eyes to this devastating disorder. Hoarding is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions regardless of their actual value. This behavior often has damaging effects on the person’s emotional and physical well-being and many aspects of his or her life. Commonly hoarded items include: newspapers, magazines, paper and plastic bags, cardboard boxes, food and clothing. Some people will even hoard pets causing dangerous conditions for them and the animals. Hoarding can often be associated with psychological disorders and often needs professional help. A hoarders’ reasons and behaviors are very different from a collectors.

The symptoms and behaviors of hoarding are: the inability to throw away possession, even when the item has no value (i.e. empty pizza boxes). Hoarders suffer severe anxiety when attempting to discard items and have great difficulty categorizing and organizing items. Hoarders are also indecisive about what to keep and where to put things and feel distress or being overwhelmed or embarrassed by possessions. Hoarders are auspicious of other people touching or moving items, even stealing items. They fear of running out of an item or needing it in the future. They will often have obsessive thoughts or perform obsessive actions such as checking the trash for accidently discarded items. There is often functional impairment of the home including the loss of livable space. Hoarders become social isolated and their hoarding will often create family or marital discord, financial difficulties and health hazards.

The most common reasons for hoarding are often simple. Hoarders often believe that the items will be useful for be valuable in the future. The items have sentimental value and the hoarder believes he or she will forget something or someone is the item is gone. The item is unique or irreplaceable. Hoarding may present on its own but it also can present with three psychological disorders. First, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness and efficiency. Hoarders with OCPD will have a hard time parting with items. Second, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear or worry (obsessions) with repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the anxiety produced by the obsessions (compulsions). Hoarders with OCD will have an obsession which they will hoard in order to deal with the anxiety. Lastly, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized with difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behaviors and hyperactivity. Hoarders with ADHD have a hard time focusing on the task of organizing their items.

Hoarding is different from collecting in that hoarders will have often have a sense of embarrassment with their hoard while a collector will have a sense of pride for his or her collection. Hoarders will often be uncomfortable with people seeing their hoard while collectors will have joy and organizing and display the collection for others viewing. Hoarders will often be ashamed when additional items are added to their hoard while collectors will feel satisfaction with adding to their collections. Hoarders will have clutter at the expense of their livable space while collectors will have a designated place for their collections.

In conclusion, hoarding is a dangerous, psychological disorder that requires professional help. If you know anyone or suspects someone is becoming a hoarder, please seek help. Hoarding has psychological implications that require help. There are nationwide organizations which could help with hoarding. Please check your local area for help. Hoarding is different from collecting and can lead to dangerous conditions for the hoarder, his or her family and even the neighborhood.