"Be not Afraid:" A Statement of Fact and a Statement of Faith.

Abstract

The reality of ambivalence and resistance around the incorporation of spirituality and religious beliefs in the treatment of fear and anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions cannot be denied. The overall purpose of this scholarly article is to advance thoughtful deliberations and discussions around the possibility that healthy spirituality and healthy religious practices, together with psychotherapy and pharmacologic interventions, could be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions. Through a review of scholarly articles and reflections on his experience in clinical nursing practice, the author demonstrates with clarity of thought, acute insight, and academic rigor the necessity and relevancy of including healthy spirituality and healthy religious beliefs, together with psychotherapy and pharmacology, in the management of fear and anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions. The article is a call for engagement in this issue, not a conquest.