In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Anxiety in the Spiritual Life – The Inner Life – March 24, 2025

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Father Dave Heney joins Patrick to discuss Anxiety in the Spiritual Life

  • What is Anxiety?
  • (6:49) What is the biggest source of anxiety?
  • What is scrupulosity?
  • (12:58) Email – How can we stop worrying we aren’t going to go to heaven?
  • Barbara – I have suffered with OCD and scrupulosity. In the last couple years, I discovered Dr. Greg Butero’s book and he has a chapter called Surrender to the Will of God. Admitting we are powerless over this. That is what I have to do every day. Just turn it over to God.

(22:09) Break 1

  • What is the difference between anxiety, fear and stress?
  • (27:41) Lisa – Are there are people who are predisposed to worry and anxiety genetically.? If they don’t have faith, but tendency toward perfectionism. How advice would you offer to them?
  • Thomas – Comments on healing between psychiatric approach and spiritual approach. Action between mental health work and spirituality. Finding healing and that people have the power to trust God and not get anxious.

(40:51) Break 2

  • Leticia – Anxiety developed into a eating disorder. I battle with that. I do what you are suggesting…Jesus I trust in you. I take some medication. I teach catechism…takes my mind off it.
  • (46:38) what can we do to keep anxiety down?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.