Overcoming AnxietySýnishorn

Three Steps

What is anxiety? Anxiety is characterized by fear, worry, or unease. Sometimes, it can be purely associated with our thoughts—thoughts like, "I wonder what that person is thinking about me," or "How am I going to do on that task tomorrow?" or "Does that person actually like me?" At other times, anxiety can show up in a physical feeling—our stomach turning, the tension in our shoulders, a tingling feeling.

Regardless of how anxiety shows up, it’s nothing new. Jesus spoke about worry and anxiety a couple of thousand years ago. He did not just tell people not to worry but provided an answer to their anxiety, reminding them that God would provide for them and that they could trust Him.

Many people experience anxiety. Know this: You are not alone. Things can get better. You can learn to handle it and even overcome it. After wrestling with anxiety for over a decade, I have found a lot of relief and freedom from anxiety with these three steps:

1. Identify why you are anxious. Anxiety is your brain and body signaling that something is threatening your well-being. Maybe you fear rejection or failure or are wondering how a situation is going to play out. We must identify what is triggering our anxiety before we can figure out how to move towards a resolution.

2. Redirect your thinking to the present. Tomorrow’s problems are not yours to solve today. God wants to journey with you day by day. Do not let your mind wander and catastrophize, thinking about all the worst-case scenarios. Be present with your thoughts today. When future worries come up, observe them and then gently redirect your thinking to be present where you are.

3. Breathe deeply and slowly. When we become anxious, our body and mind are in a fight-or-flight state. God created us as deeply integrated human beings who are spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational. We can calm our body and brain by taking deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. In doing that over and over again for several minutes, slowly and deeply, we can find relief from anxiety and even healing.

God, when I feel anxious, help me to trust in You and to take the steps I can to calm myself.