You’re Not the Boss of Me: 7 Keys to Managing AnxietySample

Cut Out Unhealthy Coping

Those of us who experience anxiety desire freedom from its grasp. The great news is that the Bible says, “God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears” (Psalm 34:4, MSG).

You aren’t alone in experiencing anxiety in your daily life, but we wonder, “How do we keep going when anxiety stop us in our tracks?” Let’s be honest, life can be difficult and messy. We’re constantly facing the unknown, battling relationship dynamics, keeping financial commitments, raising kids, and walking through day-to-day challenges.

Once we admit our anxiety, what’s next? We have to do a gut check and recognize how we’re coping with our anxiety. Let’s work hard to examine how we have coped with our anxiety. Here are some ways people cope when feelings of anxiety arise:

·  Overeating

·  Undereating

·  Alcohol consumption

·  Watching endless hours of TV

·  Lashing out at others

·  Sleeping too much

·  Over-purchasing/shopping/online shopping

·  Withdrawing

·  Endless scrolling on social media

This is incredibly eye-opening. I quickly realized that when my body began to feel anxious, I looked for a distraction. From calling a friend, to scrolling Instagram, to online shopping. I’ve used all three as ways to distract myself from the uncomfortable reality of my anxiety. 

Online shopping created an immediate distraction because I loved finding a good deal. If I could find a good deal and get free shipping, I felt like I’d hit the jackpot, meaning that I’m the boss! A good deal gave me something to celebrate, something to feel good about, and a way to feel successful. Shopping helped cover up the real issue, shoved my anxiety a little deeper and allowed me to think I was moving forward…but without any real progress.

Here’s the thing with unhealthy coping, y’all. It’s just a cycle. Yep, that’s right. Our unhealthy coping often makes the situation worse which, in turn, creates an endless cycle of stress and self-medication.

Let’s see how that plays out in regard to my online shopping. My body feels anxiety about something. Instead of dealing with it in a healthy way, I open my laptop and head to one of my favorite shopping sites. After spending time clicking, reading reviews, and finding online coupons, I make a purchase. The purchase arrives, along with that physical copy of the receipt, reminding me how much money I’ve spent, and my anxiety kicks in again. So…I open my laptop and the cycle begins again. 

Wanna be the boss of your anxiety? Replace those unhealthy coping habits with some healthy ones.

·  Walk outside

·  Meet a friend for coffee

·  Meditation

·  Yoga

·  Journaling

·  Take some time to yourself

·  Read a book

·  Learn to relax

·  Eat healthy

Most of us intrinsically know when we’re coping in an unhealthy way. We don’t often realize, however, that responding to stress in these ways can actually work against our body’s ability to fight back and get healthy…not to mention what it can do to our souls.