In this blog post, I share 3 simple things you can do to immediately address your anxious thoughts and feelings. Then I share a few resources that help me and my clients take control of our anxiety as we navigate daily through this anxious world.
- Take a break – We don’t take the break because we don’t feel we’ve earned it. But what really does it take to earn a break when you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed? Whatever it is is not worth your health. You may have grown up in an environment that taught you rest was ‘lazy’ or would result in catastrophic consequences. Teach yourself a new reality. Break away from that outdated thinking. You’ve created a new reality. Live in it.
- Productive things to do when you take the break:
- Go for a walk
- Call a friend
- Take a nap
- Breathe
- Prepare a nourishing meal
- Why you still won’t take the break: Because rest feels like rebellion in a world that rewards burnout. We’ve been praised for pushing through, for producing under pressure, for proving our worth through exhaustion. So even when our bodies whisper slow down, our minds scream keep going. Somewhere along the line, we confused rest with laziness, and we started believing we had to earn our right to pause. But the truth is: breaks don’t make you weaker. They remind you you’re human. And being human is not a flaw. It’s the whole point.
- Pray – We often do not pray because we don’t know what to say. And sometimes we don’t know what to say because we fear it’s been too long since we’ve spoken to God. Don’t let that shame get in the way of your sweet fellowship with God. Talk to Him like you would a friend. Still don’t know where to? Scripture makes it really easy for us. Check the list below for simple scriptures to pray and apply immediately. Also check out this reel I made on IG of short passages to pray when you don’t know what to pray.
- Hold onto these 3 prayerful reminders:
- “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).
- “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 6-7, NKJV).
- “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).
- Why we still don’t pray: Because stillness feels unsafe. We’ve been conditioned to hustle, to perform, to fix everything ourselves. Prayer asks us to pause, to surrender, to trust something beyond logic and timelines. And that’s terrifying when control has been our only protection. Sometimes we avoid prayer because hope has let us down before, or because deep down, we wonder if we’re even worthy of being heard. But prayer isn’t weakness. It’s the moment we stop bracing for impact and start remembering we are already held.
- Ask yourself questions – You probably spiral down a tunnel of negative thinking when you get anxious. A series of self-critical, judgmental, and possibly self-sabotaging statements. Rather than allowing the harsh stream of thoughts to overtake you, consider being curious instead. Entering a healthy dialogue with yourself is a great way to tame those anxious thoughts. Here are three questions to help you identify more clearly what is causing your anxiety. Acceptance is great place to start when uncovering the answers to these questions.
- Ask yourself these questions and agree with what comes up:
- Is it a loss of control?
- Is it fear of the future?
- Is it sadness?
- Why We don’t ask ourselves questions: Because deep down, we’re afraid of the answers. Afraid of what we’ll have to face, change, or leave behind. Questions crack things open. They make us confront the stories we’ve told ourselves to survive. And sometimes it feels safer to stay confused than to risk clarity that might demand action. But the questions won’t go away. They wait—quietly, patiently—until we’re ready to stop running and finally come home to ourselves.
Try these please even when you do not feel like it. They work.
Here are a few bonus tools to always keep in your tool box when facing anxiety.
Bonus Tools:
- Feelings Wheel – The Feelings Wheel is a great way to dig a little deeper into what you are feeling. When you can dig deeper to identify what it is you are truly feeling, then you can find solutions and change or dissolve the motion more quickly. If you want to know more about how to use the feelings wheel, check out this reel I made on IG.
- The Bible – Hearing from God is a great way to relieve anxiety. If you feel like you have not heard God’s voice in a while, it is probably because you have not been reading His Word. The Word of God is the voice of God. So open your Bible, and see what He has to say. If you need help knowing where to begin, check out this reel I made on IG. Also check out this reel I made on different ways to hear God’s voice.
- A Journal – Writing your mood and emotions out is always a great way to take control of them. If you’re feeling out of control and anxious, write about it. This will help you release, gather your thoughts and then move toward action.
- Your Body – Our bodies often store information or events that can clue us in on why we feel the way we do. Notice any stiffness or tension in your body. Notice what your body is telling you. Spend time on those areas that feel tense. Massage them, show them love and stretch them out until you feel relief. Hip stretches are a great way to release tension and trauma from the body.
