Anxiety 101

Anxiety is something that I have dealt with for years but I didn’t notice it until about 2016. Anxiety can plague us sometimes and keep us in our heads 24/7. It’s a constant loop of thinking, worrying, and fearing the worst. I was always the quiet type. Constantly thinking and over analyzing everything. To be honest, I’m still like that to this day but the only things that have helped me are God, prayer, and healthy coping skills.

God, who is my source, reminds me that He is in control and that I have to trust him through it all. Anxiety comes from the fear of not being in control or knowing what will happen next. In many cases, I became anxious because I feel like I didn’t have all the answers and that’s okay. I have to remind myself to trust that God will come through and handle everything.

Prayer is constant communication with God that should never cease. Meaning anything that you’re going through you must pray about it. Any fear, worry, doubt, concerns, uncertainty, etc. you must communicate with God about it. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” God knows what you’re need before you even think about it or ask for it. He knows what causes you to become anxious and worried but he wants you to trust in him to make it right. That’s how much he cares for you. All you have to do is speak to him and listen.

My healthy coping skills include: journaling, relaxation techniques, talking out the problem, reading, and singing. My coping skills come in handy when I’m anxious and aggravated. They may not always work right in the moment but they eventually calm me down. I use to have very unhealthy coping skills such as aggression, smoking weed, ignoring the problem, and isolating myself. Once I learned that these things weren't actually helping my anxiety, I quit them. A lot of people think that smoking or drinking helps them forget about their problems, but let’s be real....the problem still exists when you sober up. For me the only thing that has worked consistently is my spirituality. With a combination of God, prayer, and effective coping skills my anxiety decreases and I began to feel more relaxed and at peace.

So I ask you today, what are you anxious and worried about? What person, place, or thing causes you too much anxiety? What do you need to let go of?

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Trust the process.

Don’t worry, be happy.

Let God be in control.