How to overcome anxiety and fear.

Listen to the Podcast:

Do anxiety and fear have a way of just taking over? Taking over your thought process? Your daily actions? Your life? Are you trying to figure out how to overcome anxiety and fear?

Now, some fears are good for you. Fear of getting hit by a car when crossing on a green light…encourages you to wait for the red. Fear of a fire…encourages you to get a smoke alarm and turn off all burners. Fear of failing an exam…encourages you to study more and get help.

Then there are the fears that are non-emergency, non-threatening, situations. Like going on a 1st date, giving a speech, taking an exam, going to a party or starting a new job. Those fears are not life threatening but fearful nonetheless.

And then there are the anxiety ridden fears. These fears can become so overwhelming that you might want to avoid all situations that might make you anxious. Hence, you are afraid to go anywhere or do anything. Which prevents you from living your life.

When Covid hit, the fears of everyone were (are) at an all time high.

I wrote 2 posts trying to address the fear issue and hopefully soothe a few aching hearts. One is ‘Bible Verses for Fear, Worry and Anxiety‘ and the other is ‘Prayers to Overcome Fear, Anxiety and Stress.'

I receive so many emails and prayer requests from both of those posts. Heart wrenching prayer requests. I write all of the requests in a journal and pray for everyone who asks me to pray for them.

Now anxiety is not something that I completely understand.

But, just because I don't understand it does not mean that I don't empathize with those who have it.

My sister suffers from severe anxiety. I watch her engage with others and then something happens. For no apparent reason she becomes a puddle of anxiety. Her mind is overcome with fears. Fears that she really can't even put a name too. She says it is just ‘fears of everything.' She also says that she has no idea why they happen.

It is heart breaking for me to see. I don't know what to do. I really can't help. So, I hold her hand, rub her back, and let her know that she is not alone.

What do fear and anxiety look like?

Some (or all) of the following might happen.

• You begin to hyper-ventilate and breathe very fast
• Your heart beat seems to feel irregular
• Your muscles feel weak
• Your stomach churns or your bowels feel loose
• You find it hard to concentrate on anything but the current moment
• You feel dizzy
• You can't seem to move
• You can’t eat
• You have hot and cold sweats. Your skin feels clammy
• You get a dry mouth
• You can't talk
• Tears overcome you
• Your whole body tenses up

Now, I am not going into the psychology of fear and anxiety. I will leave that to the experts, for sure.

What I do know is this.

• ALL fears that are hidden will have a stronghold on your heart. They need to be brought into the open. Once exposed they lose their strength and power.
• 99% of the things that you worry about will not happen.
• It is impossible to dot all the ‘i's' and cross all the ‘t's' in life. Some things, many things, are not planned and are totally unexpected.
• Fear and anxiety will rob you of your life. They will prevent you from living your best life.
• Anxiety will always be hanging around in the corner of your mind. You know it is there and wonder when it will rear its ugly head again.
• ALL fears come under 2 categories. 1) Things that are in your control. 2) Things that are out of your control.

How to remove fear from your mind and heart.

Now, you might need to get professional help. Find someone you can talk to that can draw out your fears. Figure out all of those anxiety ridden thoughts. Thoughts you may not even know that you have.

But, in the meantime. I would like to offer an exercise that might help you. I suggest it to everyone who sends me a prayer request and most have said it is very helpful. This will only be beneficial to you if you are TRUTHFUL AND HONEST WITH YOURSELF.

Here is an example:

Let's say you are living with someone. That relationship was perfect at first. But, through the years he has changed and is not the right guy for you. But, because you are afraid of being alone, you choose to put up with all of the bad behavior and not say anything to him. The reality of this thought process is that you aren't even aware that this is how you feel. You cover up the bad behavior with reasonable excuses. And live as if all is fine and good. This may or may not cause fear and anxiety in you. It is just one drip in your glass of anxiety. But, in the meantime, you are afraid to mention the bad behavior…because what if he leaves?! And since you are afraid of being alone…and round and round the hamster wheel you go!

This is what you do to help you overcome your anxiety and fear.

Remember, there are many different types of fears. Anxiety is just one of them.

• Grab 3 sheets of paper.
  • On the 1st one put a heading ‘ALL my fears'.
  • On the 2nd one put a heading ‘Things in my control'.
  • On the 3rd one put a heading ‘Things out of my control'.
• On your ‘ALL my fears' paper make a list of everything that you are afraid of. Think deep. Search your mind and your heart. Be honest. Lay it all out there. Hide your sheets of paper if you need to. Don't let the fear of someone finding your list become an anxiety.

Now, look at that list and separate into the 2 categories, ‘in my control' and ‘out of my control' – here are some examples:

1. Afraid of failing an exam? In your control. Study more. Get a tutor. Find help.
2. Afraid of public speaking? In your control. Practice in front of others.
3. Afraid your baby will get sick? Out of your control. Avoid situations that might carry germs and viruses if you can. Do your best. That is all you can do.
4. Afraid of getting Covid? Out of your control. Avoid crowds. Wear a mask. Get a vaccine. Wash your hands and sanitize. That is all you can do.
5. Afraid your spouse/significant other will leave you? In your control. Open up lines of communication. Discuss your fears. Let him/her know why you think that. Find out what they think and feel. Work hard to save the relationship. If after all of that he/she leaves anyway…Out of your control.
6. Afraid your party will be a flop? In your control. Invite fun people. Plan food and cook or order in. Cue the music and drinks.
7. Afraid you might get cancer? Out of your control. You can eat healthy. Eat organic if you can. Avoid processed food, preservatives and other cancer causing products (sunscreen, skin care and food).
8. Afraid you might get in a car crash? Out of your control. As long as you are driving safely and obeying the traffic laws…that is all you can do.
9. Afraid the plane will crash? Out of your control. Choose a reputable airline. Find out why planes have bumps and dips so that when they do happen you understand it and are not afraid.
10. Afraid it will rain on your wedding day? Out of your control. Check the weather. Plan ahead if it looks like rain. Have an indoor venue. Order tons of umbrellas.
11. Afraid to leave the house? Once you name and address all of your other fears this particular fear can be overcome.

Once you have your 2 lists take a look at them.

Things in your control.

Those are all things you have control over. Or, control over some things. Do the work necessary to control what you can control. Write down the actions that YOU need to take. Once you do, hopefully you will realize that you have NO reason for fear because you are in control, right?

Things NOT in your control.

Those are the things that you have NO control over. Those are the things that you let go of and give to God. He will determine the outcome…not you. Take a deep breath and know that He has your back. Because if God is for you, who can be against you.

How to Overcome Anxiety and Fear Download

If you are like me, and like pretty lists, go on and grab this FREE download (NO sign up required) ‘How to Overcome Anxiety and Fear PDF'. It's pretty cute.

And, DON'T FORGET to come back and grab your FREE Prayer Cards too – click on the banner below.

Need some extra help? Check out the following posts:

Nothing is Impossible with God
What is Worry and Where Does it Come From?
Who Does God Say I Am?
Do You Feel Worthy?
Bible Verses for Fear, Worry and Anxiety
Prayers to Overcome Fear, Anxiety and Stress

How to Decrease Anxiety – FREE Download (no sign up required)

Need more help? Unable to cope – click this link: Mental Health Foundation They can help.

Feeling suicidal – call 911!

Now, sometimes life can get pretty overwhelming, right?

Especially when your are anxious or fearful.

And sometimes, when you are overwhelmed, stress sets in.

And when stress sets in it is sometimes difficult to be happy or joyful. So, please don’t let stress have the last word! 

Go on and take a look at the ‘Top 5 Stress Reducers’ (Action Plan included). So that you can eliminate what causes you stress and get on the path of living a joyful life.

Wouldn't you like to live a joyful life?

Don't let let the circumstances of YOUR life determine who you really are? Choose YOU instead! Not sure how to do that? Let me help!

A few Joyful Living posts for you to read!

What is Joyful Living?

5 Simple Steps to Choosing Joy

Finding Joy in All Things

What Does God Say About Joy?

Difference Between Happiness and Joy