The 3 Step Action Plan to Help You Overcome Anxiety

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When I was younger — in high school, especially — I used to worry A LOT. To those that know me, that might be hard to believe — my friends call me one of the most laid-back, relaxed, “go with the flow” people they know. But I haven’t always been this way. I worried to the point, even, that I had an anxiety attack at school (I had no idea what it was at the time, and thought I must be sick). It wasn’t until after the doctor had run some heart tests (everything normal), and I just happened to run across a story of a woman explaining what an anxiety attack feels like, that I realized what I had actually experienced. How can you overcome anxiety?

When I went back to the doctor, he prescribed me some anxiety medication. I took half of what he prescribed — for two days. And then I stopped. I was only in high school; I decided I didn’t want to take anxiety medication for the rest of my life. That’s when I decided there must be another way.

[Before I go on, let me just say that I don’t believe that anxiety medication is bad or that you are “weak” if you take it. I just have this weird habit of not wanting to take medication for things. Not to mention there are different levels of anxiety, and I am by no means saying that I was suffering severely.]

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The Simple Thing I Changed

I had always enjoyed going to church and reading the Bible, and I could definitely recite some Bible verses by heart, but I decided to get serious about it. First, I recognized and identified the lies I had been believing about anxiety. Then, I decided to actually make a conscious effort to MEMORIZE and FOCUS ON scripture throughout my day. I know that sounds too simple — like it wouldn’t actually help me overcome anxiety. But seriously – it did.

(Now, I’m not going to lie to you and say that I never worry anymore…but God really did help me to overcome my worry in a lot of ways. I am not the person I used to be, and haven’t had an anxiety attack since.)

Anyway, here’s what to do:

3 Steps to Help you Overcome Anxiety

1. Choose ONE verse.

This is what I think made the biggest difference for me. There are a lot of posters or images out there with “10 verses for when you’re anxious” (like I’m going to include at the end of this post), and so we read through them (or pin them on Pinterest to look at later) and feel a little bit better for a little bit of time…and then we go on with our worry-filled lives again. Or we look at a verse that’s probably at the top of all of the “Bible verses for when you’re worried lists” like, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7), and we wonder why reading that is not getting rid of our anxiety.

Two things:

1. I think it’s important that YOU choose the verse. It might not even be one that is generally considered to “help” with worry (you might have to actually open up your Bible to find it!). In fact, mine was one that I’ve never seen on any lists for anxiety, but it’s the one that helped me. (“He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 62:2) That being said, I put some verses that I like at the end of this post.

2. Just pick one — at least for a week. We seem to always try to do too much. Quality, not quantity. Really memorize that one verse. Repeat it over and over again.

2. Focus on that one verse when waking and before sleeping.

Make your focus for the week that one verse. Read it (or say it to yourself if you already have it memorized) every day when you wake up and before going to bed. Repeat it like a mantra.

3. Focus on that verse throughout your day.

This is the hard part, because it’s very easy to go on with your day without ever remembering to stop and think about your verse. Back when I was in high school, I wrote my verse on my planner — which I looked at at the end of every class. Do what you need to do to remind yourself of your verse — put it on a sticky note on your laptop, set a reminder on your phone. Repeat it when you’re in the car, when you’re waiting in line.

Commit to those 3 things for a week…see the difference it makes.

Some examples of possible verses to memorize to overcome anxiety:

–Mine: He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 62:2)

–So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

–Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

–Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” (Psalm 37: 5-6)

–For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

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