I’ve always thought of myself as someone who handled stress well. I liked being busy. I enjoyed taking risks. Anxiety wasn’t on my radar.
Then, less than a year ago, I hit a wall. No matter how much I slept, it wasn’t enough. Simple tasks I used to breeze through now came with a wave of nearly paralyzing anxiety.
One afternoon while driving, my heart started pounding out of rhythm. I was sure something was seriously wrong. It turned out to be my first panic attack — and the moment I realized I could no longer ignore the stress and anxiety that had been quietly building for years.
Something had to change.
I sought counsel. I saw a doctor. I made real lifestyle changes. By God’s grace, I no longer take medication, my panic attacks have stopped and my anxiety is at an all-time low. Hard days still come, but they’re fewer and farther between.
Over the past year, I’ve met so many people in the same place I was — overwhelmed, unsure how to reconcile their mental health with their faith. Those conversations have convinced me the church still has a long way to go in understanding and supporting those who struggle.
If you’re in that place right now, here are seven ways to deal with anxiety and stress:
1. Admit there’s a problem
Anyone who has been through a recovery program will tell you the first step is admitting there’s a problem. That’s true here, too. Anxiety is hard to own because it feels like weakness in a world that rewards strength. The temptation is to keep pushing through, hoping it will go away. I tried that — and ended up crashing. I wish I had admitted it sooner. It would have saved me and my family a lot of pain.
2. Stop self-medicating in unhealthy ways
When stress spikes, many of us turn to coping mechanisms — junk food, alcohol, endless hours of TV — that may numb us in the moment but ultimately make things worse. They create a cycle that actually increases stress. Breaking that cycle takes intentional choices and healthier outlets.
3. Take care of yourself physically
Paul reminds believers that our bodies are temples, entrusted to us by God. Caring for them is a spiritual act. For those battling anxiety, physical health and mental health are deeply connected. Studies show regular exercise can reduce anxiety and depression symptoms significantly. And sometimes, as Elijah learned in 1 Kings 19, the most spiritual thing you can do is eat a good meal and take a nap.
4. Be intentional about what goes into your mind
Philippians 4:8 tells us to fill our minds with what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. What you dwell on will shape how you think and feel. The Bible’s idea of meditation isn’t just emptying your mind of negativity — it’s filling it with truth.
5. Don’t neglect the spiritual
Anxiety isn’t only physical or mental — it’s spiritual, too. Scripture is clear we live in a world at war, and our enemy uses fear and lies to distort our identity and worth. Prayer, Scripture and a trusted Christian community can help you recognize lies for what they are and remind you of who you are in Christ.
6. Consider seeing a doctor
Medicine isn’t a rejection of God’s power — it can be a tool of his grace. While it’s not a cure-all, it can make a huge difference for some. Don’t be afraid to explore it as one part of your recovery plan.
7. Embrace the blessing of brokenness
In my hardest season, I held onto Jesus like my life depended on it — because it did. Psalm 23 stopped being a comforting verse for wall art and became my reality. Some lessons about God can only be learned through suffering. Paul’s thorn in the flesh reminds us that weakness can be a vessel for God’s power: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
If you’re in the thick of it, there is a way forward. But even before you reach the other side, God may be doing something profound in you right where you are.
