How to Move Past Anxiety

Yes, It’s Possible!

By Mary R. Dittman, M.B.A.

Covid-19 has created a surge in adults (and children!) who are suffering with anxiety and depression.  The isolation that has resulted from shutdowns and social distancing has added to those feelings, and has amplified feelings of loneliness, which exacerbates anxiety.

If you’re single, you may be frustrated because it seems even harder to meet a new love interest. Plus, you may be cut off from family and friends. This leaves you “alone in your head without adult supervision.”

I’m an introvert, and I was fine for about the first 2 months of the pandemic.  Then the loneliness and isolation from my family set in.  In addition, I found myself dealing with a health issue that created the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart rate.  

Through this experience, I have learned some useful and effective ways to deal with anxiety, and I believe they will help you, too.

Tell yourself a story.  My sister-in-law taught me that when you’re feeling anxious, your brain looks for a reason for the anxiety.  It wants a story to explain what it’s experiencing. Because anxiety feels bad, we tell ourselves a scary story.  I’m sick.  I’m alone and nobody cares.  Things aren’t getting better.  She also said you MUST get a handle on your thoughts.  So, I started telling myself I was healed and whole, healthy and strong.  I looked up several Bible verses to support that, and kept confessing them out loud.  Since my brain wants a story, I’ll tell it a happy one.  This isn’t about lying to yourself or being in denial, but we’re so quick to believe any story we hear about some off-the-wall horror story that someone posted on social media.  Then we internalize it and believe it could happen to us.  So why not take a story from the Bible (more reliable than Facebook) and make that one yours?

Create a new belief.  A belief is just a repeated thought.  If you think something long enough, it becomes a belief.  Again, this is where Scripture has helped me.  I have written verses on index cards on a variety of topics.  I carry them around with me, and even created a voice memo in my phone of the healing scriptures that I can play in the car or while I’m around the house.  You can believe you are fat, old, and nobody will want you, or you can believe you are beloved of God and He will never leave you.

Ask for a sign.  Beth Moore calls these God STOPS (Savoring The Observable Presence). Gabby Bernstein calls them spiritual driftwood.  Deepak Chopra calls them “synchrodestiny.” Some people make this complicated - keep it simple! My signs are hawks and finding change.  When I find a penny on the street, I take that as a sign that God is telling me it’s okay.  When I see a hawk, He’s telling me everything is okay and He’s got me.  Gideon asked for a sign; God told Noah the rainbow is a sign. There is ample Biblical precedent for asking God for signs! This morning while I was walking, I didn’t see our resident hawk, but I saw a dove perched where the hawk normally is.  A dove! How perfect! The sign of the Holy Spirit and representative of peace.  I took that to mean God was telling me He’s with me and to be peaceful.  You may think that’s a lot to infer from seeing a bird, but it’s better than feeling anxious and alone! Keep your eyes open.  Maybe it’s a line from a song or a verse of Scripture.  Maybe it’s a word of encouragement that you receive when you need it.

Pray and say.  One of my favorite prayers is, “God, I’m feeling anxious.  Please take away my anxiety.” It works.  However, you cannot ask God to take away your anxiety if you’re going around talking about how anxious you are.  Again, this is where having Scripture handy has helped me.  Your brain believes your own voice more than anyone else’s, so when you say positive things (like Scripture) out of your own mouth, it is very powerful in helping you feel better.  Try Psalm 94:19 - When anxiety was great whin me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.  Or, Psalm 56:3 - When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

God’s plan for your life does not include anxiety.  How do I know this? Because all throughout the Bible He tells us to “fear not.” Part of living a One-Derful Life is feeling peaceful regardless of the circumstances.  Try some of these suggestions - they really will help you!

If you’re struggling with loneliness, check out this free video lesson.  I’ll show you how to overcome loneliness - even if you don’t have anyone you can hang out with!