Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. – 1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT
Anxiety can have a way of sneaking up on us. One minute we’re laughing with friends, the next we’re trying to make our way out the day to find shelter in our car. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
After you’ve learned to manage your anxiety in the moment, it’s time to start taking steps to get ahead of the stress, worry, and fear. Since anxiety comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, you need to have a game plan as unique as you are.
Peeling Back the Layers
When in the throes of it, anxiety can be confusing and overwhelming. Shortness of breath, clouded vision, increased heart rate. If you’ve ever had a panic attack or been stricken with social anxiety, you’ll be able to relate.
But the outward symptoms aren’t the only pieces at play. Underneath the surface, there’s something that specifically triggered the anxiety in you. This is the root you’re looking to deal with.
Take the First Step
The best way to begin proactively managing your anxiety is by identifying the different areas of life that most often cause the undue nervousness going on in your mind. Does your anxiety hit during certain times of the day? Are there certain places that seem to elevate your stress? Do finances and bills cause you to panic? Or is it the thought of letting others down?
Each one of us has our own battles we’re facing. What are yours?
For example, if the end of the month and upcoming rent strike fear into your heart (even when you know you have money in the bank), consider setting aside your rent payment a week in advance for peace of mind.
If you know large social settings cause you to feel uneasy, try to plan your schedule around lulls in public spaces, avoiding morning, lunch, and evening rushes.
There’s no shame in adjusting parts of your life in ways others don’t. The goal is to remove the triggers (or mitigate them as much as possible) so that you can be the healthiest version of you there is. Because that’s what God and your loved ones want for you!
Identify the Early Signs
Remember, you’re not going to be perfect at this. And getting better at preventing anxiety is going to take time. Give yourself the grace to have ups and downs on this journey. With each day, mark what progress you’ve made and note any areas you want to continue to work on.
Start by identifying early warning signs of anxiety. What shifts do you notice in yourself? In your surroundings? Try out different methods of working through anxiety as soon as you start to see those indicators.
Over the coming weeks and months, start to remap your life to work through or around your identified anxiety triggers. You won’t always be able to avoid them entirely, but through hard work and the grace of God, you’ll find life to be a lot more enjoyable.
Lean On Him
God has not given you a spirit of fear. He has equipped you with power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). As the Holy Spirit transforms your life, find ways to encourage growth in these areas.
Ask Him daily to give you His peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Give Him the worries of your heart and the anxieties filling your mind. He wants to quiet the storms that rage within you.
Anxiety doesn’t have to catch you by surprise. Stay vigilant. Be on the lookout. Keep up your guard. But most importantly, draw near to Him as He draws near to you.
