How Can I Reduce My Anxiety?
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34
What is the best way to deal with anxiety? Anxiety is a common problem. In fact, it is part of the human condition. As people, we recognize that we are creatures rather than the Creator. That means we cannot control every aspect of our existence. The very nature of life is stressful; for that reason, every person must learn to deal with anxiety. Anxiety makes us nervous. It inhibits our ability to sleep. It raises our blood pressure and reduces our enjoyment of life. How can we best manage our anxieties?
An important point to remember is that we need a certain level of anxiety. It has long been recognized that there is an optimal level of anxiety needed if we are to perform a task well. If one has no anxiety, it leads to boredom and depression. If we have too much anxiety, it can lead to being paralyzed and unable to perform. Anxiety serves to increase our attention, interest, and focus. Anxiety that is too strong, however, can cause us to lose focus and decrease our performance. There is an optimal level of anxiety that gives us maximum focus without decreasing our ability to function. In this sense, some level of anxiety enables us to recognize a problem and work toward a solution to it. For example, the anxiety about the upcoming test in school forces us to study, which increases our performance on the test.
There are a number of ways to deal with our anxieties. One is to be sure to get some physical exercise. Exercise is an important way to reduce stress. It improves our mood and helps us stay healthy. Eating healthy foods is another way to reduce anxiety. While good food is enjoyable, there is guilt and stress that comes with overeating. Healthy, moderate eating is good for the body and spirit. Be sure to make sleep a priority when possible. Studies continue to show that a good night’s sleep is important for our mood and health.
Be sure to develop healthy relationships with others. Positive relationships with others get us out of our own problems. They enlarge our world and our perspective. The church is an ideal place to find these relationships. Also learn to face your problems. A football coach once said, “Stress is caused when you don’t know what you are doing.” When we face our problems and learn the skills necessary to address them, it reduces our levels of anxiety.
The Bible gives us a number of pieces of advice about anxiety. The apostle Paul reminds us not to be anxious but to take everything to God “by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving” (Philippians 4:6). I Peter tells us to “cast all our anxieties on God” because he cares for us (I Peter 5:7). The Lord encouraged Joshua to be “strong and courageous” because he was with him wherever he went (Joshua 1:9). Jesus told us not to be afraid because he has left us his peace (John 14:27). In Isaiah, God reminds us that he is with us and will strengthen us (Isaiah 41:10).
Jesus gave us very good advice in the Sermon on the Mount. He said not to be anxious about tomorrow but worry about the troubles of today. If we face and focus on the problems of today, we address our anxieties without getting paralyzed by them. What we cannot control, we leave in the hands of God. This is a great way to reduce our anxiety and be productive with our time.