Beyond the Spiral: Why You Shouldn’t Believe Everything Anxiety Tells YouSample

Anxiety’s Lie: It’s All In My Head.

We’ve all been there—lying awake in the middle of the night, muscles tensing, emotions buzzing, thoughts swarming through our heads, our bodies desperately needing rest. And as hard as we try, we can’t fall asleep because we just can’t shut off our minds.

Stress affects almost all the organs in the human body. We feel emotions physically, and they show up in our bodies.

Anxiety can bring on undesirable symptoms, like . . .

excessive sweating,
stomach cramping,
vomiting,
diarrhea,
headaches,
muscle tension,
and even constipation.

These very real physical sensations run counter to the popular belief that anxiety is “all in the head.”

You are a holistic being—your mind and body are intricately connected —and one of the best ways to counteract the effects of anxiety and reduce the negative self-talk that often comes with stress is to take good care of your physical self. When you feel better, you think better.

Eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep work wonders for counteracting anxiety. The Bible reminds us that our bodies are temples (1 Corinthians 6:19), meaning God’s Spirit dwells in us. That’s a pretty big deal, and it’s important to treat our bodies with care and respect. So, begin today by focusing on fueling your body the way God intended.

God cares about all of you and wants the best for all of you. Your next step is to grow in self-control—and that doesn’t mean just powering through by will. Having self-control is spiritual. It’s a result of following God’s lead (2 Timothy 1:7). Displaying self-control on our own is just about impossible, but with the power of God’s Spirit working within us, we can gain control over harmful desires. We can align ourselves with what’s best for us and live the healthy life He created us for.

To grow in self-control, ask God for help to work on (unhealthy) habit-breaking and (healthy) habit-building. The small, routine things we do daily—and probably take for granted—make a difference to our emotional and mental health and overall well-being.

But all this starts with intentional lifestyle habits focused on self-care. Getting good nutrition, sleep, exercise, and spending time in nature are all critical components to improved mental health and reduced anxiety. Invite God to help you take care of yourself by allowing Him to empower you with His Spirit and equip you with inner strength so you can grow in self-control in all these areas.