Do you constantly struggle to get rid of fear and anxiety? You’re not alone!
I battle with my demons every single day of my life and sometimes I lose hope of ever having a happy ending.
I get anxious about my life and whether things will change for the better or not. I often wish I had a magic wand to switch to a better life whenever I wanted.
It gets worse when I feel uncertain about the future or when I’m afraid of an inevitable event that I have no control over. And I love being in control.
I like planning and knowing exactly how my year will turn out. If you’re like me then you enjoy having a stable, happy and organized life.
But sometimes life just doesn’t work out the way we plan because change is constant and unexpected things happen that throw us off balance.
And then we have to struggle just to find solid ground when we’re walking on sinking sand.
This year has been really hard on me and I’ve gotten to a point where I just want to quit and leave everything behind.
I feel so paralysed like I’m stuck to my current reality and I can’t do anything to change it.
I often find it difficult to sleep at night because I am so worried about my future and my welfare. It’s an uphill battle for me every day.
Some days, I find a little reason to be happy, other days I’m completely engulfed in sadness, hopelessness and depression.
Now, I fully understand why some people take their own lives. That utter hopelessness is heart crushing when there is no hope on the horizon.
It seems that the harder I work to make things better, the worse it gets. I’ve tried everything I know to alleviate the situation but nothing seems to be working.
So, I’ve decided to live with my current predicament and wait it out for as long as I can.
I’m living one day at a time now and I’m learning how to be more grateful for the gift of life.
If you’re still struggling to handle fear and anxiety in your life, I’m here to give you some light at the middle of the tunnel so you can also get to the end of it safely.
Life is just so hard sometimes and I wish I was born in another century so I won’t have to experience the horrible things I do.
But then again, I realize that life is beautiful and worth living.
Have you being knocked down? Are you crippled with fear? Do you feel like giving up? That’s okay because it is a normal part of life.
You can’t be happy 24 hours a day and you can’t get your wishes every single time you ask.
You may feel anxious because you’re currently in a job you dislike, struggling to find a new job, want to lose weight fast, your love life isn’t inspiring, or your finances are unstable.
I want you to know that you’re not alone with these mental health issues. Life really sucks sometimes!
But what matters is how you react to uncertainty and what you do to stay centered so you don’t lose your mind.
To help you fight your scary demons, I’m going to share with you 10 simple steps to get rid of fear and anxiety.
I use these tips every day to help me stay on track without losing hope.
10 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET RID OF FEAR AND ANXIETY
1. Be More Spiritual
The first thing I do when I feel anxious, scared or depressed is to get more spiritual.
As a Christian, I always turn to God for help when life gets tough. And whenever I study the scriptures, pray fervently and cry to God, I always feel some relief.
I love to read Jeremiah 29:11, Psalms 77, and Psalms 118 to remind me of God’s promises because he never fails.
In the midst of hurt and despair, I cling tight to the One I can trust, the One that never disappoints, the One who never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
If you find yourself in the midst of fear, anxiety and depression, call on the Most High and pour out your heart to Him.
He will never abandon you in troubled times because He is always with you.
But if he doesn’t answer you right away, it means you need to learn an important lesson from this situation.
If you’re not a Christian, learn how to be more mindful so you can feel centered. Listen to great songs that speak to your situation and look inward for guidance.
If you wish to be a part of an organized religion, visit various houses of worship until you find something that feels right to you. You’ll know it when you experience it!
2. Fill Your Life With Things That Uplift You
I always do this when I don’t want to focus constantly on my never ending problems.
When I feel unhappy or anxious, I usually put on a funny movie, watch a TV show, read some comic books, call a friend who makes me laugh, or listen to uplifting music.
If you want to instantly get rid of fear and anxiety, fill your life with things that uplift you.
What makes you really happy? Do you love to paint nature, sing Acapella, dance Salsa, or write love stories?
Keep yourself occupied with these positive things so you don’t slip into depression. Get some funny movies to take your mind off your worries; it works all the time.
If you enjoy reading, find some great motivational books and read them until you start to feel better.
3. Do Something Fun Every Day
In addition to things that uplift you, engaging in fun activities also help to get rid of fear and anxiety.
Sometimes we get bored or depressed when life is no longer exciting and that’s why it’s necessary to do something fun everyday no matter how small it seems.
Think about something that sounds fun. Maybe you enjoyed playing basketball in high school or cheerleading in your favourite team.
Why don’t you relive one of the days that was super fun? If you can find a way to do those same activities weekly, you’ll feel much better and less worried.
If you enjoy swimming, join a local pool and take a swim before dinner, or first thing in the morning.
You can probably shower at the facility and head out from there.
Or how about dancing? You can join a club, take lessons or just crank up the music and dance around the house whenever you need a break from everything else.
Keep it fun and enjoy the additional mood lifting benefits of the music.
If you’re ready for a more intense workout, sign up for a Zumba class. You’ll find it exciting and refreshing!
4. Focus On The Good
Sometimes focusing on your emotions or the negative things can make them even stronger and leave you feeling more out of control of the situation.
By using distraction, you’re taking your mind off your emotions, making them easier to manage.
You can do anything you want to distract yourself as long as it’s positive and harmless.
If you can’t seem to turn your mind off whenever it gets into that self-defeating chatter, just take a walk around your neighborhood.
A walk is commonly used as a distraction because it allows you focus on other people apart from yourself.
Another positive thing you can do is play interactive games alone or with someone else.
What usually works for me is watching an intriguing movie or reading an interesting book.
When I fully immerse myself into something fun, I forget about my problems for a while.
The most important thing about being happy in life is not comparing yourself to others who seem to have everything you want.
You’ll feel more sad and depressed if you compare yourself to other people. Don’t do it!
5. Connect With Supportive People
In troubled times, it’s beneficial to have caring and supportive people who can comfort you and help you to pull through.
If you have understanding people around you, they’ll be there for you through thick and thin.
I know you might want to isolate yourself and avoid everyone around you but you don’t have to do that.
When you’re down, let some people in and get involved in group activities.
Don’t go cold turkey on your friends. Don’t go solo and leave your family members worried.
Connect with 2 or 3 persons who can share in your pain and give you support. Talk with empathetic people and tell them how you feel.
It’s likely that they will help you find good solutions that might work for your current situation.
6. Start A Gratitude Journal
Cultivating the habit of daily journaling will help you focus on the things that are going great for you.
When you wake up in the morning and before you sleep at night, take a few minutes to write everything you’re grateful for.
Be grateful for most things you have been taking for granted like the warmth of sunshine, the beautiful smell of rain, the chirping of birds and a clear blue sky.
When you’re trying to get rid of fear and anxiety, remember to be thankful for the luxuries you have that others cannot afford right now.
Grab an empty journal or notebook that you can use for a daily “brain dump”. Write down what is causing you fear and anxiety right now.
What are your biggest frustrations or struggles? What keeps you up at night? Write down where you’re stuck. No thought is too silly.
Write down the 3 areas where you are most currently feeling stuck and start brainstorming ways to improve in those areas.
7. Meditate Daily
One of the best tools for reducing fear and anxiety is meditation.
You can start with a simple breathing meditation exercise by getting comfortable in a quiet spot and focusing on relaxing your body and thinking about nothing but your breath.
From there, you can use some of the free guided online meditations available on YouTube.
There are even some wonderful apps out there that can turn your smartphone into your favorite new meditation device.
Set aside a few minutes each day to meditate and watch the anxiety melt away.
I love listening to slow, soothing meditation music because of how calming they are.
I particularly love the Sleep Meditation Music channel by Jason Stephenson. You can subscribe to it and listen to the songs that resonate with you.
Try making meditation a regular practice to reduce anxiety. With mindfulness, you put your full attention on what you’re doing in that moment.
You notice the sights, sounds, and smells around you. When your full focus is on the present moment, there isn’t room for feelings of anxiety.
8. Use Positive Affirmations
When things get tough and you feel yourself losing control, repeat a positive statement over and over in your head.
Reaffirming positive thoughts repeatedly can help you believe that anything is possible. The power of the mind is endless.
For example, if you’re feeling lost or hopeless, you can repeat something like, “The universe always take care of me” or “God provides for my needs according to his riches in Glory”.
Find some positive phrases you can repeat to yourself until you calm down.
I love searching online for powerful affirmations that can help me get rid of fear and anxiety.
I’ll share some soothing affirmations with you that I use:
#1 Today, I will not stress about things I cannot control
#2 I am strong and I can get through this
#3 Fear is only a feeling; it can’t hold me back
#4 Everything I need comes into my life at the right time
#5 I grow stronger each time I overcome anxiety
#6 I accept myself for who I am now
#7 I am doing the best I can at the moment
#8 Everything will sort itself out eventually
#9 I am in total control of my life
#10 I refuse to let fear and anxiety take charge in my life
#11 I am capable of overcoming every challenge that comes my way
9. Start A Side Hustle
Most times when people feel hopeless, it’s because they feel that there is nothing they can do to make things better.
If you’re going through a financial crisis or a mental breakdown, start a side hustle in your free time and see where it leads.
If you know what your passion is, start working on it gradually to distract yourself and give you something worthwhile to focus on.
When I started this blog, I was at the worst stage of my life and I didn’t know where my next meal will come from but I kept at it no matter how hard it got.
Now, I’m really grateful for the impact I’ve been able to make on other people with this blog.
Achieving a goal can be motivating and it can help reduce both depression and anxiety. Try using a technique called “behavioral activation”.
Each time you feel anxious, engage your mind in a positive and rewarding activity, such as working toward a goal.
The more you immerse yourself in a fulfilling hobby, the better your life will become because you’ll have less time worrying about your problems.
10. Do A Social Media Detox
The reason most people get worried or scared about the future is because of the fake luxury lifestyle they see on social media.
Do yourself a favor and quit social media for a week. You’ll be shocked at the impact on your life.
It’s okay to read positive and inspirational blogs online but don’t log in to Instagram or Facebook.
Personally, I switch off all my gadgets for a full day and concentrate on other meaningful things.
Doing this frequently has helped me get rid of fear and anxiety because I’m no longer comparing myself to other people who seem to have it all.
I want to be content with who I am now while working towards being a better version of myself.
Fear and anxiety are a part of everyday life. How you choose to manage them is what makes the difference.
Stop letting anxiety control you. Stop being too afraid to take action.
Take the reins and let anxiety and worries know that you are the one in the driver’s seat of your life.
You’re in charge of your life and you’re doing okay. No matter how bad things are right now, I believe they’ll get better tomorrow.
These strategies can help you to cope with stress, fear, and anxiety. Some may work better for you than others. Some may work best in different situations.
And some may not work for you at all. The key is to practice them one by one on a daily basis to see which ones will work best for you.
If you apply these techniques and none of them work to get rid of your anxious feelings, consider working with a licensed therapist or mental health professional for better solutions.
Recommended Reading:
How To Make Friends As An Introvert With Social Anxiety
12 Powerful Ways To Improve Your Mood Fast
20+ Unique Spa Products For A Perfect Self-Care Routine
About The Author
Jennifer Dagi
Jennifer Dagi is happily married to her best friend and the love of her life.
As a relationship coach, she is passionate about helping couples build healthy and happy relationships.
She strongly believes communication and intimacy are the most important ingredients for building a successful relationship.
Join her on a fabulous journey to improve your love life one step at a time and don't forget to subscribe for weekly blog updates.