I’ve always been the person who handles stress well. I thrive when I’m busy. I take risks. I juggle multiple projects without breaking a sweat.
Until the day I couldn’t.
After several years of starting and growing a church, exhaustion caught up with me. Small tasks became overwhelming. Things I’d done without thinking now triggered crippling anxiety.
Then came the panic attack.
I was driving between meetings when my heart started racing uncontrollably. I pulled over, convinced I was having a heart attack. Sitting on the side of the road, I prayed for my family, thinking this might be how it all ends.
That’s when I realized I couldn’t ignore what was happening anymore. Something had to change.
The Long Road Back
I started seeking help. I saw a doctor. I made major lifestyle changes. By God’s grace, a year later I’m off medication, the panic attacks are gone, and my anxiety is at an all-time low—even though I have more responsibilities than ever.
I still have hard days. But they’re increasingly rare.
Through conversations with others struggling like I was, I’ve realized the church has a long way to go in addressing mental health. Many Christians don’t know how to understand or respond to anxiety through the lens of faith.
If that’s you right now, here are seven ways to deal with stress and anxiety as a Christian.
7 Ways to Deal With Stress and Anxiety as a Christian
1. Admit There’s a Problem
Walking with God begins with acknowledging our need for Him. Dealing with anxiety begins with acknowledging we need help.
This requires humility. And that’s exactly why many people don’t get the help they need.
Anxiety makes us feel weak when everyone else seems strong. We wonder, Why is this so hard for me? Why can’t I get it together? The temptation is to keep pushing and hope it goes away on its own.
It won’t.
I ignored my anxiety for a long time before admitting how much it was affecting me and my family. By the time I acknowledged the problem, my health had deteriorated significantly. Recovery took much longer than it should have.
Had I owned up to it sooner, I could have spared myself and my family a lot of pain.
2. Stop Self-Medicating
Many people develop unhealthy coping mechanisms for stress.
Some overeat or constantly snack on junk food. Others drink to take the edge off. Some zone out in front of the TV for hours, binge-watching shows or playing video games.
None of these are healthy responses to anxiety.
What we often don’t realize is that these coping mechanisms can actually work against our body’s ability to heal. They create an endless cycle of stress and self-medication that makes everything worse.
