7 Strategies to Overcome Anxiety and Stress

Seasons of pain, hurting, and uncertainty open the door to uninvited guests. Seasons much like the one we are in now as a Nation. As if this pandemic wasn’t enough, the uninvited guest that accompanies the unknown of all of this is anxiety and stress.

Helpful stress is realized whenever there is a threat to the body or the ego. A stress response is good in small amounts. It is necessary for survival. If a lion is chasing you, you want your adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol. However, a constant flood of these hormones, or chronic stress, wreaks havoc on our brains and bodies.

Chronic stress, real or imagined, is epidemic in our society. It makes us sick, raises our blood pressure and heart rate, damages our immune system, causes weight gain, triggers autoimmune diseases, and more. According to Dr. Mark Hyman, Director of Functional Medicine at The Cleveland Clinic, 95% of all illness is caused or worsened by stress.

As you minister to hurting women and listen to their stories, listen for clues of prolonged seasons of stress. Watch for it in your own life as well. As a caregiver, ministry wife, and leader, make sure you are making space to decompress and off-load the stress you carry day to day.

Here are 7 strategies to overcome stress:

• Prayer and meditation. The literature is pretty clear that meditation is an effective stress reducer. For the Christ-follower, the best way to do that is with scripture, and I would add, praying that scripture. Trade your anxiety for peace by casting all your cares on the Lord!
• Breathing exercises. Being aware of our breathing grounds us in the moment and slows down our heart rates. Try it now. Close your eyes, breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose, hold for just a second, and let it out slowly through your mouth. Nice, right?
• Exercise. No fit bit or apple watch needed, lace up the shoes and hit the road for a walk.
• Positive mindset. Romans 12:2a says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What you think about matters.
  The story you are telling yourself about yourself or your situation impacts your emotions and behaviors.
  Are your thoughts or beliefs toxic?
  Are they lies, or are they truth?
• Focus on what is true and positive.
• In fact…
  “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8, NIV)
• Keep a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, take a moment to reflect and jot down the moments you are grateful for.

Lean into community and support. Created in the image of a Triune God, we find our home in relationship and community. Social isolation is debilitating and can make you sick.

Enjoy nature. Delight in God’s beautiful creation, breathe in fresh air, and take in the sights and sounds of whatever the season is offering.

I can attest to the fact that these 7 strategies are indeed effective for reducing stress. In fact, I have practiced most of them myself even today! During this season of pandemic stress, it is exhausting. Please make a call to a trusted friend today and discuss the root of the stress, you’ll be glad you did. We are in this together! We will make it through all of this, as we stand together!

Kaye Hurta has a Masters Degree in counseling from Liberty University and is a crisis counselor for Women’s Events through LifeWay Christian Resources. Whether speaking, singing or listening, Kaye’s passion is to help others find intimacy with Christ and soul transformation through the living pages of His Word. “I was a wounded, lonely Midwest farm girl until the Divine Romancer swept me off my feet. I want to steward my story well so that others can find Him in their stories and be fully satisfied.” Kaye met and married her husband Chris in Austin, Texas in 1987. They have two daughters through the miracle of adoption, Madison and Cami. They live on Florida’s West Coast and are both on staff at Bayside Community Church. Kaye is also a contributing author for the LifeWay resource, Women Reaching Women in Crisis. Read more….  Wanna learn more about us?