10 Ways to Fight Anxiety Like a Ninja

Source: jumpninja.co.uk

Hello, friend!  Today I'd love to share with you TEN ways you can come out swinging if you do battle with anxiety, like me.  Although I have posted about why I am grateful for anxiety, and all that it has taught me about my dependence upon the Lord, it is an area where I actively seek to achieve victory as a beloved child of God!  Every single one of these items I can firmly attest to, so without further adieu, here they are:

1. Prayer--"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7)." 
2. Renewing Your Mind--so much of my inner dialogue is negative and/or distorted.  Filling my mind with the truth of Scripture is crucial for renewing my mind with godly thoughts (see Romans 12:2).  In addition, this book has helped me to learn to identify and challenge distorted thinking that can lead to anxiety.  "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
3. Supplements--I take daily vitamin D, folate (critical for the making of neurotransmitters by the brain), and magnesium (my favorite brand is this one).
4. Diet--getting off the sugar train is huge!  I highly recommend the eating plan offered by Trim Healthy Mama.  Not only have a lost weight, but I am no longer at the mercy of sugar spikes and crashes that wreck havoc on my mood and energy level!  Major win!
5. Yoga--my favorite Yoga DVDs are these.  I *try* to do these three times a week, but lately, have not been that consistent!
6. Cut out caffeine--I made a gradual but decisive switch from coffee to tea last year and have never looked back.  I do enjoy naturally decaffeinated teas like rooibos and herbal, however, even regular teas have much lower amounts of caffeine than coffee, so I find that a regular cup of tea in the morning suits me just fine.  Chocolate (85% dark) seems to be fine for me, but watch for other sources of caffeine besides beverages.
7. Sleep--my body thrives on eight to nine hours, so I have tried to make that a priority!
8. Essential oils--I diffuse oils in my house and my car (this is the diffuser I use in the car).  My favorite oils are calming blend, lemongrass, geranium, clary sage, and citrus blends.  I highly recommend Rocky Mountain Oils (RMO, formerly, Native American Nutritionals) for their purity and price point.
9. Deep breathing--my favorite app is Calm.com and it has guided breathing exercises that I often do while on the road. 
10. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)--I'd highly recommend a visit with a CBT-trained therapist to talk about changing your thought patterns and working on exposure tasks to conquer fears and phobias. 

So there you have it, friend: TEN ways to fight anxiety like a ninja!

Before I go, I must give a shout out to Gina Ryan and the The Anxiety Coaches Podcast which offers biweekly insights about many of these bullet point items, as well!

Now, you get out there and TEAR IT UP!