"The Lord is greater than the giants you face" - 1 John 4:4

I, like many others, have struggled with anxiety since I was six years old. For awhile, it ruled my life. It knocked my priorities completely out of whack because anxiety started to creep into the place where God was in my life. It never became my God, no, but it consumed my thoughts. Fear crept it's way into every facet of my life. I hated it and I wanted it to just stop. I prayed and prayed, but it just stayed around. I've said this in many articles before, and I'll say it again: there is purpose in the pain. You have to trust that truth. There is a reason this is part of your life right now, there is a reason you are hurting. Find the root of what sends you into panic and makes you want to crawl in your bed for days. Find it and change it. You have to replace what the world has instilled in you, whatever it is that is making you break down in anxiety, and restore it with God's truth. It is there and only there, where you'll find rest. That is not to say that you won't ever struggle with panic attacks, anxiety, etc. again, but it will not shake you at your core. The Lord is good, all the time.

Over the past 13 years with anxiety, I've discovered some helpful tricks that really help calm me down. Remember these next time you're feeling panicked and overwhelmed and try them out.

1. Breathing patterns

^"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

If you've struggled with anxiety for awhile, you've probably heard all about this. "10 seconds in through your nose, 10 seconds out of your mouth". It helps, honestly. When your body gets used to this one, deep breathing through meditation is also incredibly helpful.

2. Sometimes you just need to get away

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
2 Timothy 1:7

Through this, I've found that I'm most calm by water. It doesn't really matter where or "what kind" of water, but when I have had a hard anxious day, I like to run away to somewhere with water and have quiet time with the Lord. Find your hideaway.

3. Bubbles!

"Words bubble up from waters deep within a person;a stream gushes from the fountain of wisdom." Proverbs 18:4

It sounds silly, but I carry bubbles around in my purse at all times. Why, you ask? Well ya see what had happened was... they stop panic attacks! Bubbles are the perfect anxiety hack because when you blow a bubble, it forces you to breathe and the bubble itself gives you a small distraction. If you have anxiety you know that breathing and distractions are pretty much how you get through panic attacks. Bubbles are a blessing, my friends.

4. Essential Oils / Aromatherapy

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

It helps, it helps so much. In my weird purse, right next to my bubbles sits two little roller tubes of eucalyptus and lavender essential oils. Breathing these scents in has been clinically proven to calm the mind and body. Take advantage of these! I know brand name essential oils can run a little pricey, but Walmart has them in their candle isle and they work just as well! Keeping them on you will make you feel a little more secure in knowing that if you start to panic, you've got something to help you calm yourself down