I started A Healthy Push over three years ago... and during that time, I've gathered quite a few helpful quotes about anxiety! Today, I want to share some of my personal favorite quotes about overcoming anxiety. These are some of my favorite pieces of advice that I've offered on my Podcast and Instagram!
If you're not familiar with me or my story, let me take a second to introduce myself! I'm Shannon, a former anxiety sufferer turned adventurer, mom, and anxiety recovery coach. For fifteen years, I struggled with anxiety, panic disorder, and agoraphobia. And now, I help people push past the symptoms, thoughts, and fears that I used to struggle with! If you're struggling with panic attacks, agoraphobia, driving anxiety, or toilet anxiety you're in the right place, my friend.
Let's get started! I know that no matter what struggles you're facing, you will find some words of wisdom here.
My Favorite Quotes About Overcoming Anxiety
"Nobody has ever worked through the anxious moments and panic attacks for you. You've always done this."
I want to remind you that you are the one who has worked through every anxious moment and panic attack. Not your mom, not your dad, not your partner, not your loved one, not your friend. And I promise, you can learn to rely on and trust yourself. Even if it hasn't always felt like it, you've always been able to handle the difficult moments on your own. You are so strong, capable, and amazing, my friend!
"The success lies in how you respond to anxiety when it pops up, not whether or not it pops up."
Oftentimes clients and students of mine will say, Shannon, I don't know what I did wrong! I did it, but I felt anxious (or I had a panic attack). And my response... That's okay! I don't care that you felt anxious or had a panic attack, how did you respond to it? Our response to anxiety is what matters most, not whether or not it shows up.
At first, it can be so hard to manage the way we respond to anxiety. But with practice and healthy action, you can change the way you view and respond to anxiety! When you start to take the small steps, you learn that anxiety is a normal emotion. And you start to learn that experiencing anxiety doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong or failing. It means you're human! Over time, you can learn to be kind to yourself when anxiety pops up, instead of trying to make it go away.
"The version of you who didn't struggle with anxiety, panic disorder, or agoraphobia isn't the best version of you."
I think that so many of us wish that we could go back to the version of ourselves that didn’t struggle with anxiety, panic disorder, or agoraphobia. But the reality is that the “you” who wasn’t struggling isn’t the best version of you. And it makes sense… you want to go back because you don’t want to struggle. But you have to give yourself grace, allow yourself to be where you are right now (it's okay that you're struggling), and keep taking the small steps. Because those are the actions that are going to make you the best version of yourself!
"When you obsess over your thoughts in an effort to gain control, you actually lose control by trying to gain it."
Do you often find yourself obsessing over your what-if thoughts and the worst case scenarios in an effort to prevent yourself from feeling anxious, or to relieve anxiety? Trust me, I get it! My days (and really my life) used to revolve around my anxious thoughts. For years, I was convinced that if I could just figure things out and prevent myself from feeling anxious, or experiencing panic, or losing all control, I'd be okay. But what I was doing, obsessing and trying to have control, was actually creating and heightening the anxious thoughts and feelings. When I stopped trying so hard to do something with my thoughts, I was able to regain my control (and lots of peace)!
"It is safe to panic anywhere."
So often, I used to convince myself that it wasn't safe to panic in certain places. Whether it's while you're driving, riding on public transportation, being at work, going into stores, being home alone, or leaving home...you are safe to panic there. Honestly, you're safe to panic anywhere! It might not feel like it at first, but when we give ourselves the opportunity to see that we aren't in danger, our brain learns it doesn't need to be afraid anymore.
"Just because right now you can't imagine that you can overcome anxiety, panic disorder, and agoraphobia, doesn't mean that it's not possible, or that you aren't capable."
Honestly, when I was struggling, I don’t think I ever believed that I would recover. And even though I didn’t fully believe that it was possible, I still recovered! I don’t think you have to believe that you will recover… but I do think you need to believe that recovery is necessary. So keep taking lots of small steps, while having lots of blind faith, and keep reminding yourself of why you’re working so hard to heal!
"It's not about being able to do the thing without feeling anxious. It's about doing the thing while feeling anxious and proving to your brain that you are safe and capable."
One of the biggest signs of anxiety recovery is being willing to take your anxiety along for the ride! Don’t get me wrong…I’m sure we would all prefer to do things without feeling anxious. But when you stop avoiding the things that make you feel anxious, and start taking the anxiety with you…your brain learns that you were safe all along! And you build the trust back within you, which is such a huge part of recovery!
"I said no to Googling so that I could learn to trust and believe that I am well."
If you struggle with health anxiety, you know what I mean! It can be so easy to fall into the trap of Googling symptoms. But what good has ever come from that? When I stopped Googling every symptom, I started to realize that I can trust and rely on my body. And if something is actually wrong, doctors are always there to help!
If some of these quotes about overcoming anxiety resonated with you, check out my Instagram for even more quotes, videos, and tips! And if you’re looking for a little extra support, my email newsletter is a great place to start. Each week, I share tips, tools, and affirmations to help support you along your anxiety recovery journey.