Reading quotes is motivating and uplifting for any part of life, including dealing with anxiety, worry, fear, and overthinking. Many people don’t think to turn to quotes for guidance or reassurance when anxious, but it can be incredibly beneficial.
Reading positive phrases from others can help whether you have a diagnosed anxiety disorder or experience unsettling feelings occasionally. It reminds you that you aren’t alone and can get through anything.
Reversing anxiety is essential because it disrupts your well-being, can be overwhelming, and affects your life at work and home. While easing the symptoms might seem hard, these quotes can motivate you to keep pushing.
The quotes can motivate you to reverse anxious feelings and focus on the present. They can help relax your mind, ease negative thoughts, and refocus your perspective. Not every quote will describe your feelings, so focus on the ones that resonate with you the most.
What is Anxiety?
It’s hard to describe the feelings anxiety causes, but it’s a natural sensation during stressful moments. Those with an anxiety disorder experience it more frequently, and it could feel like the feeling never leaves. These disorders are one of the most common mental health conditions, with nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. living with them.
Anxiety is overwhelming, but you can find ways to cope and reverse the negative feelings. When you find coping methods that work for you, you can manage your condition and feel better.
Those without a diagnosed disorder may experience occasional fear, worry, or nervousness. It’ll often happen during stressful times, like before a job interview, during a test, or when trying something new.
People with an anxiety disorder experience excessive fear or worry that interferes with their ability to function. It also disrupts their well-being as recurring thoughts and behaviors impact their work or school life, hobbies, and relationships.
Types of Disorders
Many types of anxiety disorders get diagnosed based on what causes the feelings and reactions. These include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): There isn’t a specific focus for triggers, and anxious feelings could set in regarding health, social interactions, work, or anything else. It interferes with most days for at least six months.
- Social anxiety disorder: This disorder occurs when someone experiences intense fear of social situations or speaking in front of others.
- Specific phobias: Someone with phobias will feel anxious and fearful of certain items or situations.
- Panic disorder: When someone has this disorder, they’ll experience frequent and unexpected panic attacks. Sometimes they’ll get anxious thinking about future panic attacks.
- Separation anxiety disorder: Someone with this disorder will feel anxious about being away from people they love.
- Agoraphobia: When someone experiences intense fear of situations that don’t have easy escape options. It sometimes includes fear of open or enclosed spaces and public transport. In extreme cases, the person might be afraid to leave their home.
Seventeen Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Feeling anxious can shift your behavior, and it’s an unpleasant experience that can impact your life. Some of the signs and symptoms include the following:
- strong feelings of fear or worry
- wanting to avoid specific situations or objects
- racing thoughts
- rapid heart rate
- dry mouth
- feelings of panic or dread
- tunnel vision
- muscle tension
- shortness of breath
- trouble concentrating
- confusion and poor memory
- dizziness
- upset stomach
- dissociation
- physical weakness
- restlessness
- sweating
Fifteen Quotes to Help Reverse Anxiety
1 – “When you feel overwhelmed, remember: A little at a time is how it gets done. One thing, one task, one moment at a time.” Unknown Anonymous
When you feel anxious, it helps to plan and take things one step at a time. You can progress by doing things a little at a time rather than only considering the overall picture. Consider what you can do right now to help you get closer to your goals.
2 – “Actually spending ten minutes clearing off one shelf is better than fantasizing about spending a weekend cleaning out the basement.” – Gretchen Rubin
Your anxiety might cause you to think about doing something without making progress. When your negative thoughts kick in, consider taking the time to make progress on the tasks you’ve been thinking of. It’ll make you feel better and help reverse your anxious feelings.
3 – “Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” – Arthur Somers Roche
When you let your anxious thoughts take over, it can affect every part of your life. Rather than encouraging those feelings, find a positive outlet so you don’t drain your resources.
4 – “Let your mind and heart rest for a while. You will catch up, the world will not stop spinning for you, but you will catch up. Take a rest.” – Cynthia Go
When you experience anxious feelings frequently, they can overwhelm your heart and mind. When this happens to you, take some time to recover and catch up. It’s okay to take a break to focus on your mental health.
5 – “Close your eyes and imagine the best version of you possible, that’s who you really are. Let go of any part of you that doesn’t believe it.” – C. Assaad
When you envision the best version of yourself, it’s who you already are. Some positive traits might get buried beneath negativity, but you can pull them forward and use them to your advantage. When you believe you’re who you want to be, you’ll begin living your desired lifestyle.
6 – “There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” – Epictetus
Worrying and overthinking won’t help you find happiness. Releasing your worry is how you can embrace the good parts of your life.
7 – “Feel the feeling but don’t become the emotion. Witness it. Allow it. Release it.” – Crystal Andrus
You can’t avoid negative feelings, but you don’t have to let them define you. As Andrus explains, acknowledge your emotions, let yourself experience them, and then let them go. When you release it, you can reverse your anxious feelings.
8 – “Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression…It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment.” – Grenville Kleiser
Finding something to laugh about can help reverse your anxious feelings. Laughter will help you find joy in the present rather than fixating on things you can’t control.
9 – “Some days, doing ‘the best we can’ may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect—on any front—and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.” – Fred Rogers
You won’t always accomplish everything you strived to do, and that’s okay. You can’t expect perfection, and Mr. Rogers explains that doing what you can is the only thing that matters.
10 – “I will breathe. I will think of solutions. I will not let my worry control me. I will not let my stress level break me. And it will be okay because I won’t quit.” – Shayne McClendon
Focusing on your breathing can help you take control of your feelings. You can focus on finding solutions rather than fixating on negativity. While your anxious feelings attempt to creep in, you can keep finding positive ways to push through.
11 – “Instead of planning for the worst case scenario and feeding your anxiety, how about expecting the best case scenario and restoring your peace.” – Kristen Butler
When you feel anxious, you might think of the worst-case scenario. As Butler explains, shifting your thinking to the best-case possibility can make a difference.
12 – “Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest taken between two deep breaths.” – Etty Hillesum
It’s hard to accomplish anything when dealing with anxious feelings, but it’s not the big steps that count. You did enough if all you did was take deep breaths to refocus your thoughts. Remember this quote so that you focus on your breathing next time you feel anxious.
13 – “Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once. Breathe. You’re strong. You got this. Take it day by day.” – Karen Salmansohn
Taking things one step at a time can help reverse your anxious feelings. You don’t have to figure everything out at once. Focusing on one thing at a time and managing your daily life can help you alleviate your negative thoughts and emotions.
14 – “Fear thrives in a place of inaction. Overcome your anxiety by taking one small step forward.” – Sarah Boyd
When you won’t do something because you’re afraid, it doesn’t allow you to overcome the fear. Making progress and taking steps toward the thing you’re scared of can make a difference.
15 – “At the end of the day, tell yourself gently: ‘I love you, you did the best you could today, and even if you didn’t accomplish all you planned. I love you anyway.” – Unknown
Practicing self-love can help you reverse anxious feelings and involves acknowledging your love for yourself. Even when you don’t accomplish everything you hoped for, this quote can remind you of the love you deserve from yourself.
Final Thoughts on Quotes to Help Reverse Anxiety
Living with an anxiety disorder is overwhelming and disrupts your well-being. Seeking professional help is essential if it begins affecting your life, but these quotes can help you push through. Positive quotes can give motivation and encouragement to reverse your negative feelings and focus on the present.
These encouraging phrases can help you think clearly and understand the situation better. Don’t lose hope because you can live a fulfilling life despite living with this disorder.
If you need more help, there are many treatment options to consider. You can visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website for information on getting the help you need.
