Anxiety affects over 300 million people, but when you’re the one feeling it, it can make you feel completely alone. It hits fast, turns a normal smile into a knot in your chest, and convinces you something bad is about to happen, even when everything around you is actually okay.
I struggled with anxiety for years when I was younger. Yes, I know I’m only 12 (almost 13). But anxiety doesn’t really care about your age. I used to worry my parents wouldn’t show up to pick me up, and if they were even a few minutes late, my mind would spiral. I also had a panic attack about being kidnapped. I’d panic before I even realized what was happening. Looking back, I can still remember how real that fear felt, and I can also see how much God has helped me grow through it.
One thing I’ve learned is that anxiety doesn’t take a holiday break. In fact, Christmas can sometimes make it worse. There’s more noise, more expectations, more pressure to feel happy and get everything done. But I’ve also learned that God gives us tools that actually work when anxiety shows up.
One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:6–7:
“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.”
Memorizing this verse and saying it out loud helps more than people think. It reminds your brain what’s true when anxiety starts lying.
Another tool that really helps me is box breathing:
4 seconds in → 4-second hold → 4 slow seconds out → 4-second hold.
I used to do this with my mom on the way to most of my games when younger. She was teaching me tools early, before I even realized I’d need them. She explained that box breathing slows your heart rate and sends more oxygen to your brain, basically telling your body, “You’re safe. You can calm down.”
When I combine box breathing with that verse, it helps more times than I can count. That’s why I hope you’ll share this with someone who could use a few real tools, not just advice.
My mom also prays over our family every day, and that’s shaped the way I think about fear. She says anxiety is often just fear of the future. One verse she prays over us is 2 Timothy 1:7:
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
All of this reminds me of something simple but important:
I don’t have to fight anxiety alone.
God guards my mind.
He gives peace.
And He replaces fear with strength.
May this article bring hope to you during this busy Advent season.
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About Future Voices
Future Voices is a Sunday-morning column in The Dallas Express in which young Texans share how faith and perseverance shape their lives. These stories remind readers that God often speaks through the honesty and courage of the next generation.
