5 Proven Strategies for Anxiety During Midlife

During midlife, anxiety is one of the biggest emotional issues a woman deals with when life seems to grow out of proportion overnight.

Anxiety is one of the biggest emotional issues a woman deals with during midlife when everything seems to grow out of proportion overnight.

Our bodies start changing physically and emotionally and too often our level of anxiety goes off the charts. All this happens during the season when our kids are reaching puberty and our parents are rapidly aging. People depend on us but in this season, we feel life is unstable and chaotic.

Menopause happens when the cycle that gave us a steady or irregular rhythm throughout life stops. The Change gradually creeps up on us as our hormones shift as much as fifteen years before the actual event.

How to deal with anxiety during hormonal changes can be all but challenging. During these years your health may become a challenge or if you’re like me, life’s extreme rollercoaster ride can cause a depth of emotions you never knew existed.

As Believers, we’re told to manifest the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and be loving, kind, and patient. Meanwhile, we are experiencing a reality like we’ve never known before.

You can suddenly become over-the-top anxious over every little thing.

Hormones disguised as tension and emotions varying from uncontrollable tears, overeating, and anger (to name a few) can be felt pulsing through your veins (I’ve felt this).

What’s a midlife mom to do?!

The thing is, it’s not wrong to find answers and seek help or counseling. There are Biblical ways of dealing with anxiety even when the changes in our body cause it.

Too often we hide in shame not understanding what’s happening in our body. In the last decade or two, we know much more to help ease you through this confusing part of life’s journey.

For women, especially those in midlife, anxiety can be an unwelcome hitchhiker on life’s already chaotic highway. With responsibilities with home and family (did I mention teenagers?) and changes mounting, it’s vital to have tools to tackle these emotional monsters head-on.

So if you’re going through midlife and the hormonal hurricane accompanying these years, we’ll draw on a blend of spiritual and practical solutions.

We’ll be using Psalms, devotionals (found in the underlined links), my personal stories, and tips that I’ve found to encourage stability and balance in the middle of what are often chaotic years.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Renewing Your Mind in Midlife

Neglecting to renew my mind and spirit was a big mistake while raising kids. Yes, I faithfully spent time with Jesus, but I rarely went out alone or spent time on a hobby to relax my mind and spirit.

We are so busy caring for everyone else that we forget to care for ourselves. We neglect to care for the inside of our minds.

Before taking off on a plane you are told, “Put your oxygen mask on first.”

If you don’t give yourself oxygen first, you’ll likely die trying to save others!

Renewal is not just self-care, it’s obedience to God’s command to love yourself as a unique creation, deserving of peace and well-being. It’s not selfish to seek rejuvenation, it’s scriptural.

5 strategies for Anxiety During Midlife

When anxiety is unrelenting, these five simple strategies can calm your nerves and give solutions that work.

1. Praying through the Psalms

Psalms have always encouraged my soul when I’ve gone through turbulent seasons.

David had plenty of reasons to be anxious. He earnestly pours his heart out to God through the Psalms.

Psalms can teach you how to pray through anxiety as you use a couple of verses each day.

Read psalms each day especially when you are feeling anxious. Find a verse that resonates with your struggles and pray it back to God.

This will bring peace to your heart as God’s Word becomes your shield.

Psalms are often written in phrases. Breathe out one phrase at a time and you’ll find that your anxiety will start to calm as you’re lifted above your earthly worries.

The Psalms are more than poignant prayers. They’re more than words on a page.

The Psalms are God’s Living Words. If you know Jesus personally, you’ll start experiencing a deeper relationship with Him.

Learn how to get the most out of Psalms right here.

2. Daily Journaling

Journaling holds an amazing healing power over your mind. It helps you to sort through all the anxiety that you’re experiencing during midlife.

It helps the tangled emotions to surface so notice that they exist. I cannot recommend this simple practice enough.

There are three methods (that I know of) for journaling. I’ve been practicing two of these for years and another that I’ve never tried regularly.

You would enjoy our free group, Jesus Journaling on Facebook where I share devotionals, Mondays through Fridays.

Scripture Journaling is the first method using a Journaling Notebook (3-ring or spiral notebook with blank pages). If that is daunting for you, there are Journaling Notebooks available in my Store that guide you.

Scripture Journaling is copying verses into a notebook that speaks to your heart. You can also copy cross-reference verses and add a short paragraph of their application to your life.

Don’t underestimate the power of copying verses because you’ll find how much this helps to calm your anxiety.

Journaling Art is the second method that is a wonderful addition to a page where you copied Scripture verses. It details how God is speaking to your heart through your anxiety issues.

Any form of creating artwork is relaxing to the nerves. When you add art to a verse you copied from Scripture, it goes beyond relaxation. It is meditating on what God is saying to you. It rewires your brain as you renew your mind day-by-day with God’s Word.

You might not be artistic at first and it doesn’t matter if you ever become an artist. You are learning to give your worries over to God.

Daily Journaling is when you write for about five minutes a day. You don’t give it much thought as you scribble the thoughts that flow from your mind to the paper.

Write things that you did or where you went. Write the successes and failures of your life. Write the funny things. Write the painful experiences.

Soon you will see how you drew the anxiety out of your mind onto paper. You can keep what you journaled or burn or flush it.

This is a habit that I’ve never incorporated into my day. I should and I might.

This is not necessarily intended to be a spiritual activity but it can be.

If you’re like me, everything I do has something to do with the Lord. I can’t leave Him out of any part of my life’s moments.

3. Regular Exercise

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and is to be used for God’s glory. I want the energy to do all God’s called me to do.

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of regular exercise during midlife.

Movement is so important for our physical and emotional health. Many women neglect to take care of their bodies because they’re so busy caring for everyone else.

Regular exercise releases endorphins, nature’s antidote to stress, and can be a consistent source of strength and calmness even when life is turbulent.

It might surprise you how much you reduce anxiety and stress once you add movement to your day.

Finding an exercise regimen that fits your lifestyle and preferences is key.

Whether it’s a brisk walk, a vigorous Essentrics session, or dancing in your kitchen, infuse movement into your day because it’ll give you peace and calm.

Your body and mind will thank you for it.

4. Mindfully Meditating on God’s Word

Meditation is a practice that’s been around for centuries. As Believers, we don’t have to be afraid of it because we aren’t going to meditate like a Buddhist.

God came up with the whole idea of meditation and when done right, you will focus on God’s Word and what Jesus has done for you.

Meditation is a recalibration of your scattered anxious thoughts and focusing on Jesus.

When grounded in the Word of God, it becomes a lifeline to truth and a balm for the soul. Meditative mindfulness is not about emptying the mind but steadying it on the firm foundation of faith and promises.

To truly engage in Biblical mindfulness, one must learn to meditate on the Word but throughout the day.

Make a habit of carrying a verse with you, weaving its message through your thoughts, actions, and reactions. The verses God will give you will keep your mind focused on Him.

So don’t pull away at the words ‘mindfully meditating’

5. Christian Counseling During Midlife

Once a Christian counselor gave me a free session and it was very beneficial. I was going through hard times and I should have gone back for additional sessions. She taught me that the ‘Truth will set you free!” John 8:31-32.

My anxiety issues were coming from untruths I was believing about myself because of my past.

She encouraged me to tell the truth about what happened as a child and that it wasn’t my fault. That’s where some people get stuck in dealing with anxiety; they don’t know how to cope with saying this lie out loud.

Have you ever considered counseling? It can be intimidating to share parts of your life with a stranger but what if it’s the best thing you ever did for yourself?

It Would Be Lovely to Sit Together

. . . at my kitchen table chatting about the things God has laid on my heart. That’s what I would love to do with you right now.

Before scrolling to the video, pause, slow down, and grab a warm mocha (or tea). Then turn on the video and imagine we are sitting across from each other in my kitchen.

Watch the video and then leave a comment. Oh, and don’t forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel. You’ll be glad you did because I have all sorts of things planned in the coming months!

Did you get your coffee?

The Unseen Work of Grace

God’s grace cannot always be seen as He works during these turbulent midlife years.

Amid anxiety, you might not feel like God is working or even present in your life. But that doesn’t mean He isn’t there and actively working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

God’s unseen work of grace can be found in the little moments throughout your day. Perhaps it’s a kind word from a stranger, a beautiful sunrise, or a moment of peace in the chaos. These small moments are often God’s way of reminding us that He is with us and working for our good.

So even when you can’t see His hand, trust that He is always at work and His grace is sufficient to carry you through any anxiety or stress. Hold onto His promises and rest in His love.