I unknowingly struggled with anxiety from a young age, probably around 12 years old. I was a very shy child, and over time that shyness slowly turned into anxiety.

It wasn’t until I had children that my anxiety really began to take over. Caring for another human being and constantly putting someone else’s needs first while struggling internally in ways I didn’t yet understand was incredibly difficult. The lack of sleep fueled my anxiety to the point where I was experiencing obsessive thoughts and irrational fears.

I was hanging on by a thread. And what many people who have gone through similar experiences understand is that you often don’t realize how deeply you’re struggling until you finally come out of that “dark cloud.” Then you look back and think, Wow, I can’t believe I got through that.

One of the saddest parts of anxiety for me was that it stole so much joy from motherhood. I was viewing my life through an extremely negative lens.

One day, while reading about obsessive thoughts and OCD tendencies connected to anxiety, something clicked for me. I realized, These thoughts are not actually who I am. That realization opened the door to believing I had the strength to overcome what I was experiencing.

I ordered the book Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks (which I highly recommend). It taught me about the thought loops so many of us become trapped in. It helped me begin controlling the obsessive, fearful, and negative thoughts that replayed constantly in my mind.

One idea especially changed my perspective:

“Just because a thought or feeling pops into your mind does not automatically make it true.”

That was such a powerful realization for me. Why was I giving every thought and emotion so much authority? So many people treat thoughts and feelings as absolute truth, and honestly, I could write an entire article on that topic alone.

Learning to separate myself from my anxious thoughts was a huge step forward in overcoming anxiety. But there was still more healing to do.

Lifestyle played a massive role in my recovery as well.

At the time, I was extremely undernourished. My hair was falling out, my teeth were weakening, and my body was running on empty. I was vegetarian then—which works well for some people, but it did not work well for me personally. I ate very little and believed I was being healthy by taking large amounts of supplements. Looking back, I honestly think that approach did more harm than good for my body.

I didn’t understand the importance of protein, healthy fats, minerals, and proper nourishment.

As a young mom, I might eat a granola bar, a banana, and some rice and vegetables while drinking multiple cups of coffee throughout the day. Now I prioritize foods that truly nourish me: eggs, meat, butter, vegetables, fruit, and mineral-rich foods. At 38 years old, I actually feel significantly healthier than I did in my twenties.

Unfortunately, over the years I also developed an autoimmune disease called Immune Thrombocytopenia, which causes chronically low platelets. That experience further reinforced for me how deeply stress, nourishment, sleep, and overall health can impact the body.

Sleep was another enormous factor.

For years I functioned on very little sleep and wondered why I constantly felt anxious, overwhelmed, and on edge. Now I understand how critical sleep is for mental and physical health. I make quality sleep a priority because I know how profoundly it affects my nervous system and emotional well-being.

So for me personally, the biggest factors in overcoming anxiety were:

• Mindset
• Proper nourishment
• Sleep
• Nervous system regulation
• Lifestyle changes

I’m continually learning how to shift my mindset away from negativity and toward gratitude, hope, and resilience. I’ve learned that we cannot always control our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them. I no longer want to view myself as a victim of my thoughts or emotions.

I also constantly remind myself of this:

You can spend endless energy stressing, worrying, and feeling anxious about things outside of your control—but that anxiety will not change the outcome. In many situations, maintaining hope, peace, and a positive outlook is actually far more beneficial than living in constant fear.

Of course, I also recognize that some people experience anxiety and mental health struggles that require deeper intervention, therapy, or medication. Every situation is different. I’m simply sharing what personally helped me heal.

Another major piece of this journey was understanding the nervous system.

Modern life keeps many of us in a constant state of overstimulation: nonstop schedules, endless notifications, chronic stress, little rest, excessive caffeine, and phones attached to us at all times. Many people are living in a constant fight-or-flight state without even realizing it.

For people like me who were running completely depleted, healing had to start with the basics: sleeping enough, nourishing my body properly, slowing down, and allowing my nervous system to feel safe again.

Nature has also had an incredible impact on my mental health and nervous system.

Research shows that spending time in nature can lower cortisol levels, reduce nervous system activation, improve mood, and support emotional regulation. Even brief exposure to natural environments—walking outdoors, listening to birds, breathing fresh air, or feeling sunlight on your skin—can have measurable effects on stress and anxiety levels. Studies on “grounding” and forest environments have also shown potential benefits for inflammation, stress response, heart rate variability, and overall well-being.

For me personally, spending time outside became deeply healing.

I was able to significantly reduce my anxiety without medication, though I understand that path may not be right for everyone. Some of the changes I made may sound simple, but they were truly life-changing for me.

Healing didn’t happen overnight. It happened slowly, through small daily choices that helped me rebuild my mind, body, and nervous system over time.