Category Archives: Anxiety

05.10.25
by

Dealing With Anxiety (Tips to Cope)

Fight anxiety with love and intention, resilience, and patience.

Sometimes, being anxious is normal. Maybe you are anxious about an exam, and that is okay. But when you are constantly worrying, experiencing chronic stress, and in constant fear and it is interrupting your ability to enjoy life, maintain your emotions, and get out of your head, you may need support to overcome a possible anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition where anxiety goes beyond normal levels of worry or fear and starts interfering with daily life. It involves intense, excessive, and persistent worry or fear about everyday situations—even when there’s no clear danger.

Anxiety can be inconvenient, crippling, embarrassing, and overwhelming. But we can fight anxiety, and it doesn’t have to feel like a life sentence.

Here are positive ways to care for your mind and spirit:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Imm6obCR5Pk?feature=share

Check out the new video! Then, if you too struggle with anxiety, list some other coping mechanisms or things that help you deal with anxiety and overcome anxiety attacks.

12.28.22
by

2022 In Review

Site icon
2022 In Review
This year was rough. It was filled with a lot of tears, anxiety, stress and healing journey setbacks. I got hit by a car & my wallet stolen. I also discovered some things that broke my heart. And then I am raising also now a teen. Despite all, I had some fun in between, am still here & God is & has been faithful!

These are just some things that happened in 2022. We also lost one of our dear mothers of our church as well as my precious baby cousin this year. It has been a rollercoaster of a year; some ups and downs but thank God for the lessons and love we also received.

God bless you all and have a wonderful New Year Day!!! See you in the New Year.

Tannika Nikeya😘

08.27.22
by

20 Things I Am Learning In This Season of Healing

I have been on this journey of healing for some years now. But this particular season, here are some of the things I am learning or have learned.

1. There are a lot of perspectives, opinions and views. Learn to chew the meat and spit out the bones.

2. Be honest with yourself. Be honest with where you are in life, what you need and what you want. (Talking and listening to God about such is crucial and use wisdom when sharing with others.)

3. Sometimes our hearts can deceive us or open up a door that we didn’t mean to and knew we shouldn’t open. However, we can still learn a lesson within that moment of our hearts deceiving us.

4. Healing isn’t always pretty or comfortable for us.

5. God will definitely get your attention. And the enemy will definitely try to also, and often succeed in doing so. Be vigilant.

6. You can be growing and healing yet still feel stagnant and not whole.

7. What you thought you wanted was not really what you wanted. And what you need is what you never knew you needed.

8. Insecurities can tell on you even when you think they are hiding or quiet.

9. Maintaining calmness and managing your emotions is not a sign of weakness. Neither is expressing your hurt and pain a sign of weakness.

10. People will underestimate you. You are resilient and persevering and discerning. Thank God for that!

11. Be alert. You are being watched. Be wise in your actions and speech.

12. Sometimes, you isolate yourself. Sometimes it is a good thing, sometimes not. But there are times God will separate you or call you to an “alone” season and when He does, don’t fight it. Draw closer to God.

13. You are not perfect and that is okay. You are human. God loves you: spirit, soul and body.

14. Don’t let what other people think consume you. Hold God’s view and word above others!

15. Embrace your limitations and your realities. Real talk. All the while knowing that God can do the impossible.

16. You should have set boundaries like yesterday.

17. Silence is necessary at times.

18. Gaslighting is real and yes, you can even gaslight yourself.

19. Fear and anxiety will let you get in the car but stop you from taking off.

20. You must allow God (and possibly a therapist) to help you get to the root cause of some of your issues and traumas as well as pull down the things that are holding up your strongholds.

What have you been learning in your current season of healing? Put them down in the comments below.

02.26.22
by

Things To Not Say…

Someone may be experiencing a loss, burnout, anxiety, depression, consistent stress. And when someone expresses his/her heart, issue or struggle, offer compassion and a listening ear. (If saved) Let the Holy Spirit lead you from there.

But do not say these things:

Just pray about it.

Stop saying that.

Everyone has anxiety.

Be strong.

These statements can sound dismissive. They can sound insensitive. How do you know the person isn’t praying and that fight to get out of the bed or talking with someone was the answer to their prayers. Yes, sometimes a person saying things out of habit or unloading on another can be frustrating or even overwhelming. When it is too much, you have the right to protect your boundaries and your own mental health. However, don’t leave your compassion to the wayside.

Don’t tell someone “everyone has anxiety or depression right now”. You took the focus off of the person needing someone to listen and put the focus on everyone. It seems dismissive and one can be left feeling that they should have never said anything. Even moreso, one can feel like what he/she feels doesn’t matter or isn’t of concern. “If everyone else is dealing with this why I am complaining. Just deal with it.”

“Be strong.” As if expressing yourself and struggling is a sign of weakness. And one must learn to process everything they feel instead of ignoring it.

In any event, let us show compassion. Not every time someone needs advice but if you must, use wisdom, preferably Godly wisdom. And most importantly, listen. Sometimes, people just want to be heard and some of us are doing the work to overcome. We just need perhaps a hug (upon permission), a prayer or encouragement, patience, or just to be seen and heard.

12.25.21
by

Thankful Journal Entry

I don’t know if it is because of the Christmas season and day or because I am having some writing flow this week (been having Writer’s block for a while), but here is another post.

As I lie down in bed and after finishing composing my previous post, I am filled with thoughts of appreciation and gratitude. I thought of an elder who took time to teach me how to drive and pass the driving test. To this day (although unfortunately, I have anxiety and driving anxiety), I still remember the things he taught me as well as his kindness and patience. Mind you, I got my license late in the game. Another person I am grateful for is another elder who I endearingly called my god granny. Her humor, wisdom, kindness, and jazzy spirit was so amazing. I miss both of them, Elder Heath and Sister Dixon.

There are a lot of things that you may still be dealing with, but I challenge you to make a list of things and people you are grateful for. Let’s go! I just named two people. I am also grateful for a new day, a warm house, and family… The list goes on. I am thankful especially for my Jesus!!!!! Without Him, there is no me or no hope.

What or who are you grateful for?

12.25.21
by

Merry Christmas And A New Year Is Loading…

This year went by quick but seemed so long. It is like 2021 copied and pasted 2020. The struggle was real. And we are continually learning to deal with the new normal. I was going to do a post about my year in review with more pictures, but naw. I don’t need to post anymore selfies or photos or make it all about me. This year was stressful and blessful at the same time for me and I bet for many of you all also, and that’s that. I just pray as we approach a new year that the things we need to fall off fall off so we can walk lightly and respond well in this new year as well as receive what God has for us. And learn what we need to learn to pass some tests and overcome some more things. I pray for those of us struggling with anxiety and depression to pack on courage to keep going and to take one day at a time, trusting God all the way.

Anyway, I am elated to say if you are reading this that you and I both made it to December and we are close to a new year. Although our finances may not be where they need to be, we still have a roof over our heads and food on our tables. Although we still have some more healing to do along our healing journey, we have come a long way. This year was not easy. It was stressful and heavy. This year also, I anticipated feeling depressed again on my birthday (12/10), but I actually felt ok. I even looked better despite having Covid and being in quarantine. My entire immediate family had Covid with mild symptoms and towards the end of our quarantine, we believe we also got food poisoning. But we are well today and grateful.

I know the holidays may be hard for some and many are going through right now, but I pray you have a joyous day. I pray you hear laughter, feel loved, and reach out to someone that God has just for you to touch your heart and lift your spirit and vice versa. I pray you have enough to eat. I pray that you remember those lost loved ones with a smile and that you understand that it is okay to grieve too. I pray that you are healthy or getting well. I pray that you start new traditions like watching a Christmas movie that you will watch every Christmas. Or cook a new dish and share it with your elderly neighbor or single mom. I pray that you embrace yourself through your healing journey and take one day at a time. I pray you won’t be so hard on yourself and know that you are worthy and loved by God, the Great I Am.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Christmas In The Winter Available Now At Amazon

10.26.21
by

How Anxiety Feels

I was briefly reading Psalm 55 before a meeting this morning, and as I came across verses four and five I realized it described how anxiety feels. I am grateful that David was able to share his heart with God and thousands of years later, many us, if not all, can relate.

My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking.
Psalms 55:4‭-‬5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.55.4-5.NLT

Anxiety can be felt in your chest as it pounds to the beat of stress and sorrow. Anxiety can be a lump in the throat, making it hard to swallow the fear that does not want to submit and go away. Anxiety can be pain, stress, and fear boiling and rising in the pit of the stomach.  Anxiety can be sweat and chills with tension and rapid eye blinks. Anxiety can be in the trembles of the body and the mind wandering a mile a minute with a plague of worries and thoughts. Anxiety can be in the avoidance of necessary activities in life or sometimes stepping out on faith in moments while having a desire to run and hide, costing you freedom and joy. Anxiety can be the mind stuck in the past or stuck in the future. Anxiety can feel like death is following, and no one can help or understand. Anxiety can feel like a death sentence as well as a life sentence. But God…

There is hope. And we are anxiety fighters. Thanks to God we can take one day at a time and fight through. We can develop courage and joy because the joy of the Lord will be our strength. We can learn about ourselves, how to endure, and learn to see ourselves the way God does. We can heal and grow, and many of us will receive the deliverance from the spirit of fear because God did not give us a spirit of fear, but that of power, love and a sound mind.

But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me. Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Psalms 55:16‭-‬18‭, ‬22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.55.16-22.NLT

God is our safe place. God can and will sustain us. God cares about us and is concerned about everything that concerns us. God hears our cries and collects our tears. He is the answer to our problems. He loves us greater than anyone ever can. Jesus is a testament to His love for us. God reminds us to not fear. He is with us and He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is a present help in the time of trouble.

Let us ask God where we have not been trusting Him. Let us take a deep breath and rest in the God who loves us beyond measure and wants us to receive the life and life to the full He came to give us. Share with Him, like David, the contents of our hearts. And let us remember how good God has been and worship Him through the good times and bad, the certainties and doubts, and anxiety.

Be encouraged, loves. We are anxiety fighters.

Have you gotten your copy of Bring It To The Surface Poetry & Journal?