Guest Post by Rose Folsom, Spiritual Director & Prayer Coach
We’re honored to feature this guest article from Rose Folsom, a spiritual director and prayer coach who specializes in helping women banish anxiety and reconnect with God’s peace. Rose brings a faith-centered perspective that beautifully complements our work here at Lily Counseling.
When Anxiety Takes Over
When we don’t have the tools to handle it, disappointment and frustration can send us into a tailspin of anxiety.
Disappointment and frustration over so many things in our busy lives trigger an onslaught of anxiety—whether it’s a demanding boss, fertility challenges, or a child who won’t listen. The list feels endless.
It’s easy to think, “This is hopeless,” or even “I’m hopeless.”
When anxiety washes over us, it can feel like things will never get better. It can grow to occupy our whole mind and soul, as if it were our entire reality. And if left unchecked, anxiety can even commandeer our future.
The good news? There are simple steps we can take today to reclaim our peace.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural response to a perceived threat. Job interviews, blind dates, or wondering how much that new transmission will cost can bring on shallow breathing, increased heart rate, and less ability to focus.
This is “garden variety anxiety,” and it’s normal. In fact, it can be helpful—spurring us on to do what we need to do.
Chronic anxiety, by contrast, is a persistent feeling of worry and unease that can occur without a specific trigger. It often shows up as:
- self-doubt
- second-guessing even small decisions
- feeling disconnected or isolated
- self-recrimination
Whatever chronic anxiety looks like for you, it usually stems from two things: ruminating about the past or fearing the future.
Did the Saints Have Anxiety?
Yes, even the saints experienced anxiety!
St. Paul wrote to his followers: “There is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28).
His example reminds us that the secret is not to avoid anxiety entirely, but to develop habits of reclaiming our peace when we’re tempted to lose it.
The Virtue That Combats Anxiety: Hope
Virtues are strengths of soul that help us do the right thing when it’s difficult. The virtue that directly combats anxiety is Hope.
Hope is the belief that we are created by God to live with Him forever. It puts all suffering, including the struggles that trigger anxiety, into perspective.
As Paul reminds us: “Since we have such hope, we can act with complete confidence” (2 Corinthians 3:12).
Hope allows us to:
- Remember that suffering will not last forever
- Anticipate the joy of eternal life with God
- Trust that we are deeply precious to the One who created the universe
Do you see how Hope redirects our thoughts away from mistakes of the past and fears of the future—and toward the eternal goodness of God?
Practical Ways to Restore Peace
Yes, there are “quick fixes” we can use in the moment when anxiety tries to take over. These tools calm the body, mind, and soul.
Calm the Body
- Inhale to a count of 4
- Hold for 1
- Exhale to a count of 6
- Hold for 1
- Repeat several times
Calm the Mind
- The past is gone and the future has not arrived—I am grateful for the now
- I am not alone—a trusted guide can help me find peace
- God loved me into being and is guiding and protecting me at every moment
Calm the Soul
Scripture is full of verses that give us hope, such as Jeremiah 29:11:
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”
Begin Again with Hope
Hope is the reason we can begin again when we slip into self-doubt, second-guessing, or self-recrimination.
While Hope requires effort, it offers a profound payoff: freedom from focusing only on ourselves, and renewed trust in God’s guidance. Nourished and strengthened by Hope, we can face difficulties with courage and reclaim peace in our daily lives.
About the Author
Rose Folsom is a convert, Lay Dominican, spiritual director, and prayer coach who helps Catholic women banish anxiety by guiding them to a close connection with God that gives them lasting clarity, confidence, and peace. She does this through her simple 5-step “Success Over Stress” process.
👉 Learn more in her free 60-minute workshop, “Banish Anxiety: 5 Simple Steps to Lasting Peace and Purpose.”
📆 Register here for free.
