How Affirmations Can Help Manage Anxiety (125+ Positive Declarations Included!)

Affirmations have been proven time and time again to work in a variety of situations, whether you’re trying to change your way of thinking, deal with stress, or even develop new habits. But what about using affirmations for anxiety?

If you suffer from anxiety, you may ask this question more than once, especially if you’ve tried other methods that haven’t worked.

I have exciting news for you, fellow anxiety sufferers: Affirmations can be helpful in managing and defeating anxiety by challenging and defeating self-sabotaging thoughts.

According to Psychology Today, repetitive use of affirmations can be thought of as exercise for our mind/brain, and can help us create new neural pathways and weaken existing negative ones.

Healthline reports affirmations can improve mood, boost self-esteem, and help create and reinforce new attitudes and behavior patterns. While affirmations cannot magically erase anxiety, they can be a helpful tool in managing it.

Psych Central suggests that repeating affirmations while practicing deep breathing and/or other relaxation-promoting techniques can ease anxiety and provide a sense of safety and control. 

By using affirmations such as “I am safe and in control” or “With each breath that I take, I am releasing the anxiety I feel,” individuals can question, challenge, and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

By repeating affirmations daily, individuals can build new neural pathways, form new habits and beliefs about themselves, and ultimately reduce anxiety levels.

It is important to note, however, that affirmations alone may not be enough to completely get rid of anxiety, and should be used with other forms of therapy and self-care methods.

But even if used as an anti-anxiety intervention, it can offer incredible stress-busting results.

Optimize the Effectiveness of Positive Affirmations for Anxiety

Before I offer effective affirmations for anxiety, here are five ways to ensure they work optimally:

1. Use positive and present tense affirmations: You should phrase affirmations in the present tense and use positive language. Avoid using negative language, such as “I am not anxious,” which can reinforce the idea of anxiety. Instead, use phrases like “I am calm and in control” or “I am at peace.”
2. Repeat affirmations regularly: Affirmations are most effective when repeated regularly. Incorporate them into your daily routine, such as repeating them in the morning, evening, or right before bed. The more you repeat them, the more they will become ingrained in your subconscious mind.
3. Believe in the affirmations: It’s important to believe in the affirmations you are repeating. If you don’t believe them, they won’t be effective. Choose affirmations that resonate with you and feel true to your experience.
4. Visualize the affirmations: Visualization can enhance the effectiveness of affirmations. Visualize yourself in a calm and relaxed state as you repeat the affirmations. This can help to create a sense of calm and reinforce the positive messages in the affirmations.
5. Combine affirmations with other anxiety-reducing techniques. As mentioned previously, affirmations are most beneficial when used in conjunction with other anxiety-reducing techniques. Try combining affirmations with deep breathing, exercise, meditation, yoga, biofeedback, or any other stress-busting technique. This can help to create a sense of calm and reinforce the positive messages in the affirmations.

50 Short Morning Affirmations for Anxiety

Here are 50 short positive morning affirmations, especially useful for managin anxiety:

1. I am at peace with myself.
2. I am worthy of love and belonging.
3. I am in control of my thoughts and emotions.
4. I trust the universe to guide me.
5. I am capable of overcoming any challenge.
6. I choose to focus on the present moment.
7. I believe in myself and my abilities.
8. I am grateful for all the good in my life.
9. I am surrounded by positivity and light.
10. I am deserving of happiness and success.
11. I am strong and resilient.
12. I am confident in my decisions.
13. I am completely free and safe in my skin.
14. I am open to new opportunities and experiences.
15. I am worthy of respect and kindness.
16. I am loved and appreciated.
17. I am creating a life filled with joy and abundance.
18. I am exactly where I need to be at this moment.
19. I am at peace with the past and excited about the future.
20. I can achieve my goals as I can take risks with wisdom and confidence.
21. I am surrounded by supportive and uplifting people.
22. I am filled with energy and vitality.
23. I am embracing all positive thoughts and emotions.
24. I am embracing change and growth.
25. I am letting go of what no longer serves me.
26. I am loved unconditionally.
27. I am worthy of forgiveness and compassion.
28. I am becoming the best version of myself.
29. I am grateful for all the lessons life has taught me.
30. I am trusting the journey of my life.
31. I am worthy of success and abundance.
32. I am surrounded by love and positive energy.
33. I am safe and protected.
34. I am choosing to see the good in every situation.
35. I am happy beyond measure.
36. I am in tune with my intuition and inner guidance.
37. I am accepting of myself and others.
38. I am grateful for the beauty in the world.
39. I am letting go of judgment and criticism.
40. I am worthy of self-care and self-love.
41. I am a magnet for positivity and joy.
42. I am embracing my unique journey.
43. I am filled with hope and optimism, knowing that any setbacks empower me.
44. I am choosing to be kind to myself and others.
45. I am letting go of control and trusting the process.
46. I am worthy of success and happiness.
47. I am releasing all negative energy from my body and mind.
48. I am confident in my abilities and strengths.
49. I am surrounded by light, abundance, and prosperity.
50. I am grateful for the gift of a new day.

50 Evening Positive Affirmations to Defeat Anxiety

You’ve already selected your favorite morning affirmations for anxiety. Now it’s time to choose among these 50 affirmations to target anxiety in the late afternoon or evening. (Of course, come up with your own affirmations or add to any you select here., if they seem more applicable to your unique situation.)

Here are 50 short evening positive affirmations to help you manage anxiety:

1. I release all the tension and stress of the day.
2. I am grateful for all blessings.
3. I trust everything will work out for my highest good.
4. I am happy, healthy, and completely healed.
5. I am in complete control of my attitude and approach in life.
6. I am worthy of love and belonging.
7. I can overcome any obstacle or challenge.
8. I deserve rest and relaxation.
9. I am at peace with myself and the world.
10. I am surrounded by positivity and peace.
11. I can handle challenges and adversity.
12. I am worthy of forgiveness and compassion.
13. I am grateful for my strengths and success.
14. I am choosing to focus on the present moment.
15. I am worthy of self-care and self-love.
16. I am releasing all the worries and fears of the day.
17. I am embracing the beauty of life.
18. I am surrounded by supportive and uplifting people.
19. I am choosing to see the positives lessons in every situation.
20. I am letting go of control and trusting the journey.
21. I am grateful for the gift of a new day tomorrow.
22. I deserve restful, worry-free sleep.
23. I am releasing all negative energy from my body and mind.
24. I can dream big and envision myself achieving these dreams.
25. I am choosing to be kind to myself and others.
26. I am letting go of judgment and criticism.
27. I am in tune with my intuition and inner guidance.
28. I am confident in my abilities, talents, and strengths.
29. I am embracing change and growth.
30. I am worthy of success and abundance.
31. I am accepting of myself and others.
32. I am becoming the best version of myself.
33. I am focusing on my breath and relaxing my body.
34. I am surrounded by love and positive energy.
35. I am letting go of worry and doubt.
36. I am grateful for the beauty in the world.
37. I am at peace with the past and excited about the future.
38. I am trusting the journey of my life, moving with positive expectation.
39. I am releasing all toxic self-talk.
40. I am surrounded by abundance, prosperity and promise.
41. I am filled with hope and optimism.
42. I am choosing to let go of what no longer serves me.
43. I am grateful for the gift of another day.
44. I am resilient and can bend in the stormy winds of life. 
45. I am embracing my unique journey and continue to learn from mistakes.
46. I am choosing to see the best in myself and others.
47. I am letting go of anger toward myself and others. 
48. I am filled with gratitude and contentment, knowing I'm safe and secure.
49. I am worthy of peace and tranquility.
50. I am releasing all negative energy and thoughts as I prepare for a restful night’s sleep.

Bonus - 25 Positive Affirmations for Depression

Just as they manage anxiety, affirmations can help reduce depression by redirecting negative thought patterns and promoting positive self-talk.

Positive affirmations are not considered a cure for depression, but rather a tool that can help manage depressive symptoms by improving self-image, reducing stress, increasing healthy behavior, and boosting mood.

By practicing affirmations daily, people can train their brain to focus on positive thoughts, which can lead to improved mental health and overall well-being.

Here are 25 powerful affirmations for depression, focusing on getting rid of sadness:

1. I can overcome my sadness and depression.
2. I acknowledge my sadness and allow myself to feel it, knowing that it is a natural part of the human experience.
3. I choose to focus on the positive aspects of my life.
4. I am releasing all negative thoughts and emotions blocking inner contentment.
5. My sadness does not define me, and I am capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions.
6. I am choosing to see the good in every situation.
7. I release any guilt or shame that I may be feeling about my sadness, knowing that it is a natural part of the human experience..
8. I deserve tenderness and empathy, especially from myself.
9. I am in firm control of my thoughts, emotions, and reactions.
10. I am choosing to take care of myself, both physically and mentally.
11. I am grateful for the small things in my life.
12. I am grateful for the lessons that my sadness is teaching me, and I trust that I will emerge from this experience with a greater sense of wisdom and understanding.
13. I am surrounded by love and support, and I am not alone in my sadness.
14. I am choosing to let go of what no longer serves me.
15. I am surrounded by positivity and light.
16. I am full of hope and optimism.
17. I am focusing on my inner strength and resilience.
18. I am worthy of forgiveness and compassion.
19. I am choosing to see the beauty in the world.
20. I trust that this sadness will pass, and I will emerge from it stronger and more resilient.
21. I am embracing change and growth.
22. I am surrounded by abundance and prosperity.
23. I am capable of finding meaning and purpose in my sadness, and I trust that it is leading me towards a greater sense of growth and transformation.
24. I am choosing to be kind to myself and others.
25. I am releasing all sadness and embracing the joy of life.

Final Words on Managing Anxiety Through Affirmations

In conclusion,here are five reasons positive affirmations work to manage anxiety:

1. Positive affirmations can stop negative thought patterns: in their tracks Anxiety is often characterized by negative and self-defeating thoughts. Positive affirmations can help to counterbalance these negative thought patterns by providing positive statements to replace them.
2. Positive affirmations can promote self-compassion: People with anxiety may be overly self-critical and hard on themselves. Affirmations can help to promote self-compassion and kindness, which can reduce feelings of anxiety.
3. Positive affirmations can reduce stress: Repeating positive affirmations can be a form of relaxation and stress reduction. This can help to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension and rapid heartbeat.
4. Positive affirmations can increase feelings of control: Anxiety can induce a sense of helplessness and powerlessness. Affirmations can provide individuals with a sense of power by offering them a way to regulate their thoughts and feelings.
5. Positive affirmations can boost self-confidence: Anxiety can go hand-in-hand with low self-esteem and a severe pessimistic life viewpoint. Repeating positive phrases can help to increase self-confidence and create a better self-image.

Overall, positive affirmations can be a helpful tool in managing anxiety by promoting positive self-talk, reducing stress, and increasing feelings of control and self-confidence.

Positive affirmations are powerful to say on their own, but even more powerful when you say them out loud. Even if you feel you’re not very good at it at first, keep trying—when you say something out loud, it means that your mind is holding onto the words, and therefore holding onto their meaning.

You can make a game out of it: try to notice how many times you catch yourself saying something negative that you want to change; when you do, say the opposite instead. And remember that practice makes progress.

Eventually, those positive affirmations will become second nature and part of your everyday vocabulary.

Continue to expand your positive affirmation practice and see anxiety go by the wayside… or at least diminish its intensity and influence over you.