I have suffered from anxiety for years. How do I overcome this? I worry about everything bad that can happen, even things that are not very likely.
Well there are two kinds of causes of anxiety. One is psycho-emotional (which manifests in the physical) and the other purely physical (which has no psycho-emotional cause). The one you are describing is of the first cause.
What you are describing is a common problem usually with people who in the bottom line have issues trusting God. Whatever one allows themselves to dwell on in their thought life produces and emotional response. This form of possibility thinking (90% of which never happens, right?) is the "way" of those who do not have GOd or just babies in the Spirit (for the Spirit of God is not a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind). Now since over 90% of what you get anxious about is based on what you allow yourself to think on andit never comes to pass then what we have is a problem with F-alse E-vidence A-ppearing R-eal but because you practice continuing to allow thinking on these things they produce this F.E.A.R. or anxiety.
Now here is a key (use it). YOU ARE NOT YOUR MIND NOR DO YOU HAVE TO BE THE UNWILLING VICTIM OF IT. YOU HAVE A MIND AND ARE THE BOSS (if it be that you have the Holy Spirit)...therefore I am going to give you a couple of hints of how you can transform yourself by the renewing of your mind...
1. Pay attention...what thought processes, topics, imaginings result in anxiety?
2. Once you know, catch the thinking process earlier and earlier in the downward spiral and stop yourself. Say no to your mind...as Paul would say, put your mind OFF of some things and purposely intentionally put your mind ON other things...
3. Cast down imaginations that exalt themselves against Christ (who would walk in the truth) and bring them into obedience (you do this...practice makes perfect)
4. Whatsoever is good, virtuous, etc., think in these things (on purpose...putting your mind off the anxiety producing mental scenarios...rebuking those anxiety producing thoughts, declaring them sin...and putting your mind on other things...I recommend affirming for your mind Whose you are, who you are in Christ, what is yours in Christ, etc.,)
5. Gird up the loins of your mind (your mind has loins...but you know that because you also go there)...put on the girdle of truth...(John 17:17)...the girdle in a soldier garb held together and controlled the free flapping outer garment...this outer garment is like our personality in the world so this process of girding the mind will also have a positive effect on your outward person...your truer inner form (of the Spirit) will become more apparent outwardly...
This is just the beginning of what 100% effectual advice the Bible has in this regard
Physiologically the bio based anxiety problems are problems with the "Autonomic Nervous System". The two responses of the ANS balance the two inner attitudes of relaxation, calmness, etc., and excitement, fight, flight, fright...In most cases when one gets too reactionary or too excited when the alarming situation is over the parasympathetic side kicks in and brings us back to calm but in some people the sympathetic side goes haywire or turns on with our being qued from events in the outer world...
Now unbeknownst to your self you are queing up the sympathetic response by allowing yourself to dwell on these thoughts...stop them as soon as they begin...you have no proof or evidence...you are imagining possibilities...
Finally, prayer and meditation ques the parasympathetic response which is what you want so do this more...
brother Paul