At first, I thought it was a stomach bug. I kept wondering, What did I eat? But then 24 hours passed, and my heart started racing. My cheeks flushed. And suddenly, my mind was flooded with dark, intrusive thoughts…about myself, my marriage, my life. They were heavy, scary, and constant. The “what ifs” felt endless.
I’m someone who thrives on control, so the fact that I couldn’t rein it in only made things worse. Over the next two weeks, it happened again and again. Sleepless nights, overwhelming thoughts, and a body that felt like it was on high alert for no reason. One morning, I was out walking my dog, hoping some fresh air would help. And then it hit me: This is anxiety. But why now? I’ve never been “an anxious person.” What was going on?
I might be struggling with anxiety and not even know it.
We’re in the middle of a really tough season, the kind where it feels like the whole world is working against us. It’s like playing emotional whack-a-mole: I focus on one problem, and suddenly four more pop up out of nowhere. The stress feels nonstop. And what I’ve come to realize is this – anxiety is often your body’s response to prolonged pressure. I’ve dealt with stress before, but this season is different. My body is responding in ways I’ve never experienced. And for me, that response looks like anxiety. Loud, unexpected, and incredibly overwhelming.
Here are some signs that you might be struggling with anxiety that I personally have dealt with recently…
- You lie in bed exhausted, but your mind won’t stop racing with worst-case scenarios.
- You snap at your spouse over little things – dishes, tone of voice, clutter – but it’s really about deeper fears.
- You have stomach issues (say hello to nausea, butterflies, bloating, or sudden trips to the bathroom) 🫣
- You assume the worst about your spouse’s tone, silence, or text – and then shut down or lash out.
- You keep checking your calendar, phone, or email – even though nothing urgent is happening.
- You struggle to enjoy sex or affection because your mind is too busy running through to-do lists or fears.
- You have muscle tension, especially in your shoulders, neck, or jaw (I notice that I clench my teeth).
- You micromanage everything (finances, schedules, parenting decisions) because anxiety thrives on control.
- You cancel plans last minute because the idea of showing up feels overwhelming.
- You get defensive quickly, because anxiety makes everything feel like a personal attack.
Anxiety is overwhelming because it’s a liar, and a convincing one. It whispers that you’re not safe, even when you are. It tells you that you’re failing, that you’re too much, or not enough, or somehow both at the same time. It convinces you that you’re the only one who feels this way, and that no one would understand if you tried to explain. And the more you try to silence it, the louder it gets. But here’s the truth: you are not alone. You are not broken. And you’re not powerless. Anxiety doesn’t get the final say, especially when you have tools, support, and a plan to fight back.
If this sounds like you, or you’re reading this and thinking, “Wow, Meygan really gets me”, you’re not alone. Anxiety is real, but it’s not the end of your story. You can learn how to calm your mind and body. That’s exactly why I created this WORKSHEET.
It’s a simple, instant download with grounding tools you can use anywhere – at home, in the car, in a tense conversation. I met with an anxiety specialist to help me overcome this and I put all of the techniques she taught me into this worksheet. It’s helping so many people and I hope it helps you too!
You don’t have to spiral. You don’t have to stay stuck. (I keep telling myself this over and over again and it works) 😊
There is hope. And you can start calming down and feeling more peace right now.
[DOWNLOAD THIS WORKSHEET HERE]
Written by Meygan Caston
Meygan Caston is the co-founder of Marriage365 and lives in sunny Southern California with her husband Casey, their two children, and dog Hobie. She loves her family, the beach, writing, spa days, and helping couples connect in their marriage. Her life long dream is to live with the Amish for a month, walk the Camino, and have lunch with Brené Brown.
