When Anxiety Creeps In: How to Stop the Spiral and Take Back Control

Last week, anxiety hit me hard. Self-doubt crept in like an uninvited guest, whispering all the usual questions:

Can I really do this? What am I even doing? Why is this SO hard?

If you’ve ever found yourself in this place—stuck in a loop of overthinking, questioning your worth, and feeling like you’re drowning in uncertainty—know that you’re not alone. We all experience these moments. And the worst part? When we let them spiral, they take over.

The First Step: STOP.

For years, I used to power through these moments. Push the feelings down. Keep going. Hustle harder.

But here’s the thing: your body keeps score.

Ignoring the signals doesn’t make them go away—it only buries them deeper. You know exactly what I'm talking about! Sleepless nights, maybe your appetite disappears - or maybe it shows up in full force and you can't stop shoveling OREOS into your mouth. You have to take action. So now, when anxiety shows up, I do something different: I STOP.

I tune into what’s happening in my body.

Is my jaw clenched? Are my shoulders up to my ears? Is my stomach tied in knots? These physical signs tell me that anxiety isn’t just a passing thought—it’s something deeper that needs my attention. For me, anxiety shows up like a baby elephant sitting on my chest. It wakes me up at night, and whispers things into my ear like "Shouldn't you be doing this... and shouldn't you be doing that..." (ya feel me?)

Step Two: NAME IT.

Once I’ve stopped, I take a moment to identify why this is happening.

Is it fear of failure? Imposter syndrome? The pressure to be perfect?

Naming it gives me power over it. When I can say, “This is my fear of not being good enough showing up again,” I’m no longer at its mercy. I’ve put it in the spotlight, and now, I get to decide what to do next.

When you STOP you are quite literally giving yourself a PATTERN INTERRUPT - and during that PATTERN INTERRUPT you can NAME IT. When you NAME IT - you start to take the power back.

Step Three: ASK & ANSWER.

This is where I get curious.

• Is this thought actually true? (Usually, no.)
• What’s the worst that could happen? (And could I handle it? Yes.)
• Does this thought serve me? (Nope. Time to shift it.)

When we don’t question our anxious thoughts, they run wild. But when we slow down and examine them, they lose their power.

Step Four: PIVOT.

Now comes the best part: the choice to change the story.

Instead of spiraling into, “I’m not good enough,” I pivot to, “I’ve done hard things before, and I will figure this out.” Instead of, “This is too much for me,” I remind myself, “I can take it one step at a time.” Instead of getting stuck, I move forward—intentionally.

The Power of Finishing Strong

Here’s what I know: The stuck moments don’t last forever. They feel permanent, but they’re not. And the way you respond in those moments determines everything.

This is exactly why I built HER Collective—because no woman should have to navigate these moments alone. You need people who will remind you of your strength when you forget. Who will tell you to keep going when you want to quit. Who will pull you back up when doubt tries to take you down.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed, let’s talk. You don’t have to do this alone.

Drop a ?? in the comments if this resonated—or DM me to learn more about HER Collective. ??