Use these affirmations to calm down the mind, feel more confident, and heal anxiety
I have created a list of sixty affirmations that will help you deal with negative thoughts, emotions, or feelings. I have divided them in three groups: affirmations for anxiety in general, social anxiety, and panic attacks.
Though the list will help you improve your mental health, it’s important that you ask for help if you are suffering from any mental disorder that affects your life. An experienced therapist can help you discover and become aware of your thoughts and feelings, so you can heal them. So once again, don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Before you read the affirmations, let’s have a look at what they are, how they work, and why some people may not see results. This is a proven technique, so if done properly, it will definitely help you change your mindset. It’s important that you learn and understand how this works, so you can get it right.
At the end of this article you’ll also find a link to download the full list of these affirmations, so you can read them whenever you want.
What are affirmations, and how do they work?
Affirmations are positive statements designed to not only inspire you, but also change your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Affirmations could be very specific (for example, “I am able to feel calm even when I am at work”) or more general (such as “I am confident”).
In short, affirmations can be used to brainwash yourself (in a good way, of course). Because our subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between reality and imagination, you can change the way it operates by simply repeating certain affirmations over and over.
You could say your affirmations out loud, read them, or write them down. Ideally you want to do this early in the morning or just before bed: when you are not fully alert, it’s easier to condition your mind.
Some people believe this process doesn’t really work, so let’s have a look at some of the reasons affirmations may not work for you.
Three reasons why affirmations may not work
First of all, if you decide to try this out, it has to become a habit. You need to say or read your affirmations every single day, not just once in a while. It takes time to condition the brain — in the beginning, your mind won’t even listen, but the more you do this, the more your mind will simply accept whatever you imagine as the truth.
The second reason this may not work is if you say or read the affirmations the wrong way. If you are not focused; if you don’t use the affirmations with great emotional intensity; if you read them quickly, as if you were reading an information leaflet, then chances are they won’t work. You need to concentrate and really believe what you are saying.
Finally, if there’s any negative emotions linked to some or all your affirmations, your subconscious mind won’t accept them. For example, if you say you want to be a different person, but part of you is afraid you will lose your current friends if that happens, your subconscious won’t be able to decide what to do, and what to feel.
Affirmations for anxiety
- I am calm
- I am strong
- I love myself
- When I have negative thoughts, I ignore them
- Sometimes my mind won’t stop worrying, but it’s okay: I am not my mind
- I may feel anxious right now, but I will feel better within a couple minutes
- Anxiety is normal
- I focus on what makes me feel calm and happy
- I focus on the present moment
- I can’t control everything
- When I am anxious, I may have cold hands, or stomach discomfort, or any other symptom: it’s normal
- I relax my body
- I make sure my posture is optimal
- I make sure I breathe slowly
- I may not be able to control all my thoughts, but I can still ignore them
- Change can happen in an instant
- Everything will be alright
- I don’t give in to darkness
- I attract positive energy
- I have dealt with this before, I am not afraid
Affirmations for social anxiety
- I am confident
- People are good
- I deserve the company of others
- I deserve to connect with others
- I deserve love
- I am not my past
- My past doesn’t define me
- I may have been anxious in social situations in the past, but now I’m a different person
- I enjoy being around other people
- I relax; I take it easy
- I like the environment I am in
- When I meet new people, I may feel a bit anxious; it’s okay
- I don’t need to be perfect
- I’ll be alright no matter what happens
- People appreciate me for who I am
- Being an introvert/extrovert is amazing
- I can be myself
- I don’t need to talk all the time
- I am like everyone else
- Other people love me
- I improve my social skills every day
Affirmations for panic attacks
- This may be uncomfortable, but it’s not dangerous
- Everything is okay
- It’s impossible to die
- It’s impossible to go crazy
- This is temporary, and will go away very soon
- I breathe in, and breathe out
- When I (…), my heart may beat faster; it’s normal
- When I (…), I may feel a bit anxious; it’s normal
- After I (…), I may feel exhausted; it’s normal
- I may not be able to control some of my symptoms, but I can control how I breathe
- Panic attacks are very common: I’ll be alright
- I have dealt with this before, it’s nothing serious
- I accept my feelings
- I am not my feelings
- Panic attacks are short, this one is almost over
- I am safe
- Nothing can happen to me
- I have the strength to go through anything
- The Universe (or God, or whatever you believe in) protects me
So there you have it! I hope this list will help you deal with any negative thoughts or feelings you may experience in the future.
You can choose to use all of them, or only a handful, but remember: read them every day, and with great intensity. Your mind has to believe what you read, otherwise it won’t work.
You can download the full list of the sixty affirmations here:
