355: Caris Snider and Hope Over Anxiety

Caris Snider is a speaker, author, coach, and podcaster. Her latest book is There’s an Elephant on My Chest, a picture book for children she wrote to help kids understand what anxiety feels like. Today, Caris shares her story of growing up in a Christian home in the Bible belt feeling like she had to be perfect. Trying to live up to her beliefs led to anxiety and depression until she was willing to accept help. Caris shares with us how she found hope over anxiety and the Lord’s closeness during the process. Caris’ story reminds us that we need community and don’t have to be perfect to be loved.

Listen to Caris’ story in your favorite podcast player today!

Children's Picture Book- There's an Elephant on My Chest

Stories Caris shared:

Overcoming anxiety and helping others
Growing up in Alabama in a Christian family as a twin
Her mom’s example as a prayer warrior
Having to overcome cerebral palsy on the left side of her body
Trying out for cheerleader and not making it
Studying early childhood development
Meeting her husband who was in a Christian boy band
Buying her own childcare center and realizing that it wasn’t for her
The season of uncertainty after giving up the childcare center
Trying to pull herself up by her bootstraps and finding it impossible
Having anxiety attacks with increasing frequency
Trying to numb her pain by not eating
Having a miscarriage and how that affected her
Realizing she had to accept help to get out of her depression
Giving up the idea of perfection for herself
Learning the identities that the Lord has for her
Writing books about anxiety and helping others

Great quotes from Caris:

When I looked up the things I was believing were proven to be lies.

I had to recognize that help was not bad.

I had to stop believing that I had to be perfect to be loved by Him.

Those struggles are real but there is real hope.

Resources we mentioned:

Caris’ website
There’s An Elephant On My Chest by Caris Snider
Car Line Mom Devotional: 100 Days of Encouragement for the Mama Who Gets Everybody Everywhere by Caris Snider

Related episodes:

The post Caris Snider and Hope Over Anxiety appeared first on Eric Nevins.