26| Faith Over Fear: Real Talk About Mental Health for Women | featuring Caris Snider

Book a FREE Anchored Insights Discussion: 

https://calendly.com/melissa-anchoredwithpurpose/45min 

 In this heartfelt episode of the Anchored with Purpose podcast, Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Caris Snider, speaker, coach, and author of the Anxiety Elephants book series. Together, they dive into an honest conversation about anxiety, motherhood, faith, and how sharing our stories leads to healing.

Caris vulnerably shares her personal journey through anxiety—how she masked her pain, the moment she broke down, and the power of finally asking for help. You'll hear how God met her in the middle of the mess, how writing became a tool of healing for both her and her readers, and why it’s essential to teach our children to name and process their emotions too.

If you’ve ever felt alone in your anxiety or unsure how to help your children with theirs, this episode will bring you encouragement, practical tools, and the reminder that you are never alone. Healing is possible—and it starts with vulnerability, faith, and community.

Connect with Caris:

Website: https://www.carissnider.com/ 

FREE Coping Skills Calendar: https://www.carissnider.com/subscribe 

Books: https://www.carissnider.com/books 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carissnider/# 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• You are not alone—many women silently struggle with anxiety.
  
  
• Vulnerability opens the door to healing and deeper connection.
  
  
• Sharing your story can empower someone else to speak up.
  
  
• Faith plays a crucial role in managing anxiety and finding purpose.
  
  
• Children benefit from learning how to name, feel, and process big emotions.
  
  
• Community and asking for help are powerful tools for healing.
  
  
• Comparison (especially on social media) can trigger anxiety.
  
  
• Simple tools like breathing, grounding, and gratitude can shift your mindset.
  
  
• Mess doesn’t mean failure—it’s part of the process.
  
  

📌 Practical Tips from Caris:

• Try deep breathing exercises to calm your nervous system.
  
  
• Practice grounding techniques when anxiety feels overwhelming.
  
  
• Drink water—hydration impacts your brain and mood.
  
  
• Replace comparison with gratitude journaling.
  
  
• Teach your kids that emotions are not wrong.
  
  
• Choose progress over perfection—especially in parenting.
  
  

💬 Favorite Quotes (Sound Bites):

• “Sharing is actually right, and it is freeing.”
  
  
• “I was a master of the mask.”
  
  
• “It takes your friendship to another level when you’re real.”
  
  
• “Comparison is a thief—it steals our joy and confidence.”
  
  
• “Children remind us that messiness is okay.”
  
  
• “It’s brave to ask for help—and even braver to model that for our children.”
  
  

🕒 Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Anxiety and Purpose
02:10 – The Struggle of Sharing Personal Stories
06:31 – The Journey to Writing Anxiety Elephants
09:03 – Creating Resources for Kids, Teens & Adults
13:55 – How Faith Anchored Caris Through Anxiety
17:18 – Vulnerability & the Freedom to Be Real
22:41 – Asking for Help: The Turning Point
29:03 – Women, Anxiety & Raising Emotionally-Aware Kids
37:38 – Practical Strategies for Managing Anxiety
42:12 – Finding Hope, Healing, and Purpose in the Struggle

🎯 Keywords:
anxiety, faith and mental health, parenting, children and emotions, women and anxiety, Christian mental health, community support, sharing stories, vulnerability, asking for help, self-care, Christian motherhood, emotional well-being, social media, Christian personal growth, gratitude, coping strategies, Christian women empowerment