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:

• Edith Leland and Intimate Friendship with God
• Jon Fugler and Ditching Performance Christianity
• Christy Boulware and Love That Casts Out Fear

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