100 Positive Affirmations for Anxiety Relief

When your teen feels distressed, it can sometimes feel impossible to calm down quickly. Fortunately, there are simple and accessible ways to calm the mind and body—positive affirmations for anxiety.

Telling oneself everything will be okay may seem banal, but they’re surprisingly effective for relieving stress and exercising a healthy mindset. Whether your teen suffers from an anxiety disorder or is experiencing a tough time at school, these daily affirmations for anxiety can make an unexpected difference.

What are Affirmations, and How Do They Help with Anxiety?

Affirmations are positive phrases that can directly influence how you feel. A study on Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) found that replacing worrisome thoughts with positive ones reduced anxious responses over time [*].

In addition, positive affirmations can improve your teen’s emotional health by:

• Decreasing stress
• Boosting moods
• Increasing confidence
• Reducing fear
• Encouraging optimism
• Providing motivation

There is no correct way to use affirmations. Teens can use them by:

• Writing them down in accessible places like a commonplace notebook, sticky notes on their desk, or their mobile device
• Recording them to play back throughout the day
• Focusing on one affirmation and repeating it until calm
• Choosing several declarations and repeating them throughout the day

100 Positive Affirmations for Anxiety

Positive affirmations can prove wondrous benefits for kids and teens suffering from anxiety—they can counter negative thoughts, become more resilient, and learn to focus on moving forward. Here are 100 positive affirmations to help alleviate anxious thoughts.

Calming Affirmations for Anxiety

The first step to reframing anxious thoughts is to reach a calming state. Paired with these calm-down strategies for kids, you can practice these calming affirmations together:

1. I am safe and protected in this moment.
2. I am in control of my thoughts and emotions.
3. I breathe in peace, and I exhale tension.
4. Anxiety is just a feeling, and I can choose to let it go.
5. I trust in my ability to improve my state of mind.
6. At this moment, I am relaxed.
7. I release the need to worry about things beyond my control.
8. Every breath I take fills me with calm and serenity.
9. I am worthy of love, happiness, and inner peace.
10. There is support and understanding all around me.
11. I am resilient.
12. I am grateful for the present moment and all its blessings.
13. I choose to focus on positive thoughts and let go of negativity.
14. I am gentle with myself during times of anxiety.
15. I am at ease with uncertainty; it’s a natural part of life.
16. I deserve to take time for self-care and relaxation.
17. I release tension from my body and mind with each deep breath.
18. I am open to seeking help and support when I need it.
19. I attract calm and peace around me.
20. I am worthy of inner peace and cultivate it with love and compassion.
21. My mind and my body are quiet.
22. I do not allow disruptive thoughts to disturb my peace.
23. I am in a state of equilibrium.
24. I do not give anyone permission to disturb my peace.
25. Every cell in my body has a positive vibration.

Confidence-Boosting Affirmations for Anxiety

Anxiety causes adolescents to doubt themselves and their capabilities, making them unsure of how to move forward. They can learn to become cheerleaders for themselves with these affirmations:

1. I deserve to feel better about myself and my capabilities.
2. I can overcome the obstacles in my way.
3. I have what I need within me to succeed.
4. I don’t need validation from others to know I am worthy.
5. I am in control of my emotions and how I choose to proceed.
6. Each challenge is an opportunity to grow.
7. Every day, I become a better version of myself.
8. It’s okay to fail because I am on the road to success.
9. I am stronger than I anticipated.
10. It’s okay to feel afraid—one day, I’ll overcome this fear.
11. I embrace my flaws and imperfections.
12. I can let go of my insecurities.
13. I am a good person—I deserve respect.
14. I don’t need to overanalyze. I take what is in front of me at face value.
15. I see myself walking confidently into every situation.
16. Every day is a chance to shine.
17. I have not failed if I have done my best.
18. I am motivated to become the best version of myself.
19. My destiny is in my hands.
20. I can overcome mental blocks and negative thoughts about myself.
21. Today, I am prepared for success, love, and happiness.
22. I am capable of attracting daily abundance.
23. I am my best source of motivation—I don’t need anyone to tell me otherwise.
24. I am open to limitless possibilities.
25. I attract miracles.

Resilience-Building Affirmations for Anxiety

Anxiety can make it tough to bounce back from difficult situations. But every child and teenager is capable of grit and tenacity. Unlock these abilities with the following affirmations for resilience-building:

1. I am a survivor.
2. I can rewrite my story.
3. I can defeat the odds, whatever they are.
4. I am flawed, but I am not broken.
5. My scars are my armor.
6. I may only sometimes succeed, but I will keep going.
7. I deserve the outcomes I want to achieve.
8. I am committed to achieving my purpose.
9. I surrender any feelings of being overwhelmed.
10. I am focused on my vision and work hard daily to achieve that.
11. Everywhere I look, I see an opportunity to become stronger and wiser.
12. As I allow abundance into my life, more doors open for me.
13. I am a powerful creator. My life is in my hands.
14. I choose positivity every day.
15. I am open to new and beautiful changes.
16. I am completely in charge of my thoughts.
17. Within me, there is a glorious and dynamic energy.
18. I am confident in my life plan and accept that sometimes, things change.
19. My past does not dictate my future.
20. I am more than my mistakes.
21. Things are going according to plan. If they change, I am ready to accept a new path.
22. I radiate confidence.
23. All my problems have solutions—I just have to find them.
24. I face challenging situations with confidence and tenacity.
25. Confidence comes naturally to me.

Self-Compassion Affirmations for Anxiety

Self-compassion can be challenging for a child or teenager to achieve, especially when they are exposed to peer pressure and social media. However, being harsh with oneself doesn’t have to spell permanent consequences. With these affirmations, teens can embrace themselves for merely existing:

1. I do not need to change to love myself.
2. I forgive myself for my past mistakes.
3. I am ready to let go of what no longer serves me.
4. I embrace myself as I am.
5. I am perfectly imperfect.
6. I do not have anything to prove to myself.
7. I am as kind to myself as I am to others.
8. I am enough because I am me.
9. I do not have to earn my self-worth.
10. The universe has my back.
11. Even when times are tough, I am patient with myself.
12. I make healthy decisions that allow me to grow and flourish.
13. I practice self-compassion by nourishing my body with sleep, exercise, and healthy foods.
14. I am in control of the power to change my mindset.
15. I listen to what my mind, body, and spirit need.
16. I can change how I choose to treat myself.
17. I honor my needs by taking the time to rest.
18. I nourish self-love and acceptance every single day.
19. I accept the best and worst aspects of myself.
20. Every day, I thank myself for being who I am.
21. I celebrate my unique qualities.
22. I am free to make the decisions that are best for me.
23. I am my biggest supporter.
24. I am doing the best I can, and that is enough.
25. I am worthy of the love and respect I give others.

Tips for Incorporating Affirmations for Anxiety in Your Daily Routine

The best way to incorporate self-affirmations for anxiety is to use them consistently and with intent. Some other tips for making positive affirmations part of daily life include:

• Committing to a positive change: A growth mindset enables teens to learn from their mistakes and take accountability for their actions without punishing themselves. Using affirmations with growth mindset practices teaches adolescents the art of self-forgiveness.
• Knowing the values and attitudes necessary for society: When teens familiarize themselves with values like honesty, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, and courage, they can become more compassionate toward themselves. Use these character education posters to teach different values and attitudes.
• Understanding triggers: Identifying triggers can help teens understand what they need most in a specific situation. Use this anxiety triggers worksheet to navigate what makes your teen feel anxious and overwhelmed.

The Bottom Line

Anxiety doesn’t go away overnight, but eliminating negative chatter through anxiety affirmations is the first step toward healing.

Combining affirmations for anxiety with our collection of worksheets makes for a structured learning process for families, caretakers, and adolescents.