Finding Your True Identity: You Are Not Your Anxiety
Has there ever been a title given to you, a word spoken over you, or even a thought that took root — one that felt so true you began to see yourself through it?
Maybe you’ve been feeling worried and restless, your mind racing at night, and you finally decide to reach out for help. You go to a doctor or therapist, and you’re told, “You have anxiety.” And in that moment, something clicks. It makes sense. You finally have language for what you’ve been feeling, and it feels like relief — that’s me.
Or maybe the label sounds more like a compliment. Your boss thanks you for always staying late, for being reliable and dependable, for going the extra mile. You feel proud and grateful, because that description fits. You like being that person — the one other’s can count on.
Or perhaps your identity feels wrapped up in what you do. When someone asks who you are, you answer with your title or career: I’m a therapist. I’m a teacher. I’m a nurse. I’m a parent.
At first, these words might simply describe you — your work, your experiences, your strengths. But over time, they can start to sound more like identity statements. It shifts from this is something I experience, or this is something I do to this is who I am.
What begins as a description slowly becomes a definition.
When Labels Become Definitions
It happens quietly, almost without us realizing it.
Every one of us has found ourselves clinging to a label, a title, or a role that seemed to make sense of who we are. Sometimes it starts innocently—a compliment, a diagnosis, or even a calling that feels deeply meaningful. But when those things begin to define us, they can start to shape the way we think, feel, and act in ways we don’t always notice.
Take the example of that compliment at work. Your boss praises you for being dependable, for staying late, for always giving your best. Those qualities are good. In fact, Scripture tells us to “work heartily, as for the Lord.” Working with integrity and excellence reflects God’s character. But when being reliable becomes who you are, not just something you do, it can start to create fear and pressure.
Maybe you have plans one evening, but your boss asks you to stay late. Suddenly, you feel torn. If I don’t stay, am I still dependable? Will they be disappointed? What happens if I say no? That internal tension can turn into anxiety, guilt, or even resentment, all because your sense of self is tied to maintaining that image.
The same can happen with mental health diagnoses. When we begin to see anxiety, depression, ADHD—or any struggle—as part of who we are rather than what we experience, it can quietly limit our capacity to grow. If anxiety is who I am, then it doesn’t make much sense to work through it. But if anxiety is something I experience, then there’s space for healing, for learning new tools, and for growth.
When identity becomes fused with our struggles or our strengths, it not only limits us emotionally—it can also distance us spiritually. Scripture tells us that we are made in the image of God, and throughout His Word, He reminds us who we truly are: chosen, loved, redeemed, and made new. When we begin to find our identity in anything that doesn’t align with what God says about us, we’re accepting a distortion—a lie about our worth and our purpose.
If your identity rests in being “the reliable friend,” what happens on the days when you can’t show up? Maybe you feel guilty for needing rest, or worried about letting someone down. Maybe you fear that saying “no” makes you less dependable—less you.
That’s how even something positive can quietly become a burden. When we root our worth in a label—good or bad—we risk building our identity on something fragile and shifting instead of something eternal and true.
If God is stirring something in your heart, and you are ready to start untangling these thoughts from your true identify in Christ, reach out today to start Christian mental health counseling.
A Clarifying Truth
None of this means that mental health diagnoses aren’t real or that they don’t matter. Anxiety, depression, ADHD—these are very real experiences that deserve understanding, compassion, and care. Therapy, medication, and evidence-based treatment all have a valuable place in helping you heal and live with greater freedom.
What I am saying is that your diagnosis is not who you are.
It may describe what you’ve been feeling, but it does not define your identity.
You are not your anxiety.
You are not the sum of your experiences.
You are not limited by what others have said about you.
You are who God says you are—created in His image, loved without condition, and called by name.
Your diagnosis may explain part of your story, but it is not your whole story.
Letting Go of False Labels
Letting go of these identities can feel scary — like stepping into unfamiliar territory without a map. But when you loosen your grip on what’s false, you make space for what’s true. You begin to walk in the freedom of who you were always meant to be.
If you find yourself unsure of where to start, that’s okay. You don’t have to untangle this alone. Christian mental health counseling can be a safe space to explore the words, beliefs, and experiences that have shaped how you see yourself — and to begin replacing them with truth.
If you’re ready to let go of old labels and root your identity in truth, I would be honored to walk with you. Reach out now to start Christian mental health counseling.
Who God Says You Are
So if your identity isn’t found in labels, roles, or diagnoses, what is it rooted in? What does God actually say about who you are?
You are a beloved child of God (1 John 3:1).
You are chosen, redeemed, and made new (Ephesians 1:4–7; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
You are equipped with His strength, not your own (Philippians 4:13).
You were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
You were never meant to carry the weight of false labels or distorted identities. God did not give you a spirit of fear or shame — He gave you “a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
When your identity rests in who He says you are, everything begins to shift. You start to see yourself through a different lens — one shaped by truth, not titles. You are not defined by your anxiety, your past, or your pain. You are not what others have called you.
You are who God says you are:
Chosen (Ephesians 1:4)
Loved (Romans 8:38–39)
Redeemed (Colossians 1:13–14)
Forgiven (1 John 1:9)
Set apart (1 Peter 2:9)
Created for good works (Ephesians 2:10)
Fully known and deeply loved (Psalm 139:1–14)
That doesn’t mean anxiety, sadness, or worry are imaginary. It means they are experiences — not definitions of who you are. They are things you feel — a cluster of symptoms you experience — but they are not who you are.
God’s truth about you stands steady, even when your emotions feel uncertain. You were designed with purpose, called by name, and invited to walk in freedom.
When you begin to believe that, healing takes on a new depth. It’s no longer just about managing symptoms — it’s about remembering who you already are in Christ. When your identity is grounded in that truth, even the way you respond to life begins to change. For example, you might still say yes to helping that coworker who needs support — but your “yes” comes from a different place. Instead of being driven by fear of what others might think if you say no, or worry that no one else will step up, you’re acting from the overflow of God’s love within you. You’re choosing to help not because you feel obligated or anxious, but because you feel called. Because your identity is no longer built on fear, it’s built on truth.
When your identity rests in who God says you are, your actions shift from striving to overflow. You begin to live from a place of security, not scarcity — from peace, not pressure.
A Place for Prayer
Jesus, King Jesus, Lord Jesus, thank you for not seeing me the way I see myself. Thank you for telling me who I am so that I don’t have to wonder. Father, as I move through today, would You help me see the things I have placed my identity in and even more so Father would You remind me who You say that I am. Would You remind me who You say that I am and help me to believe it, help me to live like I know that your word is true. Father thank You for who You are, I can’t wait to walk this day out with You and see what You have in store. In Jesus name, amen
A Gentle Invitation
The next time you catch yourself saying, I am anxious, I am broken, or I am not enough, pause.
Ask yourself: is this who I truly am — or something I’ve picked up along the way?
You don’t have to carry every label that’s been handed to you. You are not your diagnosis. You are not your mistakes. You are not the lies that were spoken over you.
You are more.
You are deeply loved.
And your identity is secure in the One who made you.
If you’re ready to start rediscovering who that is, your journey toward healing can begin today.
Let’s walk this path together.
Sarah Theimer, LPC, CCTP-II is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional serving adults across Virginia through virtual therapy. She specializes in anxiety, trauma, and faith-based counseling, integrating evidence-based care with Biblical truth. At Breakthrough Mental Health Counseling, Sarah helps clients move from overwhelm to clarity as they rediscover who God says they are.