Overcoming Anxiety for a Radically Free Life in Christ

What if the anxiety you carry every day is not who you are but a temptation you were never created to bear alone? 

Jim and Meghan sit down with Dr. Jillian Hawks to explore what it truly means to move from managing anxiety to healing from it. Drawing from her personal journey through breast cancer, burnout, and a renewed encounter with God, Jillian shares how surrendering her work to Christ transformed her practice and her own heart. With honesty and hope, she points every family toward the radical peace that is fully available through daily relationship with the Lord.

What’s in this episode:

• The difference between managing anxiety and truly healing from it
• Jillian's story of burnout, breast cancer, and being called back to God
• The dangers of becoming a "checklist Catholic" and losing depth in faith
• Why anxiety is a temptation to resist, not an identity to accept
• The surrender prayer and how to personalize it throughout your day
• Anxiety as an invitation to run to the Lord rather than carry it alone
• The light bulb moment when clients discover they were not created to be anxious
• The distinction between shame and guilt in the healing process
• Simple strategies: surrender prayer, daily walks, good nutrition, and rest
• The Little Way of St. Therese as a foundation for spiritual and mental wellness
• One resource every Catholic family should know: Catholictherapists.com
• Book she is currently reading: I Believe in Love by Jean C. J. d'Elbée
• Advice to her younger self: Discover and embrace the concept of surrender
• Final wisdom for listeners: Embrace the little way and trust that God is in control

Resources Mentioned:

Catholictherapists.com – Directory to find Catholic therapists searchable by state

Catholic Familyland – Faith-based family camp and retreat center near Steubenville, Ohio

I Believe in Love by Jean C. J. d'Elbée – A personal retreat based on the Little Way of St. Therese

@thecatholictherapist on Instagram – Jillian's platform for Catholic mental wellness

Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.