When Stress Leads To Anxiety
It is normal to experience anxiety as a result of stress. Many people find that stressful situations trigger any number of physical symptoms. These can include:
• Feeling shaky or strung out
• Increased heart rate
• A dry mouth
• Being tense or wound up
Although these symptoms are normal at times of stress they can become a problem if they get out of control. Anxiety often starts as a result of particular stress – after a relationship breakdown, for example, or as a consequence of being bullied or abused. These symptoms of anxiety can continue even when the particular stressor is no longer present.
A number of people experience sudden, unexpected waves of anxiety which are also known as ‘panic attacks’. During a panic attack some people become so frightened that they are convinced they are going to die or are suffering a heart attack. Others suffer from anxiety in social situations that they find stressful.
Then there are people who find that certain objects, creatures or situations lead to anxiety or panic. This can happen, for example, when they are faced with a spider or find themselves shut in a confined space. When this happens it is known as a phobia.
If anxiety as a result of a stressful situation is a problem for you then the following suggestions will help:
Slow down your breathing. When you are anxious you may feel as if it is hard to breathe so you try to breathe more quickly. This in turn releases chemicals in the brain that makes the anxiety worse. By consciously breathing deeper and slower you will counteract this.
Drink less caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine increases anxiety while alcohol is a depressant. Reducing or eliminating your intake of both will, in turn, reduce or eliminate stress and anxiety.
Take appropriate exercise when you can. Exercise that works your muscles and cardiovascular system is an excellent stress and anxiety buster. You need to perform it at least three times a week in order to see results.
Learn to relax. There are two main ways to relax and these are meditation and conscious relaxation. Both take practice and each should be performed for at least 20 minutes every day. Either find a good teacher or learn the techniques from a book, eBook or DVD.
Talk to someone you trust. Sharing your anxieties with someone close to you can be enormously beneficial. It helps to know that someone else understands how you feel. It is a good idea, though, for the other person to simply allow you to work out what you think is best rather than giving you his or her ideas.
There will always be stress in our lives that can lead to anxiety. The trick is to manage and control it so that it does not lead to distressing symptoms. By making the simple life changes outlined above, you will be well on the road to a stress and anxiety free existence.
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