Whereas in the case of anxiety the specific cause may not always be so obvious which in itself then tends to exacerbate the anxious state because the person suffering from the anxiety doesn't know what is causing it. In general terms we can look at stress as being a more generic type of mental and emotional state of lesser intensity where the person experiencing the stress often has a reasonably good idea of the cause. In the case of anxiety there is a build up of mental and emotional stress usually in relation to a specific, though often unknown, cause.
Excessive emotional disturbances such as grief generalized worry and fear as well as physical conditions such as hypoglycemia, hypoadrenia and an overactive thyroid are just some physical conditions that can lead to increased levels of stress.
Irrespective of what the specific causes are in effectively treating stress and anxiety the cause does need to be found. This is not always easy but a good place to start is mapping out your symptoms and making note of the situations and circumstances that are associated with high levels of stress and the occurrence of your anxiety attacks.
Once the cause of the stress and anxiety has been uncovered finding someone who you can talk to openly about your specific issue is often advised. Whether that person be a professional therapist, a support group or simply someone who you can talk things out with, finding someone to talk with and work out some solutions that are appropriate, and most importantly that you will follow through with, is often the best form of self help in these situations.
Whatever treatment you choose for your anxiety you must also make sure that how you live day to day supports that treatment. Proper sleep and rest, adequate nutrition and regular exercise will support whatever therapeutic approach you are taking.
Sometimes the levels of stress and anxiety bring the sufferer to breaking point in which case self help techniques are often not enough. If you or someone you know begins to experience severe physical symptoms or suicidal self destructive thoughts you must seek urgent medical attention. Self help techniques may still be able to help you but in a more supportive rather than a primary role.
Your brain is a collection of wires that require a good flow of energy through them, to function well. Under any stress or anxiety situation your energy levels drop or accelerate. This will create a change in your ‘brain wiring’, resulting in possible malfunction.
Notice when you are under stress … decisions are harder to make, you seem to make more errors in tasks that are usually performed simply or even automatically.
Stress and anxiety are creatures that can actually increase stress and anxiety, just because of their effect on your brain and its’ functions.
Can you see the problem developing?
Have you noticed that you are always asked to make important decisions when the stress and anxiety levels are peaking? You have had that big meeting, the problems are on the table, the stress and anxiety levels in each participant are high … and then they say “Okay Jones … make a decision".
Do you really think the decision you make will be a good one? The anxiety and stress have scrambled your brain and the parts of the problem will be confused and unsettled. The information blurred and your decision has a good chance of being incorrect … or at least not as good as it could be.
Your creative flare is dead, the analytical brain can’t analyze correctly and as a result your stress an anxiety levels will go even higher.
And now … can you see the answer?
There are times that you need to make a decision in the heat of the moment. There will be meetings, deadlines and other times when the stress and anxiety levels will be high … and you will be asked to make a decision. Your creative thoughts, your analytical mind and your decisive brain will be tested.
The answer to the problem is this …
If you want to make better decisions, to increase your creative flare, to be able to analyze facts and figures and come up with the correct answers … you need to be stress and anxiety free.
You need to use ways to eliminate stress and anxiety before the stressful meetings etc occur. It is the day to day small things you do that make the biggest changes.
You should plan each day to remove stress and anxiety from your life. Take breaks, have more fun, use techniques to eliminate stress now … then you will be ready for the larger more stressful times.
Stress and anxiety relief is no different to a fitness program. If you want to run a marathon you do not expect to wait until the event to be able to run it. You train for months or even years to gain the fitness so when you turn up and run a marathon … it is not too hard on your body or mind. You actually enjoy it.
Stress and anxiety are the same. If you gain a stress and anxiety fitness by doing techniques each day (only for a few minutes each day) then you will build up a resistance to all the anxiety and stress events in your life.
Then and only then will those deadlines, meetings, decision times, or creative brainstorms … be done with the calm and poise you need to make the ideal decisions or answers. Anxiety and stress will not affect your abilities or decisions.
Both Serge Taylor & Graeme Teague are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Serge Taylor has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cure Anxiety. can be accomplished quickly and easily. To discover how to totally. Serge Taylor's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.
Graeme Teague has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stress Management, Cure Anxiety and Mental Health. Dr Graeme Teague is an expert on stress and the affects it has on health. His unique and fresh views on anxiety, depression and stress are a welcome change. To learn more about anxiety and how you can eliminate it - just visit .... Graeme Teague's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.