As Healthline.com describes, “everyone has anxiety from time to time, but chronic anxiety can negatively impact your quality of life.”
Anxiety can come about due to various factors, such as a deficiency, exhaustion, worrying. In this article I would like to focus particularly on worrying.
Worrying
As explained on WebMD, “when worrying becomes excessive, it can lead to feelings of high anxiety and even cause you to be physically ill.”
Worrying is defined as feeling uneasy or being overly concerned about a situation or problem.
Many chronic worriers are described as being ultra sensitive to their environment and to the criticism of others. Excessive worriers may see anything and anyone as a potential threat.
Many people resort to harmful lifestyle habits as a result of their anxiety, such as overeating, cigarette smoking, or using alcohol and drugs. Excessive worry may lead to high anxiety and even a panic attack. You may view my other article on Cause of Panic Attacks for a detailed analysis of anxiety and panic attacks.
Do you have an Anxiety Disorder?
As noted on WebMD, while anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, ongoing anxiety may be the result of a disorder such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or social anxiety. It is reported that anxiety disorders affect nearly 40 million adults in the United States.
If you feel that you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder, it is best that you speak with your health practitioner to determine what the underlying issue could be. For me personally, I don’t feel worrisome in general, but feel great anxiety regarding my job in particular. But if you just feel anxiety in general and you are not certain of the cause, then you may want to get tested for any deficiencies. Dr. Carolyn Dean explains in her
book The Magnesium Miracle (Revised and Updated Edition)
Can Worrying Make Me Sick?
Believe it or not, worrying can often lead to very negative effects on your body and health, such as fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, nausea, nervous energy, short term memory loss, and worst case scenario, stress and worry can lead to a heart attack, depression and even suicide. Please take your symptoms of excessive worry and anxiety seriously.
How to Manage your Stress and Anxiety
Do note that you have a choice in preventing the situation from going out of control to the point that you are at risk for the above. It is how you manage the stress that makes the difference to your outcome. There are things that you can do to return to a state of balance.
Doctor visit – As a first point, speak to your doctor to ensure that your anxiety is not due to an underlying illness.
Observe your thoughts – check in with yourself and become aware of what your worries are by observing your thoughts. For example if you find that you are telling yourself “I feel so tired all the time”, then a good solution strategy is to question that thought, but you need to ask the right question. So instead of asking “why do I keep feeling so tired?”, ask instead “what can I do to feel more energized?”
Therapy – If you are aware of your thoughts, but you are not sure what measures you can take, then speaking with a therapist can help you identify your triggers and recommend what appropriate steps you can take.
Diet – You can modify your diet by reducing caffeine, since caffeine is said to stimulate the nervous system and causes you to feel jittery and nervous.
Meditation – Meditation helps you to focus on the present moment, instead of remembering the past and worrying about the future. Meditation also decreases the stress hormone cortisol.
Relaxation – I have discussed a few relaxation techniques on this website, which include deep breathing. I have also mentioned how listening to calming and motivational audio can help. You may refer to my Reviews page.
Exercise – Another great option is doing activities such as tai chi, which is a relaxing form of martial arts that helps to enhance physical and mental health. I have done several tai chi sessions and I find that it leaves me feeling happier and calmer. My aim is to be more consistent in attending the sessions, because I definitely see the benefits.
I will continue to give you more helpful information on the many ways in which you can manage your stress levels, so that you can live a more healthy, balanced life. Remember, anxiety and stress are a natural part of life, but how you manage it is what determines your response and the overall effect on your health and life. Remember you have a choice. Feel free to leave me a comment, let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Cheers to good health,
Karlene Stewart
Creator of Let Panic Flow
