Dealing With Anxiety And Stress: The Differences And Similarities
Stress can be caused by any number of factors but most commonly a simple thought process that provokes a specific emotional response, such as sadness, fear or rage, in the individual is the cause for most of our day to day stress.
When someone is experiencing anxiety there is a difference to feeling stressed. Feeling stressed is a much more general type of condition, where in the case of anxiety the condition and cause is more specific. Unfortunately the cause of anxiety is not always obvious which can in turn lead the anxiety sufferer to experience ever increasing levels of anxiety about their inability to identify the cause. A classic vicious cycle.
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.
Effectively treating anxiety and stress means that the causative factors must be identified. Even though some of the factors that we have mentioned above will in most cases be present to some degree, every persons case will be different. This can be problematic when you attempt to treat yourself, but it is possible. One of the most useful techniques that can be used is to begin to take note of the particular circumstances that accompany your anxiety attacks or peak stress periods with a view to trying to identify factors that may be causing your stress and anxiety.
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.
Of course what we have discussed here are measures you can take should you still have a reasonable amount of control of the stress and anxiety. If severe physical symptoms palpitations, pain in the chest, extreme dizziness and disorientation occur along with self destructive thoughts, get medical help immediately. While anxiety and stress can be addresses with the basic measures we have discussed sometimes they are not enough. Always seek appropriate medical treatment when in doubt