Anxiety

18 October 2022 General James

Everyone will experience stress and anxiety at some point in their lives. Some people thrive in stressful situations, but when those stress levels become severe, they can seriously impact your quality of life. 

Stress and Anxiety share a lot of the same symptoms, both emotionally and physically – tension, headaches, lack of sleep, high blood pressure are just a few of the symptoms you may be experiencing.  It’s important, however, to recognise the difference to determine whether you need additional support. 

So how do you tell whether you’re suffering from stress or anxiety?

In short, stress is a response to an external factor, whereas anxiety is internal in its origin. 

So, what external factors could be causing you stress? You could have a task at work that is on a tight deadline, you may be experiencing financial difficulties, you may have a house move coming up, or you may have had an argument with a friend or family member.  Whatever the reason for your stress levels being high, it’s important to tackle things head on. Overwhelming and chronic stress is not good for your mental or physical health and if it’s not handled correctly can lead to anxiety, depression and even heart disease. There are many things you can do yourself to help.  Meditation and breathing exercises are a great start to anyone suffering from stress.  You could also look into your sleep patterns or take up a new physical activity. It’s always important to also take the time to be with friends and family.  

The good thing about stress is that, if handled correctly, the feelings usually subside once the situation is resolved. 

Anxiety, on the other hand, is much deeper rooted and is often triggered by stress.  When you are suffering from anxiety, not only are you mirroring similar symptoms to stress but you are also normally experiencing a persistent feeling of apprehension or dread. You may experience panic attacks, sweating, nausea and feeling faint. Unlike stress, anxiety continues even once the concern has passed. High anxiety will prevent you from doing everyday things, like meeting up with friends and going to work. Your life will feel out of control and everything will be impacted. 

If you are feeling out of control and unable to cope with everyday tasks please consult a medical professional, however, there are some things you can do yourself whilst you are seeking that health support. 

1. Keep physically active, even if that’s just taking a walk. Being out in daylight has been proven to significantly help with our mental health and anxiety.
   
2. Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs – these substances can cause or worse anxiety.
   
3. Quit smoking and caffeinated drinks. 
   
4. Use stress management and relaxation techniques.  Shifting your focus with things like yoga, meditation and breathing techniques can be really helpful. 
   
5. Make sleep a priority. If you are struggling to do this see a health provider.
   
6. Eat healthy foods.
   
7. Identify triggers and understand your anxiety- what triggers your anxiety or makes it worse?
   
8. Keep a journal – keeping track of your feelings but also noting down the things that you can be grateful for each day. 
   
9. Make time for worries – this one may sound strange, but it’s so important to set time aside in your day to go through your concerns.  Call it ‘worry time’ where you allow yourself to feel those feelings.
   
10. Challenge your anxious thoughts and look at the bigger picture – tackling anxious thoughts is one of the best things you can do to feel better. Also thinking through your problem and coming up with a plan – take yourself out of the situation and ask yourself what advice you would give to a friend or family member.