Lots of people tend to use the terms “stress” and “anxiety” interchangeably, but they are actually two distinct conditions. Stress is a response to a stimulus, either internal or external. You may feel stress when you feel frustrated with something (like waiting in line behind a slow person) or when you are worried that you will not meet expectations (such as missing a deadline at work).
Anxiety, on the other hand, is a sense of nervousness and fear or even dread. It can be caused by negative expectations and thoughts, or as a response to stress. You may feel anxious virtually all of the time and not understand why, or your worry may be a response to something you are nervous about, like an upcoming exam.
Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain can cause generalized anxiety. Some research shows that anxiety can be brought on by genetics. In addition, anxiety can be induced environmentally, as when the child of a parent who is often anxious learns to be an anxious person by observing the parent. But frequently, the core cause of anxiety is simply the thoughts that a person is thinking!
Anxiety and stress are subjective conditions. Different people may experience stress during different situations, and different people may react to their anxiousness in very different ways. Symptoms of anxiety can range from the mild, such as tense muscles and sweaty hands, to the severe, such as vomiting, irregular heartbeat, and anxiety attacks.
Everyone feels some amount of anxiety from time to time. All of us have felt the dry mouth and “butterflies in the stomach” before a test or public speaking engagement. But when does it become harmful to your health? Studies have shown that prolonged anxiety can lead to sleep disorders, depression, relationship problems, and high blood pressure
For sufferers of long-term untreated anxiety, there may be detrimental health consequences that have yet to be fully examined. Many studies have found a link between chronic anxiety and a variety of serious health conditions including heart disease, thyroid disease, respiratory illness, arthritis, and cancer. Chronically anxious people may even be more likely to suffer a fatal cardiac attack.
If you experience what seems like an inappropriately high amount of anxiety relative to the circumstances, or if you feel anxious nearly every day, you may actually have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are chronic conditions characterized by an inability to function normally because of constant anxiety. Anxiety disorders are serious conditions that should be treated to reduce the risk of long-term effects.
Anxiety treatment has long been the subject of much discussion in the medical field. Some medical professionals believe that medication is the best treatment for chronic anxiety. Unfortunately, anti-anxiety medications often produce side effects that are just as bad or even worse than the initial condition.
There are plenty of natural ways to control negative emotional reactions. Exercise is an often overlooked option, but it is extremely effective. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are natural pain-killing and mood-boosting chemicals. With regular exercise, you may start to experience a decrease in negative emotional reactions to situations that would previously have made you feel quite anxious.
The most effective way to manage worry and tension is to control it from the inside out. Stress management and stress relief techniques are very valuable tools in managing day-to-day stress. These techniques can teach you to relax yourself and relieve your tension. You make a conscious effort to slow your breathing, release the tension, and maintain a peaceful state of mind. Meditation is a fantastic form of tension management in which you practice thoughtful relaxation and deep, calming breathing.
However, if you are looking for a proactive way to relieve yourself of anxiety, hypnotherapy is by far the most effective form of treatment. When a person undergoes hypnosis, their reactions and emotional responses to events are changed at their core. This allows them to cope with common anxiety-inducing triggers without the usual fear and nervousness.
Hypnosis can be performed by a licensed hypnotherapist in a series of regular treatments. More commonly today, hypnotherapy can be learned from self hypnosis programs which can be purchased in the form of DVDs, MP3s, or CDs for personal home use. No special skills are required to practice self hypnosis. All that you need is a way to play the hypnotherapy program and a quiet place where you can listen and relax.
Another very successful type of anxiety treatment is Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP. NLP is a form of therapy that helps you condition your mind and body to naturally react to situations in a more positive manner. You can consciously decide to remain calm instead of feeling anxious, and consequently, you always have control over your own emotions.
In summary, you can see that it is important to manage our negative emotional responses in order to stay healthy. Learning to cope with fear and nervousness may even extend your life. To treat chronic anxiety, the best treatment option to follow is to participate in hypnotherapy to change your reactions and attitudes at the core. Then, use stress management techniques as needed to remain calm in everyday situations.
Alan B. Densky is an NGH certified hypnotherapist. He offers a complete line of stress reduction hypnosis CDs, and advanced anxiety management CDs through his Neuro-VISION hypnosis website. You can visit his self hypnosis blog, and download a free MP3.
- Alan B. Densky, CH