Anxiety
Feeling anxious now and then is normal — but frequent anxiety may signal a deeper issue.
Anxiety is closely related to stress, and can cause a variety of unwanted feelings; worry, irritability, restlessness, and even sweating and trembling of the body.
Genetics can play a role, and no one lives entirely free of stress; for some people, though, anxiety becomes a particular challenge.
Those who face anxiety at this level are often more prone to depression, face a higher suicide risk, or adopt unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Life throws unavoidable curveballs at all of us. At any moment, we may face circumstances that are unexpected — and often unwelcome.
Yet these stresses must be addressed rather than allowed to take over our lives — a path that can ultimately lead to anxiety.
When emotional overload hits, anxiety can take hold fast, filling life with fear and dread instead of contentment and happiness.
Good and bad events are part of life, but learning to cope with the bad and work through problems helps you keep anxiety at bay. That matters not only for moving forward, but also for supporting a healthy lifestyle.
There are simple physical and mental steps you can take to halt or ease anxiety when a bad day hits or you feel overwhelmed.
For instance, when a staggering workload looms, remind yourself: “I know there’s a lot to do, but each task I finish lightens the load.”
Or when anxiety rises, pause, take a deep breath, and exhale slowly — let your body relax and imagine the tension draining away.
These may sound simple, but visualizing yourself relaxing can lower the stress held in your body and ease some of the anxiety you feel.
Stress-reduction practices such as yoga or meditation can also help relieve anxiety and stress.
Anxiety can also take a physical toll, producing symptoms such as sleeplessness or trembling.
That happens because the body is under so much stress that it can’t function normally. In extreme cases, when someone can’t cope with everyday life, the effects can be harmful.
If anxiety reaches the point where you can’t eat or sleep, professional help is likely needed to address your particular situation.
No one is expected to live entirely stress-free, and everyone experiences normal bouts of anxiety while handling daily life.
Your ability to cope with stress and anxiety is what lets you live happily and normally.
By adopting certain lifestyle habits, you can reduce the anxiety you might otherwise feel and enjoy a relatively stress-free, anxiety-free life.