Anxiety

There are two significant consequences of anxiety to consider. The first, of course, is the mental effects of stress on your psyche and well-being. Irritability, sadness, and not feeling in control are all symptoms of mental anxiety and stress. However, does emotional stress affect you physically too? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. Stress isn’t just something that can impact you mentally. It is a problem that causes harm throughout your body. And when combined, both the mental and physical symptoms of stress can feed off each other. That makes the problem worse. Here’s how emotional stress affects you physically, and what you can [...]

There is a strong connection between anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome. One of the problems with stress and anxiety is that you can develop physical problems or ailments.  And often, symptoms can be made worse by emotional distress. For instance, we know that anxiety can cause persistent and painful headaches. Moreover, gastrointestinal problems are often linked to anxiety and stress as well. In fact, you may remember being a little nauseous or having a stomachache yourself when feeling stressed.  However, stressful situations can also bring about massive intestinal upset. For instance, an extreme example of how anxiety and stress can affect [...]

The human body is absolutely fascinating, isn't it? Every day we are learning more how it works and realizing the extent that the different systems inside us don’t operate independently. The stomach doesn’t just process food, nor does the heart just pump blood. Rather, all of these physical mechanisms that are responsible for keeping you alive are actually connected, and our emotional brains affect them greatly. Thus, when you experience a health issue, such as a gastrointestinal problem, there is most likely more going on than you realize. For instance, it has been shown that anxiety and G.I. (gastrointestinal) problems are linked [...]

There’s been a lot of discussion about anxiety and how it relates to adolescents' health. Today, teens are more stressed-out than those in previous generations. There’s pressure to be successful in school, sports, and extracurricular activities. Beyond that, college admissions can also be a source of anxiety. This includes getting into the “right” school and having the “ideal” application package. And let’s not forget about all of the social stressors that teens have always faced. Only now, there’s the Internet and social media to deal with on top of everything. All this can leave parents worried and concerned about their teen. Are they [...]

Preventing anxiety attacks; it's the goal and wish of so many who suffer with chronic anxiety. And it's totally understandable. When you are stuck in an anxiety attack, it can feel as if you are trapped. There’s just no way out, and that’s scary. But what if you could prevent these attacks from occurring in the first place? Is that even possible? The answer is yes! However, there is no Holy Grail of preventing anxiety attacks. Rather, it’s a combination of many things. Some are quality of life matters that you can learn to implement every day. Consider practicing the following five viable [...]

Regardless of where you are in your recovery from chronic anxiety, you deserve a pat on the back and a high-five (really!). Whether it’s your first day on this new journey or you’ve been doing this for years, chronic anxiety disorders can be an ever-present challenge. Maybe it strikes when you’re at work, trying to meet a deadline. Or you suddenly start feeling anxiety welling up at home. Even when you are on vacation, anxiety doesn't let you catch a break. Often, it seems like there is no reason at all why it’s occurring. You feel frustrated, angry, and even disappointed when [...]

We are fortunate. We live in a time where we have access to effective drug-free treatments for anxiety. Although talk therapy is an essential healing approach for many, it may not always be the right choice for treating anxiety. This can leave those who struggle with anxiety wondering what to do. It's especially true if they are in search of drug-free treatments for anxiety. If this applies to you, be assured, there are effective, drug-free methods available to treat anxiety. These modalities take anxiety treatment a step further by going beyond talk therapy to utilize other resources that you might not have [...]

Every day can feel like a battle when dealing with symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Doing things that most take for granted, such as going to work or attending class can become utterly overwhelming. Plus, there are social engagements that you are expected to attend. Whether it’s a team meeting at work or friends wanting to get together for a few drinks on Friday, the result is the same. As soon as you walk through the door, you begin to feel anxious and stressed. What can you do? You know that hiding in your room isn’t possible (although you’d really like to). Instead, consider [...]

Sometimes, the search for getting help with chronic or severe anxiety can be as nerve-wracking as the anxiety itself. So many questions and doubts can exist. Will therapy really work for me? Which treatment options will be the most effective? How will this be any different than my previous treatment experiences? After all, it’s very discouraging if you have already been to anxiety treatment before, and it didn’t work. However, that doesn’t mean that therapy, in the long run, can't be beneficial. Maybe you just haven’t found what works yet. Consider these potential treatment options for anxiety and whether they may [...]

"I'm so OCD".  Joking about our own personal peccadillos, we sometimes toss this phrase around lightly. But for the 1 in 4o Americans who actually suffer from it, living with OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, can be pretty unfunny. Recovery from OCD is possible, though for many, it's not so easy. As a practicing therapist, I've been fortunate to help clients overcome OCD symptoms. And I also seen some people stay stuck. Living With OCD? Here Are Some Tips.   First, Lean Into Anxiety. When we feel anxious or scared, a natural response is to do what we can to get [...]