Anxiety

Most people experience occasional anxiety. Your heart may pound in stressful situations, or your palms may become sweaty and your stomach may fill with butterflies when you give a speech or an important presentation. Anxious feelings are a normal and even healthy response to stress. However, when the everyday stress of your life begins to intrude during even mundane occurrences and you are no longer happy doing previously enjoyable activities, you may be suffering from an anxiety-related condition.

The scientific theory of anxiety is that both your environment and biological factors play a role in its development. Many people experience an exaggerated physical reaction to stress. They may experience headaches, stomach pain, tense muscles and urge incontinence. Visiting your doctor can be helpful for ruling out more serious health conditions and identify appropriate treatment options, but lifestyle changes and self-help strategies can help you get your stress under control and reduce your symptoms.

If you are experiencing a chronic anxiety, avoid self-medicating with alcohol or sedatives, drinking coffee or smoking, which can exacerbate your symptoms. Instead, make a goal to exercise most days of the week for at least 30 minutes at a time. The fresh air, sunshine and physical activity can be a powerful stress reducer. As you become fitter, increase the intensity of your workouts or the length of time you exercise. Find a fun activity to which you will look forward to boost results. A healthy diet works hand-in-hand with exercise and can help your body function optimally.

Relaxation techniques and improved sleep habits have also been shown to be helpful in controlling the frequency and intensity of panic attacks. If your condition worsens or does not improve with self-help, you may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication. CBT is designed to help you discover problematic behavior patterns and adjust your reactions as needed while medications can have an effect on your nervous system response. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and sedatives may be beneficial on either a short- or a long-term basis. Because some of these medications can be habit-forming, they may not be appropriate for those who have struggled with substance abuse in the past.