Anxiety seems to be at a high level due to the current events in our country. Anxiety and stress are common terms we use to describe our feelings. So, what’s the difference between stress and anxiety?
Stress is typically a response to an external event, such as a deadline, upcoming election, arguing with a friend, neighbor, or a family member and/or any other external challenge or demand.
Anxiety is typically internal, it is our reaction to stress. Anxiety usually has a feeling of apprehension or dread. Both stress and anxiety can have symptoms that are challenging. Symptoms for both anxiety and stress can be: feelings of fear, excessive worrying, headaches, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath, irritability, stomaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feeling lightheaded, chest pain and feeling overwhelmed, just to name a few.
Ways to Cope with Symptoms
- Identify and challenge your negative thinking. Anxiety is about fear. It’s important to challenge those fear-based thoughts to reduce anxiety.
- Journaling is a productive way to manage feelings of anxiety.
- Exercise is also extremely helpful as well. Walking, weight training and cardio exercises are great. Exercise releases endorphins which reduce stress and anxiety.
- Get regular sleep. Sleep helps you reduce stress, think more clearly, and make better decisions. It helps restore, repair, and remove toxins from your brain. It improves your heart health.
- Avoid or reduce your intake of these: caffeine, sugar and ultra-processed (junk) foods. Such foods promote anxiety and stress.
- Eat healthy foods. Foods that are in their natural state such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and healthy fats can help reduce anxiety. These foods provide the nutrients our brain needs to function properly.
- Talk with a friend. Talking to others can allow us to get the support we need when we are feeling anxious.
- Take a 30 minute relaxing bath. This is a great time to listen to soothing music.
- Go see a funny movie. Again, laughing releases endorphins which are known as one of the “happiness chemicals.”
- Meditation, yoga, hypnotherapy, tapping and deep breathing are also very beneficial in reducing anxiety.
For more information on anxiety, stress and self-care, call Dr. Rose Bricker for a thirty-minute complimentary meet and greet appointment at (520) 820-4079. Currently, my new location is in the Magee Center, at 2252 Magee Road, Casa Adobes, AZ 85742.
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