Anxiety

Social anxiety can keep you from participating in life. You may experience signs of social anxiety at the thought of attending a social event or participating in a social situation. Outings such as grocery or Christmas shopping can feel paralyzing to you. In some cases, people suffering from social anxiety experience panic attacks. Signs of Social Anxiety to Look For Social anxiety will isolate you even from your closest friends. You may have to miss important functions and celebrations or turn down opportunities for advancement. This type of anxiety can display itself in physical and mental symptoms. Become aware of the signs of social anxiety. If you experience the following signs, speak to a counselor about ways to overcome your anxiety. You can learn to reframe your thoughts and change your emotions and behavior. Fear or Dread Over a Social Event If you have ever felt dread while anticipating a social event, you are not alone. Roughly 7% of adults and 9% of adolescents had social anxiety disorder in the past year, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. Women are more at risk than men of the signs of social anxiety. The fear creeps over you, and before you realize it, the physical manifestations begin. Your mind races with negative thoughts. Your hands may tremble. Anticipation brings about fear or dread. Low Self-Esteem You can lose your self-esteem when you feel uncomfortable around others. You may dislike yourself in response to believing that others don’t like you. It can make it harder to join functions when you feel you don’t measure up. Self-Consciousness You may become hypercritical of yourself. You may compare yourself to others in appearance, body shape, weight, size, intelligence, beauty, career, or relationships. You fear people judging or making fun of you. You might [...]

It seems like more people are experiencing symptoms of stress and anxiety. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, as many as 31% of the United States adult population will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime; that is, millions of Americans struggling with the symptoms of stress and anxiety. The Harmful Effects of Chronic Stress and Anxiety The harmful effects of the symptoms of stress and anxiety can lead to a physical and mental decline in health. When you feel overwhelmed, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline to help you through the “danger.” However, chronic stress can keep your body suspended in this fight-or-flight response. Symptoms of Stress and Anxiety You may not experience all of the symptoms of stress and anxiety for them to affect your health. For example, increased blood pressure and resting heart rate over a long period will increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Consult your doctor to rule out any medical conditions and seek counseling to help you manage your symptoms. Digestive Issues Increased cortisol and adrenaline can trigger the fight-or-flight response, increasing stomach acid. When stressed, you may experience acid reflux, heartburn, excessive burning, and stomach pain. Consult with your physician about medical treatments to soothe your digestive tract as you work on stress management. Headaches Stress or tension headaches can feel like a vice around your head. You may feel this headache on both sides of the head. If you are a woman, you may also experience more severe headaches on the days leading up to your menstrual period. Over-the-counter medications can help as well as getting plenty of sleep. Increased Heart Rate Adrenaline gets your heart pumping, preparing you to run or fight. Chronic stress and anxiety can cause your resting heart rate [...]

Worry, anxiety, and fear of the future are common, if not universal, human experiences. Everyone worries. Whether it’s your finances, your professional performance, the safety of your children, or the security of your future, there is always almost always something in your life that makes it difficult to stop worrying. However, the fact that everyone experiences worry doesn’t mean that everyone experiences it equally. For some, worry is a passing thought or momentary blip on their emotional radar. While, for others, worry and anxiety are a near-constant part of life. When it becomes a persistent part of your mental and emotional life, worry steals your time, attention, peace, and joy. So, if worry seems to be your perpetual companion, always whispering in your ear about all the things that might someday go wrong, what can you do about it? Is it possible to learn how to stop worrying? This article will answer this question by exploring the impact of worry on daily life, providing a list of self-management strategies for worry and anxiety, and discussing the relationship between faith and anxiety. How Can Excessive Worry Impact Your Life? Excessive worry keeps a person in constant fear of the future and things outside their ability to control. When ongoing, this state of stress and fear has the potential to negatively affect not just your emotional life, but also your physical and mental health. Worry robs you of your present joy. You were designed to live in the here-and-now. When worry consumes your thoughts, you are likely too busy thinking about what might happen someday in the future, or what might be happening somewhere else, to pay attention to what is happening right where you are, right in the present moment. To illustrate this, in Matthew 6:27 (ESV), Jesus asks his [...]