Stress and Anxiety Management

Everyone has stress and experiences anxiety from time to time; we know that. Stress and anxiety is just a part of life. But if your stress and anxiety levels have reached a point where it is interfering with your performance, causing issues in your relationships or work life, becoming overall unmanageable, or is impacting how you view yourself and abilities, then it may be time to seek out assistance to help you work through your stress and anxiety. 

Where does stress and anxiety come from, you may ask? Stress can come from many different sources at different stages in people's lives. Further, what may be stressful to one person is not at all stressful, or may be even enjoyable to another person. You may identify with some of the below examples of stressors, as well as have several more to add to your own personal "things that stress me out" list. When we are young, say school age (elementary through college), common stressors are related to comparing ourselves to our peers or friends, to our performance in school/academics and extracurricular activities, coming of age issues, family issues (ex. parents divorcing, family members passing away, or moving to a new town), and the process of navigating how and where we fit in the world. As we get older, we find ourselves facing new life stressors. Common adult stressors can include: starting and maintaining a fulfilling career, finding a suitable mate, developing and maintaining a good relationship with self and with said mate, having children and navigating the world of parenting, career change or other job related stressors, care-taking of aging parents or other family members, transitioning to "empty-nest", financial dilemmas, retirement, stress related to family and friends passing away, and end of life decisions. If someone has herself/himself experienced or witnessed a family member or close friend go through substance abuse issues, mental health issues, or any form of abuse (neglect, emotional, verbal, physical, sexual)- all of which are common- stress levels are further compounded.  

Anxiety can also come from a variety of situations and experiences. Everything listed above that can cause stress can also cause anxiety if left unchecked for too long. Other common causes of anxiety are issues in people’s lives that are unresolved or unprocessed. It could be an particularly hurtful or confusing experience that someone went through as a child or adult, something that previously made the person feel mildly uncomfortable, but has since escalated to causing “anxiety attacks”, or even family of origin beliefs that do not align with our view of self and how we approach the world.

Okay, so stress is pretty much unavoidable. You may be wondering, what effects can all of this stress have on my life? Well actually, some stress is good. Low levels of stress can help to motivate us. For example, if we feel some level of stress, it can create a sense of urgency to study for that final exam or to meet that deadline at work. Low levels of stress can also help us to be safe and to take action. If you see a snake while strolling in the woods, that low surge of stress (unless you are very frightened by snakes...then it may not be so low) will help you to decide which action to take- jump over the snake, turn around and go the other way, or find a way to navigate around the snake. Stress becomes a serious problem when we have too much of it in our lives for too long.

When people have too much stress in their lives, a variety of mental and physical issues can arise. Research suggests that long-term or chronic stress can lead to or make worse several mental issues, which can include: excessive worry or anxiety, anxiety disorders/panic attacks, low energy, difficulty concentrating or difficulties with decision making, depressive disorders, feeling out of control, feeling overwhelmed or helpless, feeling irritable or impatient, being defensive towards others, having irrational thoughts, or overreacting to situations. Chronic stress may also lead to increased dependence on caffeine, cigarettes, food, alcohol, or drugs. Physical effects of stress can include: increased heart rate, increased sweating, cold hands or feet, feeling nauseous or fatigued, physical aches/muscle tension, headaches, dry mouth, urge to go to the restroom more frequently, change in appetite and sleep patterns, increase in "nervous behaviors" like twitching, fidgeting, talking too much, nail biting, or pacing, and sexual dysfunction (loss of sex drive or performance issues). Further physical effects of chronic stress can be the lowering of your immune system, which can lead to more cold/flu sicknesses, skin and hair problems (like acne, psoriasis, eczema, and hair loss), respiratory issues, stomach/GI issues (like heartburn, gastritis, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel), obesity and eating disorders, menstrual problems, and cardiovascular disease (to include heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, hypertension, heart attack, and stroke).

**If you are experiencing any physical symptoms, please see your Doctor or other healthcare provider. 

There are many effective ways that stress and anxiety can be managed. Some easy techniques to help manage stress are practicing deep breathing exercises, visualization/guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, journaling, and physical exercise. But for many of us with chronic stress that leads to anxiety, these quick fixes alone are not enough. There are likely issues that lie below the surface stressor of the job, relationship issue, or "empty nest" stress that needs to be addressed for the chronic stress and anxiety to resolve.

If you find yourself carrying the burden of having too much stress and anxiety, take the first step in dealing with your stress and anxiety today by calling Central Mississippi Therapy Solutions- (769) 300-5259. We will help you combat the stress and anxiety in a two-tiered fashion: by first helping you to manage your stress and anxiety with proven tools that you can start implementing right away for immediate relief, and second by working with you to actually eliminate what led to the stress or anxiety reaction and symptoms. By processing what led to the stress and anxiety, we can dramatically reduce or eliminate the resulting symptoms that are experienced as a result of the high stress and anxiety levels.

Where is the closest therapist or therapist near me for anxiety in Jackson, MS? We are located in the Fondren Arts District across from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. We also offer online therapy / telehealth counseling so you can get the change and guidance you deserve wherever you are in the State of Mississippi. Call or schedule your first session today.