Definition - Anxiety is a complex combination of the feeling of fear, apprehension and worry often accompanied by physical sensations such as palpitations, chest pain and/or shortness of breath. It may exist as a primary disorder or may be associated with other medical problems including other psychiatric disorders.

A chronically recurring case of anxiety that has a serious affect on your life may be clinically diagnosed as an anxiety disorder. The most common are Generalized anxiety disorder, Panic disorder, Social anxiety disorder, phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Dealing With Anxiety

When life throws you a curve ball, how you get through your predicament may greatly depend on how you handle stress and how good you are at dealing with anxiety. Anxiety comes in many forms and from many places, but the end result is always the same. There are many techniques for dealing with anxiety, and the trick is to find the one that works best for you. If you are a three hundred pound truck driver, your best remedy may not be to take up yoga or a spin class at your local gym. At the same time, a petite businesswoman may have a hard time dealing with her anxiety by beating on a punching bag.

The symptoms of anxiety are obvious

You may feel stressed and tired. There is an issue or problem on your mind that you just can't shake, and it begins to take over your life. Anxiety is common, but you don't have to live with it. What you have to do is find ways of dealing with anxiety that will fit your lifestyle.

When dealing with anxiety, you have to first figure out the source of your anxiety, and decide if there is something you can do about it. If there is nothing you can do, then you should try to find activities to take your mind off of your problem. If you have a fear of getting mugged on your way home from work, buying pepper spray or taking a self-defense class may be just what you need. Exercise and relaxation are both great tools for dealing with anxiety. Exercise will help take your mind off your problems, and will release feel-good endorphins into your system. Relaxation techniques will also help you relieve your stress, and will help you focus your mind on positive issues.

If you find dealing with your anxiety is beyond you, you can ask for help. Don't be afraid to do so, because there are times when we just need someone else to set us straight, and help us see the bigger picture. You aren't a failure if you seek help when dealing with anxiety; it just means you care about your well-being, and that you don't want to live under the burden of your fears any longer.

If you don't know whom to turn to when dealing with anxiety and stress, do a search online for counselors or support groups near you. These people know what they are doing, and their business revolves around helping people like you deal with your problems. If you can't find anything online, look around in your community for help. Help is out there; you just have to find it.

Article by J.D. Ericson an independent writer for Healthy Help Files on Mental Health Issues.

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