ANXIETY AND STRESS

Anxiety is a nonspecific, unpleasant feeling of apprehension, discomfort, and, in some cases, dread and impending doom that is manifested physically by such symptoms as tension, hyperactivity, or hyper attentiveness. Symptoms prompt the person to take some action to seek relief. Stress is an emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health which can be characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability and depression. Stress does not cause migraine but can be a migraine "trigger". Stress and anxiety are basically similar conditions that have similar causes, symptoms and consequences.

Symptoms of stress:

The symptoms can be divided into 3 sub heads as follows:

Physical symptoms:
Heart pounding, headaches, sweaty palms, indigestion, skin breaks out, shortness of breath, holding breath, cold hands, sleeplessness, sleep too much, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, tight stomach, tight muscles, pain.

Emotional symptoms:
Moody, irritability, depressed anxious, lack of sense of humor, abrasive, and hostile nervous, emotional

Mental symptoms:
Forgetfulness, loss of concentration, poor judgment, disorganized, fuzzy perception, confused, lack of interest, math errors, stop thinking, diminished fantasy life, negative self-talk.

Causes of stress:

The following are all believed to play a role in the occurrence of anxiety disorders:

Heredity disorders:
There is clear evidence that anxiety disorders run in families. Studies show that if one identical twin has a stress related disorder, the second twin is more likely to have the disorder than non-identical (fraternal) twins.

Brain chemistry disorders:
Because symptoms of stress related disorders are often relieved by medications that alter levels of chemicals in the brain, scientists believe that brain chemistry appears to play a role in the onset of the disorders.

Personality disorders:
Researchers believe that personality may play a role in the development of stress, noting that people who have low self-esteem and poor coping skills may be more prone. Contrarily, a stress related disorder that begins in childhood may itself contribute to the development of low self-esteem.

Life experiences and stress disorders:
Researchers believe that the relationship between these disorders and long-term exposure to abuse, violence, or poverty is an important area for further study, as life experiences may affect an individual's susceptibility to these disorders. Anxiety and stress are disorders that may ruin the normal functioning of one’s life and that are what makes it very important to check them.

Also read our article about Anxiety During Pregnancy