What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a mental health condition characterized by symptoms that cause worrying thoughts and feelings. These symptoms can be pretty disruptive and affect all areas of your life. Unfortunately, despite the severity, most anxiety-related states go untreated. 

Anxiety stems from several factors, including genetics, life experiences, and chemical imbalances. Therefore, it is essential to understand what causes your stress to deal with it effectively.  

Luckily, there are many steps you can take to reduce your anxiety and live a happier life. In this article, we will dig deeper into the root causes of anxiety, the common symptoms, as well as treatments and exercises that can help you overcome stress and anxiety. Rae, the Anxiety Coach at Present By Nature, has your back!

Main Symptoms of Anxiety

Each person experiences anxiety differently. Some are more evident and severe than others. There are many symptoms of anxiety, but some of the most common ones include:

• Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
• Having racing thoughts or feeling like your mind is going too fast
• Feeling constant worry or stress
• Experiencing physical symptoms such as chest pain, headache, or stomachache
• Having difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
• Feeling tense or jumpy
• Experiencing difficulty concentrating or focusing

How to Recognize the Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety attacks can be very frightening and intense. And sometimes, it can be hard to tell if you're experiencing an attack or not. However, several symptoms may occur during a panic or anxiety attack. Here are the most common signs.

• Racing heart
• Feeling like you can't breathe
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Chills or sweating
• Sense of terror or doom
• Increased heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• A feeling of being out of breath even when taking slow breaths
• Choking sensation or smothering feelings
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Feeling detached from yourself or other people around you

Anxiety attacks can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer. Even worse, anxiety can occur on a daily or weekly basis. Regardless, everyone experiences stress and anxiety differently, which is why it's crucial to seek 1-on-1 help through a certified coach or therapist. This is a perfect segway into the next section.

How to Reduce the Symptoms of Anxiety

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is crucial to reduce your anxiety. One way to do this is by practicing self-care. Self-care includes getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly. 

You can also try relaxation techniques such as yoga, taking a jog, going on a hike, or reading a book. Of course, taking vacations or time off from work is a great way to reset as well. Other ways to reduce anxiety are working with a certified coach (like Rae, the Anxiety Coach!) or a therapist. 

Present by Nature's Tips to Help Reduce Anxiety in Your Life

Anxiety causes lots of worrying thoughts and feelings. The good news is that there are many steps you can take to reduce your stress and anxiety and live a happier life. Here are seven simple steps to help you take control of your mental health.

• Identify the situations and activities that trigger your anxiety.
• Avoid or limit exposure to these situations as much as possible.
• Practice deep breathing exercises or meditation to calm your mind and body. Breathwork is becoming super popular for treating stress and anxiety.
• Exercise regularly to improve your mood and promote positive self-talk.
• Eat a balanced diet full of whole foods and limit processed foods.
• Connect with loved ones and friends to build a support network.
• Get professional help if anxiety becomes debilitating. Working with a certified coach or seeking therapy are viable options. Rae, the Anxiety Coach, is here for you.

Another Tip for Alleviating Anxiety: Setting Boundaries 

Another great way to reduce anxiety is setting boundaries in relationships that cause stress. How can we set boundaries with people to avoid feeling anxious around them? How can we clarify what we want and need and would like them to respect those boundaries? How do we set boundaries in a way that makes us feel comfortable instead of guilty? These are all great questions that you need to ask yourself as you go through the process of conquering your anxiety.

There are three components to setting boundaries:

1. Determine what you need instead of what you think you ought to be getting from friends, co-workers, family, and significant others.
2. Decide how vital the boundaries are that you set for yourself.
3. Determine whether the person(s) involved respects your need for this boundary or if they continue to be negative and bring you down.

If they respect your wish to have more space together than they do, then you know that this boundary is in the correct place. 

Putting your needs and feelings before others' will result in fewer negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, depression, and guilt. In addition, you'll become less anxious when you're clear about who you are and what you want from life. When we stay unclear about our own identity and desires, we get stuck trying to please everyone else around us and end up with no time left for ourselves.

Conclusion

Anxiety is a mental health condition that can impact every area of your life if left untreated. However, there are many effective treatments available for anxiety. If you're struggling with anxiety, it's essential to seek professional help. At Present By Nature, we specialize in treating all forms of anxiety and the coping mechanisms needed to treat and overcome anxiety. We offer various services, including one-on-one coaching and breakthrough sessions, breathwork sessions, somatic embodiment, journaling, and more! 

Contact Rae, the Anxiety Coach, to learn more about how we can help you live a happier, healthier life.