Anxiety - the Modern Stress

Modern life is stressful. BUT not all stress is bad! In small quantities, stress is good -- it can motivate us and help us be more productive.

On the other hand - persistent and unrelenting stress often leads to anxiety, an unhealthy lifestyle and eventually burnout.

Anxiety is perhaps one of the most common emotions experienced when a person is stressed.

Research shows that anxiety can make you sleep fewer hours, get sick more often, remember less, become more prone to long-term disease and—as if you needed reminding—eat more. No wonder up to 90 percent of doctor visits are for stress-related complaints. 

Anxiety is a form of stress that we all want to avoid.

The lives of the majority of female professionals today are out of balance. And this imbalance is a reasonable source of stress. And stress feeds anxiety. And anxiety feeds stress.

Let's look at an example of how stress overload and lifestyle factors can contribute to anxiety.

You are a high-achieving women leader and you work 70 hours a week for several years. This puts excessive stress on your body. To make matters worse, you are so busy working that you only manages to get five or six hours of sleep a night, you do not exercise regularly, and you eat mainly foods that increase stress level. You cant even remember the last time you took time out for yourself.

Sounds familiar?

Your lifestyle creates stress in your life and produces a negative snowball effect.

Over time your body starts perceiving these constant stressors as a threat to your survival. Your body eventually gets "burned out" from repeated unnecessary stress reactions. It is on a constant state of alert - contributing to the physical and mental symptoms of anxiety.

Can You change it?: Yes.

You have the power to reduce or eliminate many of the stressors in your life.

How ?

Take Action:

First step - setting up the basics through integrating healthy lifestyle habits into your busy life - by making choices that promote calmness, self-care, and a balanced lifestyle:

- Sleep eight hours a night instead of six (You could find useful to support healthy sleep patterns with  soothing relaxing music and natural remedies for anxiety )

- Too anxious to sleep? Start a relaxing bedtime routine

- Eat well-balanced, healthy meals. (Read about 7 foods to sooth anxiety)

- Exercise regularly

- Work 40-50 hours a week instead of 70

- Simplify your life

- Find some time to relax daily :)  

- Learn to view stressors in a less anxious way so your body does not overreact to stressors when they occur.

Good news: you can help yourself back to health and balance.

Finding it difficult to do this on your own? Coaching helps…….

             

Related Articles:

Exercise with Anxiety?

Easing Anxiety in a Shaky Society

Natural Treatment for Anxiety and Stress