Stress and anxiety elicit both psychological and physiological responses. People experience stress and anxiety differently. Common physical symptoms comprise stomachache, muscle tension, headache,rapid breathing, sweating, shaking, dizziness, trouble sleeping, fatigue, and other symptoms. Psychological symptoms include feelings of impending doom, panic or nervousness, difficulty concentrating,irrational anger, restlessness, and other symptoms.
Stress and anxiety are not always bad. In the short term, they can help us overcome a challenge or dangerous situation. They also motivate us to do things that we need to do. This helpful stress is termed "eustress,"" which helps us focus and get to work. But often,it affects us more than we expect. This is when they start interfering with our daily life. If one is avoiding situations due to irrational fears, constantly worrying, or experiencing severe anxiety about a traumatic event weeks after it happened, it may be time to seek help.
People who have stress and anxiety over long durations may experience negative related health outcomes. They are more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and may even develop depression and panic disorder. Stress and anxiety that occur frequently or seem out of proportion to the stressor may be indicating an anxiety disorder. People with these disorders may feel anxious and stressed daily and for prolonged periods. These disorders include Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
One can manage this stress once they recognize the causal factor, but professional help is needed at times. So, when does one reach out for professional help? The answer to this is when one feels like they need external support because they cannot handle it themselves.
Different therapeutic techniques have been developed to treat anxiety and have evolved from psychoanalytic approaches to the newest cognitive-behavioural therapies.