Anxiety and stress are natural responses to life’s challenges and can affect us mentally, physically, and emotionally. While everyone experiences these feelings differently, understanding how they manifest and recognizing the signs can help you take steps toward managing them.
Stress and anxiety are natural parts of life, but when they become overwhelming, they can have a significant impact on your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Understanding these effects can help you recognize when stress and anxiety are becoming unmanageable and guide you toward seeking the support you deserve
One of the most common effects of anxiety is constant, uncontrollable worrying about everyday situations, the future, or things beyond your control. This can make it difficult to relax or feel at ease.
When you're stressed or anxious, it can be hard to focus on tasks, leading to feelings of frustration and a decrease in productivity. Racing thoughts may interfere with your ability to stay present.
Chronic stress can affect memory, causing forgetfulness or difficulty retaining information. This can lead to increased stress, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.
Anxiety can make decision-making feel impossible. The fear of making the wrong choice often leads to avoiding decisions altogether, creating a sense of being stuck.
Stress and anxiety can be draining, both mentally and physically. People often experience fatigue, even if they haven’t been physically active, as stress hormones take a toll on the body.
Anxiety and stress are commonly linked to sleep problems. Insomnia, restless sleep, or waking up in the middle of the night can leave you feeling unrested and more stressed.
Stress causes your body to tense up, leading to headaches, neck pain, or backaches. Chronic stress can cause muscle stiffness and even contribute to more serious conditions like migraines.
Anxiety can upset the stomach, leading to problems like indigestion, nausea, or even conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Stress can impact your gut health, causing discomfort.
When you’re stressed or anxious, your heart rate often increases, and you might experience palpitations, which can feel alarming and add to your stress.
Stress and anxiety can make it harder to stay patient or calm. Small things can trigger irritation or frustration, affecting your relationships and overall emotional well-being.
When stress piles up, it can feel like there’s too much to handle, leading to feelings of helplessness or being trapped in the situation.
Chronic anxiety or stress can leave you feeling emotionally disconnected or numb, making it hard to enjoy life or connect with others.
Anxiety can sometimes create an overwhelming sense of impending doom or panic, even when there’s no immediate danger. This can cause major emotional distress.
There are several effective approaches and methods to help relieve stress and anxiety. Your therapist will work with you to understand which might be a best fit. Some of the main evidence-based treatments practiced at True Roots Therapy includes:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages individuals to accept anxiety rather than fighting it. The goal is to take the power out of the fear and lean into your strengths to work through it. It focuses on values-based actions and mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and anxiety symptoms.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) incorporates mindfulness meditation and body awareness techniques. Your therapist can guide you through exercises that focus on breathwork and meditation that you can add to your “anxiety toolbox” outside of session. MBSR helps reduce stress, anxiety, and promotes overall emotional well-being by focusing on the present moment.
CBT is widely considered the “gold-standard” for anxiety treatment as many individuals seeking psychotherapy have experienced the benefits of this approach. Its main focus is on shifting “negative” thought patterns and behaviours that might contribute to anxiety and stress. The goal of CBT is to identify these thoughts and work with your therapist to create healthy coping mechanisms. While some clients value the structured methodology, others prefer a more flexible and adaptive treatment. Therapy is not one-sized fits all, your therapist will work with you to ensure your treatment is effective and resonates with your needs.
Exposure therapy can be an incredibly powerful tool for overcoming phobias, social anxiety and other related anxiety disorders-if it is done correctly with a trained professional. Since exposure therapy involves gradually introducing individuals to their fears, your therapist will work with you extensively to cultivate coping mechanisms, improve confidence and create a safe atmosphere. Exposure therapy is taken at your pace, so you are always in control.
It’s important to remember that anxiety and stress are normal human experiences, and you are not alone. There are effective ways and treatment options to manage and reduce its impact on your life. If these feelings persist or interfere with your daily life, reaching out to a therapist can help you regain a sense of control and balance.
For more information on stress, anxiety and treatment options that work for you, please reach out to our team:
