Anxiety Stress Disorder - How Stress Can Lead to Anxiety!

We all feel stress and get anxiety attacks from things that happen in our everyday lives. We might be worried about the impression we may give on a first date, we might be scared of botching up an important presentation or we might feel the hassles of preparing for a wedding. But while we do overcome these challenges easily, there are times when we cannot deal with life's different stresses properly. There are also days when we might get a severe anxiety attack over simple things like an exam or a looming deadline. When we start feeling extreme stress over little things and begin to exaggerate situations too much, we might be developing an anxiety stress disorder.

Anxiety should not be something to be afraid or frightened of. Its a normal response to stressful situations. But certain traumatic events or chemical imbalances in our brain can cause us to overreact or unnecessarily worry about mundane things and if this happens regularly, it could lead to an anxiety related stress disorder.

People who suffer stress often experience symptoms of anxiety: from heart palpitations to sweating with clammy hands and feet to feeling fear or dread. But all these symptoms are compounded and happen even when faced with events which they really should not worry too much about. Those who suffer from anxiety and stress because of traumatic experiences such as a car accident or child abuse, for instance, may feel all the symptoms of panic attacks when in the presence of any vehicle or if they see the same shirt that their abuser often wore. There are times, too, that the anxiety stress disorder becomes so severe that people who suffer from this disorder start feeling detached from life and reality. They become numb to emotions and the world to the point of becoming listless and unresponsive when they experience a panic attack.

The best method to treat people suffering from anxiety and stress is a combination of the proper medication and therapy. Different medication, such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) or tricyclic antidepressants can help by balancing out the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, are responsible for triggering certain emotions like joy, anger and fear, and in most cases, the anxiety stress disorder is caused by an imbalance of these neurotransmitters.

Proper therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, can help patients who experience stress and anxiety attacks often to deal with life's challenges properly. This type of therapy teaches patients to change their patterns of thinking and perceptions of different stressors. It also helps patients learn how to deal with these stressors properly and realistically.

There are also different, simple ways by which the severity of an anxiety attack can be lessened. Meditation, regular exercise, a good night's rest, proper diet and reducing the intake of caffeine can all contribute to the healing of those who suffer from Anxiety Stress Disorders.