Picture of a hand making a fist and words of all sizes describing Stress/Anxiety.

STRESS OR ANXIETY--HOW DO YOU KNOW?

From time to time, everyone feels overwhelmed. Life runs at a fast pace and keeping up can be more than you want to handle at times. This can lead to stress or anxiety. But which one is it and how do you deal with it?

STRESS -- Stress is generally a response to external causes, such as taking a big test or arguing with a friend or family member. It will go away once the situation is over or resolved. Stress can be negative or positive. For example, finishing a deadline early can be a positive effect of stress. Causing you to lose sleep over a situation is an example of negative stress.

ANXIETY -- Anxiety is generally an internal reaction to stress. It usually involves a persistent feeling of apprehension or dread that won't seem to go away. It interferes with how you live at times. It is also constant, even if there doesn't seem to be a "situation."

Stress and anxiety can both affect your mind and body. You may experience symptoms such as excessive worry, uneasiness, tension, headaches or body pain, high blood pressure, or loss of sleep. How do you tell the difference and know when to seek help?

Learning what causes your stress and finding techniques that work to help reduce it are the first step. It may take trying different things to find out what works for you. A few things that might help you deal with your stress include keeping a journal, finding an app that provides relaxation exercises or tips for practicing mindfulness, exercising, avoiding excess caffeine, getting enough sleep, and reaching out to friends that help you ground yourself.

Recognizing when you need help and being willing to accept that help is huge. If you are struggling with stress and anxiety and the symptoms won't go away, it may be time to get professional help. Psychotherapy and medication are the two main things that are used to treat anxiety. Many people benefit from using both.

There is help for you if you are struggling with anxiety. Please call your physician or Sabetha Family Practice at (785) 284-2141 if you think you need help and don't know where to turn. If you are in immediate distress or are thinking about hurting yourself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255.