According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the country, affecting nearly 20 percent of the population, or 40 million adults. While these disorders respond very well to treatment, only about a third of those suffering will actually seek help for their conditions - serving as their own barriers to a cure.
Understand the Cause
If you find yourself feeling anxious and jittery, and you don’t seem to have a logical cause for it, chances are, you may have a physical root for your stress. You can make an appointment with your doctor, who can review with you different potential reasons for your anxiety, rule out major health conditions, and provide you with a plan to help to treat the condition responsible.
If, on the other hand, your anxiety is caused by negative life events, a stressful work or home environment, or other mental causes, speaking with a therapist or mental health professional can help you work through your stress and find positive outlets that will ease your symptoms.
Take Action
Anxiety, whether it’s caused by a physical or mental trigger, causes wear and tear on a number of important body systems, including the cardiovascular system. It can put us at greater risk for developing illnesses or infections by limiting our immune system’s ability to function properly. It’s important to remember that even if anxiety starts in your head, the symptoms and consequences can very quickly become physical. There are several steps you can take, at home, on a daily basis, that will help ease your chronic anxiety.