Envision Empowerment Overcoming the Fear of Anxiety

Defining Anxiety

Anxiety is often referred to as the uneasy feeling of worry or concern that is developed when you are deeply tense about

something. Feeling a bit anxious when facing major life events is normal. However, if those concerning and worrying feelings

persist, even when everything is under control, and you end up becoming affected by the smallest of changes in life, then the

chances are likely that you have a serious anxiety condition.

Defining Stress

Stress is the natural feeling that arises from the pressures we experience in our day to day life. Stress signals are sent through

the brain when our body and mind are pushed to the limit. When the brain detects a sign of stress, it releases adrenaline into the

bloodstream. This release of adrenaline causes the body to feel stress, or weary and tired. The body reacts to this increase in

adrenaline, leading to the mind's logical solution of resting. However, if your body refuses to stop, and the adrenaline remains

in your bloodstream, it can cause depression, as well as increasing your blood pressure, which can cause other negative

reactions in the body. Among these negative reactions is anxiety. Statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health has

indicated that more than 40 million American adults, about 18 percent of the adult population have one form of anxiety or

another. This makes anxiety disorders the most common of all mental illnesses in the United States.