Stress and anxiety problems are extremely common. These two concepts are related and overlapping, but not exactly the same.
Everyone experiences anxiety at times, but when it is impairing our ability to function we call it an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed mental health problem in the U.S., and nearly 1/3 of people will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. In LGBTQIA+ folks, these concerns are even more prevalent, due to minority stressors, not the least of which is religious harm.
Stress is typically a reaction to life’s challenges or an overloading of responsibilities or risks. Stress is the experience of psychological pressure or tension due to demands, changes, or problems in various facets of life. Short-term, minor stress is often manageable with coping skills and self-care, like exercise, getting a massage, or taking a day off of work. Stress in small amounts is not necessarily bad for us. And positive life events can cause stress, such as getting married, graduating college, or buying a home. It’s very large amounts of stress, or long-term stress, that can cause real problems for us.
Sometimes life can feel so big, we can become paralyzed by our anxiety. There are big decisions to make, changes outside of our control, and pressures from others in our lives. We know stress management is helpful at times, but it may not be enough. While everyone is different, there are some common ways that stress and anxiety can manifest. Examples include:
- Feeling like you can’t turn your brain off
- Feeling like you can’t do anything right
- Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Muscle tension
- Irritability
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Stress eating
- Feeling like no one understands
- Using alcohol or cannabis more than you would like
You don’t have to deal with these issues alone. Get in touch today and let’s get started.