How to know if you are stressed (even if you don’t think you are)

Living with anxiety is kind of like sharing a bed with my cat. Every night he stakes out a nest down near my feet where he is least likely to interfere. Then, as soon as I am asleep he starts to take over. Stretching his back and legs, then strategically rolling about, he slowly muscles his way into my sleeping space (photo: Paul Bradbury, Getty Images). In the haze of sleep I am apparently much more generous and within a few hours I find myself sleeping in a scrunched up fetal position with my knees firmly planted in my husband’s back.

if you’re spending a lot of time worrying about whether you have an anxiety disorder I’d say that’s a dead giveaway

The thing is, if I were awake he’d never be able to bully me out of my comfort zone. Everyone has a metaphorical cat in their bed – anxiety is part of being human – the question is, are you able to know when to kick him out or does your brain trick you into thinking that he has a right to be there? If having an anxiety disorder means that you aren’t able to differentiate between a rational anxiety and an irrational one, how do you know if you have an anxiety problem? I’m no psychotherapist, but if you’re spending a lot of time worrying about whether you have an anxiety disorder I’d say that’s a dead giveaway. If, on the other hand, you’re one of those people who’s beginning to question the role anxiety plays in your life – or in the life of someone you care about – follow this link to a self-test that may help you get an idea of what is normal and what isn’t.

According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, over 18% of Americans are affected by some form of an anxiety disorder. The most common forms are Generalized Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive, Panic, Post Traumatic Stress, Social Anxiety, and specific phobias. Typically, treatments for such disorders are focused on a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, relaxation, and medication.

CBT focuses on identifying, understanding, and modifying thinking and behavior patterns. When a person changes thinking and behavior, emotional changes usually follow.” – www.adaa.org

What does that mean, anyway? In a nutshell, CBT is a method of teaching an individual how to change the way that they perceive and react to a situation. For example, if a person has a phobia anxiety disorder related to muffins a therapist might help her figure out what thoughts (cognition) arise when she is presented with a muffin and what actions (behaviors) those thoughts lead to. Then, the person can learn to recognize those “muffin” situations and practice thinking and reacting differently when presented with one. After a while your brain learns to react in the way you want it to without thinking about it. Basically, it’s learning to be your own therapist.

So, if you think that you may have an anxiety issue remember that medication is not the only solution. For some people, pharmaceuticals are an important part of treatment. For others, a little research and self therapy may go a long way. And remember – never, ever let your pet bully you out of bed space. It’s just not right.

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Posted via web from Mind and Body Health Myths that You Still Believe