The causes of stress are usually a very individual thing but most commonly it is caused by a specific thought process that then generates a specific emotional response such as fear, anxiety or frustration.

When someone is experiencing anxiety there is a difference to feeling stressed. Feeling stressed is a much more general type of condition, where in the case of anxiety the condition and cause is more specific. Unfortunately the cause of anxiety is not always obvious which can in turn lead the anxiety sufferer to experience ever increasing levels of anxiety about their inability to identify the cause. A classic vicious cycle.

When someone experiences stress the causes can be many. Emotional trauma is very common especially so if the trauma is a low grade and ongoing. Obvious emotional states such as fear or grief, as well as bio chemical issues such as blood sugar regulation problems and adrenal depletion, can be likely causes of stress.

Irrespective of what the specific causes are in effectively treating stress and anxiety the cause does need to be found. This is not always easy but a good place to start is mapping out your symptoms and making note of the situations and circumstances that are associated with high levels of stress and the occurrence of your anxiety attacks.

Once the cause of the stress and anxiety has been uncovered finding someone who you can talk to openly about your specific issue is often advised. Whether that person be a professional therapist, a support group or simply someone who you can talk things out with, finding someone to talk with and work out some solutions that are appropriate, and most importantly that you will follow through with, is often the best form of self help in these situations.

In addition to a therapeutic approach to dealing with your anxiety and stress, make sure that your everyday lifestyle supports the therapy you are undertaking. Get moving. Regular exercise has been proven to help reduce levels of stress and increase wellbeing apart from the obvious fitness benefits. Proper sleep and rest are essential as are a healthy well balanced eating plan. Making sure these things are in place will make a huge difference to how you feel now and quite likely prevent the anxiety and stress from getting to levels that are difficult to manage in the future.

Of course what we have discussed here are measures you can take should you still have a reasonable amount of control of the stress and anxiety. If severe physical symptoms palpitations, pain in the chest, extreme dizziness and disorientation occur along with self destructive thoughts, get medical help immediately. While anxiety and stress can be addresses with the basic measures we have discussed sometimes they are not enough. Always seek appropriate medical treatment when in doubt