Our nation is in racial turmoil.  COVID19 has created fear, panic and stress.  In an effort to find the peace and positivity in this season of significant change, I recommend wearing a mood ring.  Yes, a mood ring.  Check out the brief video below of how it can help you check your emotional state to navigate the days ahead.  Congrats to Johnathon Pitts who saw my video on LinkedIn and sent me a picture of his new purchase featured above.  He is a former client and now serves as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Fayetteville, NC.  In the event, you order one and are waiting for yours to arrive from Amazon, take time to read this month’s blog.  A dialogue from an interview I participated in for a Global Mental Health Summit to deal with anxiety.

 

What causes people to develop anxiety? 

This is an overview from the MAYO CLINIC…

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.

 

Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. You can have more than one anxiety disorder. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.

 

How are stress and anxiety linked together? 

The feeling of being stressed can be triggered by an event that makes you feel frustrated or nervous. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, or unease. It can be a reaction to stress, or it can occur in people who are unable to identify significant stressors in their life. Stress and anxiety are not always bad.
May 25, 2017 Healthline.com

 

Are there common characteristics of anxiety that can indicate to someone they are struggling with this condition, or does it require a professional diagnosis? 

Symptoms

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

  • Feeling nervous, restless or tense
  • Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
  • Having an increased heart rate
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
  • Having difficulty controlling worry
  • Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

 

See your doctor if:

  • You feel like you’re worrying too much and it’s interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life
  • Your fear, worry or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control
  • You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety
  • You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem
  • You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately

 

It’s the STRONG people that seek help, It’s okay if you don’t feel okay.  Getting help early is key to overall mind/body health.

 

Are there tools or exercises available that people can use to let go of their anxiety when they feel it coming on? 

PRAY Deep Breathing Relaxation Techniques

Books: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living – Dale Carnegie

The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz

The Joy of Living – Yongey Rinpoche

Living Beyond Your Feelings – Joyce Meyer

The Power of Positive Thinking – Norman Vincent Peale

Five good minutes – Brantley and Millstine

 

What are your recommendations for becoming stress resilient? 

Thoughts.  Words.  Actions.  Behaviors.

Create a Mindset Shift – Fear to Focus, Chaos to Creativity, Panic to Purpose.  Use positive affirmations that you believe.   Meaningful activities, work/life balance, exercise, self-care, healthy connections,

 

How can you be resilient to stress?

Develop the Right Attitude for The Very Well Mind

While life can be very challenging, an important step in becoming more resilient is to develop positive self-talk and to remind yourself that you are strong and can grow stronger and wiser as you handle life’s challenges.
Develop the Right Attitude

Resilient people tend to view life’s difficulties as challenges and respond accordingly with action, rather than with fear, self-pity, blame or a “victim mentality.”

While life can be very challenging, an important step in becoming more resilient is to develop positive self-talk and to remind yourself that you are strong and can grow stronger and wiser as you handle life’s challenges.

 

If a person eliminates the stress from their life, will their anxiety diminish and eventually disappear?

Stress is physical and emotional.  I’m not sure if stress can ever be fully eliminated from one’s life – it’s more about eliminating worry from their life. In that case anxiety will diminish and prayerfully disappear.