Stress and Anxiety

As I step up and make a conscious effort to participate in life, I am faced with how to deal with my anxiety and how do I manage my stress differently to make this happen. Stress is part of our everyday lives and can affect us positively or negatively. Up until this past year, I always thought of stress in general terms and associated it with a negative feeling. I know now that stress can be positive and come from activities that excite or thrill you, or from doing something that motivates or inspires you and often times there is apprehension or nervousness as well. But a positive benefit, large or small is usually the result.

Negative stress can be toxic to our system when we allow it to build. I can always tell when my stress level is becoming elevated because my ability to cope decreases and my anxiety increases. Also because of the physical effects of negative stress, my motivation and emotional well being are affected as well. A vicious circle is created.

When it comes to anxiety, some of us are more affected than others. My anxiety has always been mild to moderate and I have lived with it for as long as I can remember. Stress and anxiety are closely tied to each other and I know that for me emotional well being is also closely linked as well. I don't want to just learn to manage my stress and anxiety, I want to learn how to be proactive rather than reactive. I want to participate in life, not just react to life.

Just this week I watched a video and heard an interesting idea in regards to stress. By engaging in activities that are outside our comfort zone and adding adventure to our lives, positive stress is added. This positive stress enables us to be able to adapt to the small negative stresses and as a result, we no longer react the same way as we did in the past. Not only do we change the way we react, we can also see it as an opportunity. For example, if you have to wait in a long line, instead of being stressed you can use the time to meditate or engage in some friendly conversation. In fact a simple change in perspective can convert negative stress into positive stress.

Recently my anxiety has become more intense. I thought that I could manage it on my own and that is not the case. There are times when we can not fix things ourselves without a little help. It is time for me to make use of some of the available resources. I have found a natural remedy that will help with the anxiety and reduced energy levels.  In addition to taking this natural supplement I can strive to consciously reduce mediocrity and apply mastery and mindfulness to all tasks. I know this will be a process and that there will be success and failure, but the benefit will be reduced levels of negative stress and hopefully increased positive stress.

Michele Ward