Health Anxiety or the fear of illness is a common concern for anyone who lives with chronic anxiety, and it’s no wonder. The fact is that anxiety is a natural part of our personal ecology. And the human condition, unfortunately, makes it very difficult to ignore or escape from. However, by understanding the conditions that promote health anxiety and how to treat them, you can begin to manage your own anxiety much better.
What are the triggers for health anxiety? Stress, the inability to sleep, a poor diet, an unbalanced work schedule, and low self-esteem all contribute to the emergence of anxiety. In other words, what happens when we experience high levels of stress in our lives? The body responds by sending stress hormones throughout the entire body, including the muscles and tissues.
So, the question becomes how do we know which trigger is causing your anxiety? Are you unaware of the triggers that set off your health anxiety? Usually, if you go to a health practitioner, he or she will ask you questions about your lifestyle. Do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol? All these things are considered triggers for anxiety.
The only way to avoid health anxiety is to eliminate or at least minimize your triggers. If you don’t have physical triggers, however, it’s much more difficult to eliminate anxiety. This is because we often come into contact with triggers during every day activities. For example, if you’re in a traffic jam, you may become aware of the anxiety you feel as you wait your turn to get through.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to reduce anxiety in your life. One way to do this is to change your lifestyle. If you continue to smoke, eat unhealthy foods, and engage in behaviors that create stress, your health anxiety will simply get worse. Therefore, instead of focusing on the symptoms of anxiety, focus on changing your behaviors.
Another way to reduce anxiety is to try to identify the physical triggers that cause you anxiety. Most people who suffer from anxiety report feeling nervous, tense, or stressed just before an exam, examination, or meeting. It’s a common belief that anxiety is caused by negative physical responses to situations. However, this isn’t true. Anxiety can be caused by any number of different physical reactions. It’s important to find out what’s causing your anxiety so that you can learn how to manage it properly.
A good way to test for anxiety is to gauge your heart rate when you’re sitting still or at rest. When you feel anxious, your heart rate will increase. This is a clear sign that you may be experiencing some form of anxiety. You may also notice that your throat tends to tighten or become dry. These symptoms can also be signs of physical symptoms that are associated with high stress levels.
If you want to take steps to manage your health anxiety, make sure you have some time to yourself each day. You’ll be surprised how simply preparing for yourself in the morning can help you reduce stress and anxiety. Also, it’s important that you get regular exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers. And it’s been shown that exercise reduces anxiety.
Learning how to manage health anxiety doesn’t mean you have to spend all your time in therapy or taking medications. In fact, many people find they can reduce stress and anxiety just by being aware of the things they do that activate their feelings of anxiety. Pay attention to how you relax. Notice how you sit or stand if you’re tense. Find out what triggers your health anxiety and avoid these situations as much as possible.
As you learn how to manage health anxiety, you may find that it helps to keep a journal. Write down what causes your anxiety and how you react to these situations. You might discover that there are certain foods you eat that trigger your health anxiety and you can eliminate them from your diet to reduce stress and anxiety. Writing in your journal can also help you see that there are many common factors that contribute to your health anxiety. By looking at your life objectively, you can begin to change it.
If you want to learn how to manage health anxiety, it’s important to make sure you don’t push your body too hard. The best thing you can do is relax and accept that you will feel anxious at times. Avoid trying to fight off these feelings by engaging in activities you enjoy such as yoga, meditation or sports. If you feel you must engage in an activity, try not to push yourself too far beyond your limits.