Your heart races and your stomach turns in knots. Anxiety strikes again.
We tend to think of anxiety as a problem that affects the mind, but it’s clear that it also affects the body. That’s why we experience those physical symptoms whenever we feel anxious.
Physical symptoms aren’t necessarily a problem until anxiety becomes chronic. It’s all about the fight-or-flight reaction. The fight or flight reaction allows us to think quickly, run faster and react better to acute stress. We can stay and fight or we can run like our lives depend on it.
Unfortunately, most of the stresses we experience are not acute. They linger.
Stress at work, financial issues and relationship problems are major causes of stress for people. The worst thing about these stressors is that they don’t quickly subside. The problems stay on your mind and the physical symptoms take their toll on your overall health.
Here are some of the medical benefits of keeping anxiety low.
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Less likely to become addicted
Many people who have anxiety and depression turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate. When you’re under the influence, you’re less likely to be anxious in the moment, but you risk becoming dependent. If you’ve already fallen victim to the disease of addiction, find a detox directory and get help as soon as possible.
Better digestion
Stress can increase your stomach acid and make you feel nauseous, causing your stomach to react in a way that causes diarrhea or constipation. If you already have digestion issues stress can aggravate them and make them worse.
If you can get your stress levels under control, your digestion will improve.
Healthier heart
There’s a strong relationship between heart health and heart disease. People who suffer from anxiety are more likely to have a heart attack or another cardiac event.
It’s not surprising that anxiety would have an impact on heart health. A rapid heartbeat is one of the first and most obvious symptoms of anxiety, and over time, it makes sense that it would have an impact on heart health.
Unfortunately, the problem gets compounded once heart disease is present. Such a health problem would be a source of anxiety, so it becomes like a vicious cycle.
Improved mood
When you find a healthy outlet for stress, your mood will naturally improve. Without anxiety, you are free to focus on the positive things in your life. Anxiety causes restlessness, feelings of being overwhelmed, sadness and depression.
Healthy outlets for stress may include things like exercise, meditation and/or counseling. Anxiety is a legitimate mental health disorder that can lead to bigger issues or exacerbate issues you’re already having. Our bodies respond to stress in a way that’s helpful for immediate dangers that go away, but when the problems linger, it can spell disaster for your entire system.
Remember that the problems that led to anxiety probably didn’t happen overnight. Your reaction to stress will not change overnight either. Find a healthy coping mechanism and stick with it to see the best results.
