Control over anxiety

Did you know that anxiety is a normal reaction to various life situations? It is understood as the body’s response to a situation that is interpreted as dangerous.** When faced with a threat, our body reacts automatically by activating certain brain areas that end up activating the sympathetic nervous system, which results in anxiety symptoms. A certain amount of anxiety is necessary even to be able to face challenges and undertakings. For example, it is normal for people to suffer a certain degree of anxiety when taking an exam or having to speak in front of an audience. However, when it occurs excessively or chronically, it constitutes a disease that can disorganize people’s lives. Not every anxiety response is considered inadequate, since it adequately fulfills an adaptive function, prepares us to act and mobilizes the body in case of emergency. In addition, it is a sign that something bad is about to happen: however, it constitutes a problem when:

• It occurs without any relationship with a specific external danger or when it overwhelms and totally alters the social, work and/or emotional functioning of a person.
• Lasts too long or occurs too frequently
• It hinders our projects.
• It is disproportionate to the danger or risk we face. Some people have persistent and disabling anxiety symptoms that are caused by comorbid medical illnesses. The presence of anxiety and its severity can have an unfavorable impact on the evolution of medical symptoms and the persistence of the medical pathology usually complicates anxiety symptoms. In some cases the diagnosis and treatment is complex. For these reasons, the management of these conditions should be carried out by professionals trained in these issues.

If you answer yes to 4 or more questions you may be suffering from stress:

• Have you felt fear for no apparent reason?
• Do you constantly move from one place to another for no reason?
• Do you remember the negative more than the positive?
• Do you usually have a frown most of the time?
• Do you usually bite your nails or constantly rub your hands?
• Is your usual state tension?

We give you here some options to combat anxiety:

• Practice yoga
• Eat jicamas and carrots in pieces to entertain your mind but in a healthy way.
• Eat nuts and seeds that give you energy and calm your anxiety.