Stress and Anxiety

Stress can trigger many conditions which can be harmful to one’s health. Anxiety is a normal human emotion which many people may experience at one point or another. There are many different forms of anxiety with varying intensities. A generalized anxiety disorder often involves stress or concern about everyday life events such as work problems, school exams, or making important decisions.Dr. Emily and Dr. Chris from Optimal Chiropractic in Post Falls have treated many patients dealing with stress and anxiety. Below are a few details about anxiety and tips to help treat it.Generalized anxiety can not only cause emotional symptoms, but physical as well. We often notice people who are anxious to be irritable or on edge, they may have an unrealistic view of an issue they are facing, or just be excessively concerned. Anxiety may cause muscle tension and headaches, sweating, nausea, and fatigue. An anxious person may also have difficulty concentrating on a task, and even have difficulty sleeping, especially when they cannot stop thinking about a situation.Anxiety can have many different causes, and has a different effect on people depending on their response to a situation. Some are able to remain calm in more stressful situations than others. Brain chemistry, family history, and environmental stressors may also be a contributor to the reaction many have to stress. If anxiety is caused by a specific event, the feelings generally go away once the event has passed.The feelings of anxiety can build and become worse, especially when more stressful life events occur at the same time. For example, the loss of a job may cause family and financial stress which can become more difficult to handle.It is important to remember that there are things you can do which can prevent or help control symptoms of anxiety. Here are a few examples:• Reduce the amount of caffeine and sugar consumed in the diet• Exercise and eat a balanced diet• Stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing• Seek counseling, or talk with a friend or family member• Herbal remedies or come over-the-counter medications may be available (be careful, as some may actually increase anxious feelings)Along with lifestyle changes, regular chiropractic care can help reduce to muscle tension and stress brought on by anxious feelings. The doctors at Optimal Chiropractic utilize a variety of techniques to address not only the spine, but muscles and soft tissues all over the body. If you are located in North Idaho or the Post Falls area, give our office a call to see how chiropractic can help you manage your stress and anxiety symptoms.