Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, unease, and worry. The source of these symptoms is not always known.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population). People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders. Anxiety and stress will cause serious health risks if left untreated.
Many people feel stress symptoms in their body. You may have pain in the abdomen, headaches, and muscle tightness or pain. When you are very stressed, you may notice:
• A faster heart rate
• Skipped heartbeats
• Rapid breathing
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Dizziness
• Loose stools
• Frequent need to urinate
• Dry mouth
• Problems swallowing
You may have a harder time focusing, feel tired most of the time, or lose your temper more often. Stress may also cause sexual problems. It can also cause problems with falling or staying asleep and cause nightmares. When these feelings happen often, a person may have an anxiety disorder,
The British Psychological Society has now officially declared hypnosis a proven therapeutic medium to curb stress and anxiety. Hypnosis -- or hypnotherapy -- uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. The person's attention is so focused while in this state that anything going on around the person is temporarily blocked out or ignored. In this naturally occurring state, a person may focus his or her attention on specific thoughts or tasks.