Is It Just Anxiety? Or Should I Be More Worried?

Is it just anxiety, or should I be more worried?

I'm sure we can all think of times when our anxiety has gotten the best of us. But when does anxiety stop being something everyone experiences and starts becoming a problem that needs professional help? Here are a few signs that you many need some extra help dealing with your anxiety.

• Are you using alcohol or drugs to calm yourself down? It might not be a problem to have a glass of wine every now and then, but turning to a harmful or potentially-harmful substance can create a dependency problem that will create a lot more stress than it relieves. The same goes for smoking and overeating.
• Does your anxiety get in the way of your normal daily activities? For instance, does it cause problems at work? I have had it where my anxiety caused me to make mistakes at work and alienate my co-workers. Does it keep you from doing the things you want to do? Do you find yourself excessively irritable, or otherwise having problems getting along with people that you didn't have before?
• Are you completely unable to control your anxiety?
• Is your anxiety disproportionate to the situation? For instance, do you immediately start worrying that your husband has gotten into a terrible car wreck every time he's late coming home from work? Are you worrying more about something that others would see as 'no big deal', or when you don't have a real reason to worry? Are you unable to 'shake' your concerns, even after they've been proven to be invalid?
• Have you basically tried everything you can think of to help get rid of your anxiety (yoga, exercise, etc), but nothing helps?
• Are your sleeping or eating patterns disrupted? Do you have problems with restlessness or concentration?
• Is your anxiety caused by any particular event, or has it been going for several months with no real discernible cause?

If you think you may have a problem with anxiety or anything else in your life, you owe it to yourself to at least have it looked into. It's perfectly normal to have anxiety or worry about difficult situations in your life. For instance, if you lose a job or have a death in the family, it's normal to spend some time grieving or worrying. In fact, I would say it is expected! However, if the worrying gets in the way of your daily life or starts causing problems in your relationships, it's time to talk to your doctor. Even if you haven't been diagnosed with a specific medical condition such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), depression or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, (OCD) you could still benefit from seeing a therapist. A therapist can teach you techniques to help you deal with things in your life in a more productive way. Sometimes medication helps, but only your doctor can tell you which course of treatment is best for you. Either way, it's worth the effort to get your life back.

Women and Distorted Body Images

Ladies all over the world have struggled with their bodies and how they feel about them. Millions feel they do not have what they want, or are simply unhappy with their appearance in general. Women tend to have a higher rate of distorted body images and it can begin rather early in life.

Women and distorted body images have been around for centuries. Except the main difference many years ago is that the women were able to have a few pounds on their frames, in fact a fuller and heavier body was admired back then. Today, women all over strive to be something they may not naturally be able to obtain. Becoming very thin for example, can be dangerous and make life rather miserable if you are always trying to be someone else. Having plastic surgery is another option millions of ladies have undergone to achieve the looks they desire to have.

Instead of trying to aim for something that you may not have been born with, try to be happy with the qualities you do possess. Look at what is making you unhappy with your appearance and correct those feelings instead. By this, speak to a counselor if you feel it's necessary or start realizing there are more important things in life to find pleasure in over the physical ones. See the traits you have and what they are in value. For example, no one is essentially perfect but they may have pretty eyes or great hair. Accentuate the features you adore about yourself and focus less on the ones you dislike.

Change up your look if you need something different to think about. Give yourself a makeover if need be, buy some new wardrobe pieces or color your hair. New makeup or a new handbag can make all the difference in your bad day. Women are such complex creatures that at times they tend to over think the negative things in life and over analyze them as well. Do what makes you happy as this type of thinking can lead to other issues such as poor self esteem or even depression. Watch how much you allow your mind to focus on these imperfections you feel you possess and get involved in something more positive to pass the time instead. For instance, if you decide to get more activity in your life such as running or swimming a few days per week you will begin to fade those negative thoughts. Exercise can heal the brain and alleviate it of certain thoughts and feelings. Talk to your friends and family members if you still feel negative about your own body image and get a fresh perspective on how things appear to others before continuing to waste your time on it any longer.