Causes of Anxiety and What to Avoid
If you’ve been feeling anxious recently, worry not...you’re not alone. We’ve all been there at one point or another. That said, we should take note of how intrusive anxiety is in our day to day lives. Is your anxiety debilitating? Is it affecting your work, or your relationships with others? If so, we may want to take a more hands-on approach when it comes to managing our anxiety. The first step would be to take a look at what’s actually triggering our anxiety in the first place. Here are a few factors that may be triggering your anxiety.
Caffeinated Beverages
As you may already know, caffeine tends to cause a “jittery” effect on those who partake. That’s because caffeine is a stimulant. The reaction your body emulates a deeply instinctual response, the “fight or flight” response. When this happens, your anxiety tends to peak...which can also cause anxiety attacks. Limit your caffeine if this is your primary cause of anxiety.
Specific Medications
Certain medications can also be the culprit of your anxiety. To narrow it down, prescription medications for thyroid issues and asthma tend to fall into this category. OTC drugs include those that aim to help you decongest your sinuses, as well as cold medications. Choose your medications wisely and be wary of what you’re introducing to your body.
Drugs and Alcohol
Abuse of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of the two can lead to more anxiety in individuals. A common trend you might notice is that those who have social anxiety disorders may turn to alcohol to cope, but that too may be a trigger in and of itself. If you feel as though you fall under that category, you may want to limit your drinking.
Daily Stress
Stress is one of the most commonly recognized triggers of anxiety. It’s a vicious cycle, stress can cause symptoms of anxiety and anxiety can produce more stress within an individual. This cycle can of course lead to physical ailments, which can be troublesome if it is an ongoing issue. Practice meditation and learn how to properly relax in order to alleviate these symptoms.
As you can imagine, anxiety isn’t an issue that goes away overnight. You’ll need to directly address this issue and devise strategies that allow you to manage your anxiety and live a more comfortable lifestyle. There will be challenges along the way, but a proactive approach will guide you in the right direction as opposed to taking no approach at all. What kinds of strategies do you use to manage your anxiety? I certainly would love to know!