Stress & Anxiety

Ask any of your friends, family or colleagues if they’ve ever felt stressed and the answer will be a resounding “yes!”. We all feel stressed at times, thanks to the pace at which we live our lives. Are you having exams at the moment? Is work super-busy? Feeling financial pressure? Are you having problems with your partner? Moving house? Or planning a big event? Any of these things and a million more, can make us feel stressed.

Stress is not the same as anxiety, although the two often go together.

Stress makes us feel overwhelmed or unable to cope in certain situations. Often, a change in circumstances can be the trigger. These may be short-term causes, such as an argument with your partner, or long-term concerns, such as coping with illness or financial worries.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is more of a “state; it’s a feeling that may come without you knowing why – there may be no readily identifiable cause, but you may feel that you can’t catch your breath and you feel swamped by fear.

What can you do to manage stress and anxiety?

You may wish to take a natural supplement that may relieve nervous tension and help you to cope when times feel tough. They include:

• Siberian ginseng.
• St John’s Wort.
• Members of the Vitamin B family.

There are qualified health professionals who have a wide range of techniques to help you cope with feelings of anxiety and stress – ask you doctor for advice in the first instance. He or she may refer you to a counsellor or psychologist who can help.