Anxiety and Stress

Anxiety, Stress and the Body

Stress is the body's reaction to a challenge, and it is a normal part of life. However, when stress is prolonged, there are times when it can lead to having anxiety. Anxiety is nervousness, apprehension, and self-doubt that may or may not be associated with real-life stressors. College can be stressful. You can easily get anxious trying to juggle school, work, friends, and family while trying to figure out the rest of your life. Everyone experiences some level of anxiety periodically, but it can be beneficial to get help when feelings of dread and worry are unfocused, overwhelming, recurring, and not directly linked to stressful events.

Stress and anxiety can cause symptoms in all four different areas:

  • Physical
    • fatigue
    • trouble sleeping
    • clenched teeth
    • headaches
  • Emotional
    • sense of isolation
    • restlessness
    • fearful
    • more frequent pessimistic attitude
  • Cognitive
    • trouble remembering things
    • repetitive or unwanted thoughts
    • racing thoughts
    • chronic worrying
  • Behavioral
    • change in eating habits
    • pacing
    • frequent lying
    • self-harm
    • significant change in school or work performance, etc.

Depending on the person and the cause of their stress, the number of symptoms from each category can vary.

Mindfulness

When treating anxiety, it is important to find ways to relax and calm our mind and body. It is also necessary to find a new way to look at the stress in life. There are certain interventions and techniques that look towards MINDFULNESS to reduce the fear and stress.

Mindfulness is focusing on and truly being in the present moment, accepting it fully without judgment but instead with compassion. Being mindful of the things that are happening and the world around you can help you cope with many things in life, including stress and anxiety. By practicing mindfulness techniques, studies have shown improved ability to regulate emotions in the brain. It can increase compassion and non-judgment towards others, and more importantly towards the self. Instead of being caught up in our thoughts, we can be more flexible. Mindfulness allows us to observe ourselves more comfortably; this in turn allows us to be more truly ourselves openly and without self-criticism. The resources below provide a few examples of mindfulness techniques to explore and try in order to ease the anxiety and come to a more peaceful state.

Guided Imagery

Body Scan

Deep Breathing

Mindfulness Meditation

Additional Resources

Counseling can help

Counseling can help you reduce anxiety and learn about mindfulness. You can make an appointment with a counselor by calling the Counseling and Wellness Center at 312-395-5508.

Meditation Group

Dr. Lesley LeBaron offers a Meditation Group on Tuesdays at 3:30-4pm and Wednesdays at 2:30-3pm, where you can learn to practice mindfulness and meditation. Visit meditation group workshops here.