Lots of people use the words "anxiety" and "stress" interchangeably, but they are in fact two distinct conditions. Stress is a reaction to a stimulus, either external or internal. You may experience stress when you feel frustrated with something (like waiting in line behind a slow person) or when you are worried that you will not meet expectations (such as missing a deadline).

Anxiety, on the other hand, is a feeling of fear and nervousness or even dread. It can be brought on by negative expectations and thoughts, or as a response to stress. You may feel anxious all of the time and not know why, or your worry may be a response to something you are nervous about, like an upcoming business trip. 

Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain may cause generalized anxiety. Some research shows that anxiety can be brought on genetically. Anxiety may also be induced environmentally, as when a child whose father or mother is often anxious becomes an anxious person by observing the parent. But very often the core cause of anxiety is simply the thoughts that a person is thinking!

Stress and anxiety are subjective conditions. Different people may experience stress during different situations, and different people may respond to their anxiousness in extremely different ways. Symptoms of anxiety can range from the mild, such as sweaty hands and tense muscles, to the severe, such as anxiety attacks, irregular heartbeat, and vomiting.

Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety once in awhile. We have all experienced the dry mouth and "butterflies in the stomach" before a test or public speaking engagement. But when does it become harmful to your health? Studies indicate that prolonged anxiety can lead to sleep disorders, high blood pressure, depression, and relationship problems 

For sufferers of long-term untreated anxiety, there may be detrimental health consequences that have yet to be fully identified. Many studies have found a link between chronic anxiety and a number of serious health conditions including heart disease, cancer, thyroid disease, respiratory illness, and arthritis. Chronically anxious people may even be more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack. 

If you experience what seems like a disproportionately high amount of anxiety relative to the circumstances, or if you feel anxious nearly every day, you may actually have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are chronic conditions characterized by an inability to function normally because of frequent anxiety. Anxiety disorders are serious conditions that should be treated to lower the risk of long-term negative health effects.

Anxiety treatment has long been the subject of much discussion in the medical field. Some medical professionals believe that medication is the best treatment for chronic anxiety. However, anti-anxiety medications often produce serious side effects that are just as bad or even worse than the initial affliction. 

There are many safe and non-invasive ways to control negative emotional responses. Exercise is a frequently overlooked option, but it is very effective. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are natural mood-boosting and pain-killing chemicals. With regular aerobic exercise, you may start to experience a dramatic decrease in negative emotional reactions to situations that would have previously made you extremely anxious.

The most effective way to deal with tension and worry is to control it from within. Stress relief and stress management techniques are extremely useful in managing day to day stress. These techniques can teach you to calm yourself and relieve your tension. You make a conscious effort to slow your breathing, release the tension, and maintain a tranquil state of mind. Meditation is an increasingly popular form of tension control in which you focus on mindful relaxation and deep, calming breathing.

However, if you are looking for a proactive method to relieve yourself of anxiety, hypnotherapy is by far the best form of treatment. When an individual undergoes hypnosis, their emotional responses and reactions to events are changed at the core. This gives them the opportunity to cope with common anxiety-inducing triggers without the usual fear and nervousness. 

Hypnosis can be performed by a licensed hypnotherapist in a series of regular treatments. More commonly today, hypnotherapy can be learned from self hypnosis programs which can be purchased in the form of CDs, DVDs, or MP3s for individual home use. No special skills are necessary to perform self hypnosis. All that you need is a way to play the hypnotherapy program and a quiet place where you can listen and relax.

Another successful method of anxiety treatment is Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP. NLP is a form of therapy that helps you retrain yourself to naturally respond to situations in a more positive manner. You can consciously decide to remain calm instead of feeling anxious, and consequently, you always have control over your own feelings.

It is evident that it is very important to control our negative emotional responses in order to remain healthy. Mastering techniques to deal with nervousness and fear may even add precious years onto your life. To treat long-term anxiety, the best course of action is to use hypnosis to change your attitudes and reactions at the core. Then, practice stress management techniques as necessary to remain calm in everyday situations.

Alan B. Densky is an NGH certified hypnotherapist. He offers a complete line of anxiety reduction hypnosis downloads, and advanced anxiety elimination CDs through his Best Hypnotism MP3s website. You can visit his video hypnosis blog, and download a free MP3.

This document may NOT be re-printed. All Rights Reserved. However . . .

Unique "spun" versions of my hypnosis articles are available for publication directly on your website without charge, as long as the byline and the links back to Neuro-VISION are kept intact.