Many people tend to use the words stress and anxiety interchangeably, but they are in fact two separate conditions. Stress is a response to a stimulus, which can be internal or external. You may feel 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 sense of dread, or fear and nervousness. It can be brought on by negative expectations and thoughts, or as a reaction to ksalol xanax alprazolam tablets stress. You may feel anxious virtually all of the time and not know why, or your worry may be a reaction to something you are nervous about, such as an upcoming exam.

Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain can cause generalized anxiety. Some research shows that anxiety can be brought on by genetics. In addition, anxiety can stem from environmental conditions, as when a child whose father or mother is often anxious becomes an anxious person by observing the parent. But frequently, the base cause of anxiety is simply the thoughts in a person’s mind!

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

Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety once in awhile. All of us have felt the dry mouth and vague sense of dread before a public speaking engagement or a test. But when does it become harmful to your health? Research has shown that prolonged anxiety can make us vulnerable to sleep disorders, high blood pressure, depression, and relationship problems

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

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