Wikipedia defines anxiety as a physiological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components. Furthermore, Wikipedia says that these components combine to create the feelings that we typically recognize as fear, apprehension, or worry.

The leading cause of anxiety is stress. Stress can be brought on by many different things, including such thing as: family problems, work problems, financial difficulties. Now that we have a clear definition of what anxiety is and what causes it, let’s take a look at some simple coping methods for anxiety.

1. Get more sleep every night. Losing any amount of sleep can take a toll on your body and mind. It can also play a huge role in raising your stress levels because lack of sleep causes you to be even more irritable and nervous.

2. Drink plenty of water. Believe it or not, drinking water can help you tremendously if you are dealing with anxiety. If your body gets dehydrated, it can lead to even more stress and anxiety.

3. Add a dash of humor to your life. Buy a joke book, read the daily comics in the newspaper, or call up a funny friend and ask for a good joke. When you start feeling an anxiety attack coming on, lighten the mood with a smile.

4. Go for a massage. Sometimes you need to treat yourself to a little relaxation therapy. If you don’t like the idea of another person giving you a full-body rub-down, go for a water massage instead.

How many times have you watched someone else set a goal, then achieve it? It’s inspiring, isn’t it? Now just think about how you could inspire others by setting and achieving your goal.

Goal setting is something that is very easy to do. A lot of people make a big deal about it though, and end up talking themselves out of actually going for what they want. Here are some simple steps you can take towards achieving your goal and inspiring others:

STEP 1: Be reasonable. One of the biggest reasons why so many people fail to reach their goal is because they set unreasonable expectations for themselves. Set a reasonable goal to ensure maximum performance capability.

STEP 2: Plan for mistakes. If you’ll be honest with yourself, you will admit that mistakes are bound to happen. Instead of doing a clean-up every time you mess up, plan now for those mistakes: how they might be prevented, what to do when it happens, how to work around it.

STEP 3: Be consistent. Have you ever noticed that “successful” people tend to be hard workers? They hardly ever take a day off work, and when they do it’s usually because they’re extremely ill and are forced to take time off. There is something to be said for consistency.

STEP 4: Help others. Reaching your own goal is highly rewarding. Even more so, helping others get closer to their own goal can be as equally rewarding. Lend a helping hand to others when you can.

Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common types of anxiety disorders that affects people. [1]It is the source of extreme and unwarranted worry. Those who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder often feel anxious and worried, almost at all times. It is an insufferable illness to those it plagues.

Signs and symptoms associated with generalized anxiety disorder encompass a wide variety of things. Some patients experience feelings of restlessness and irritability. Others feel like they can’t breathe or swallow and have trouble sleeping.

In addition to these psychological symptoms, many patients suffer from physical symptoms as well, like upset stomach, diarrhea or terrible headaches. For most, these symptoms are what bring them to the doctor to begin with.

Generalized anxiety disorder makes you feel on edge all the time. Even during the times when you don’t feel the major effects (like breathlessness or tension), you may still feel a nagging sense of anxiety.

Most patients who are diagnosed with this type of anxiety disorder are treated with medications. Certain types of anti-anxiety and –depression medications available today, like Zoloft, Paxil, and Lexipro can halt the onslaught of anxiety. These medications have a high success rate during treatment of patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

In extreme cases, psychotherapy treatment is used. Patients who have greater tendencies towards negative thought patterns and behaviors are often greater candidates for psychotherapy treatment.

If you have experienced any of the mentioned symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, consult your physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.

[1] http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/generalized-anxiety-disorder/DS00502

Are you a big ball of gloom and doom all the time? Feeling unhappy is a miserable thing. The longer you go feeling that way, the harder it is to change it. Here are some simple ways to find true happiness for yourself.

1. Expect to be happy. If this sounds too simple that’s because it is simple. Happiness isn’t something that falls into your lap. Happiness is a state of mind. When you wake up every morning expecting to be happy, chances are you will be happy.

2. Follow your bliss. All too often people do things they think are expected of them, rather than things they are passionate about. Rather than following the norms, do something for once that you’ve been wanting to do.

3. Be present. Do you waste a lot of time thinking about what might have been? Do you fret over what could happen next month? Stop giving so much time and energy to the past and the future. Simply be present in today.

4. Give thanks. Did you know that people who express their gratitude often are less likely to be depressed? Saying a simple, “I appreciate you,” or, “Thank you,” can open up a whole new realm of happiness that you’ve never experienced.

5. Call upon a Higher power. While there are numerous denominations and religious affiliations available today, the one thing they all have in common is faith in a Higher power. Spend time meditating, praying, or singing—or whatever you do—to call upon that Higher power that you believe in.