Stress will affect us daily. Coping with stress is the key to productivity and wellness. But there are certain times of the year when stress can be more problematic. Holidays, anniversaries, major purchases, marriage, divorce, new jobs, and many others. Sometimes, you might feel pressured by everything all at once. This can lead to additional emotional strain which may prove to be unbearable after a time. This stress may overrule your mind. So, in this article, we will provide effective stress reduction tips you can use now!

Fear of success can prevent you from being all you can be. Have you ever had difficulty keeping a simple commitment to yourself? Nearly everyone I know has some time or another, found him or herself "stuck."You have the best intentions but you avoid, put off, or procrastinate. Why don't we do the things we know we need to do to be happier Why do we fear success? We know we should improve our health or career. But we put it off. Let’s change that starting today.

What is CBT and how can it benefit anxiety suffers? For those that are concerned about avoiding a medication approach to anxiety, psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders.

Psychotherapy or talk therapy for anxiety symptoms involves speaking with a qualified professional who will help people learn how to effectively cope with their anxiety.

Do you fear making a mistake? Does a fear of making mistakes hold you back from greater happiness and life satisfaction. “The biggest mistake anyone can make is to try not to make any.”  A pearl learned from many years of working with this fear and making my own mistakes. Learn about how Richard overcome his fear.

Disorders of anxiety usually last at least six months. These anxiety disorders involve a magnification of fear relative to the actual danger that is present.  They frequently involve nonadaptive behaviors by the person to avoid the anxiety-provoking object or situation. This avoidance actually perpetuates the problem.

What about the role of medication in anxiety treatment? What are the costs versus the benefits?  Are drugs really the answer?  Well, I can tell you that in the settings that I have worked in the past, almost all my patients were on drugs but they were sent to see me.  Why?  Because even if the drugs were somewhat helpful, they did not eliminate the anxiety problem alone. In fact, they may caused other problems like uncomfortable side effects such as sexual dysfunction, weight gain or dependence.

Chronic anxiety without anxiety treatment destroys brain cells. Anxiety increases the hormone cortisol and affects many brain functions. This puts you at risk for many emotional disorders, relationship problems and other psychological issues.

Anxiety is an unavoidable part of modern life.  There are two main kinds of anxiety — acute anxiety and chronic anxiety — and not all anxiety is bad for you. Chronic anxiety leads to anxiety disorders which need treatment. Talk therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the best treatment.  You should avoid drugs or self-medication with alcohol or other substances.

Are anxiety relief and alcohol abuse related? According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 18 percent of the American population are affected by anxiety disorders. That’s 18% of our population. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), alcohol misuse cost the United States $249.0 billion in 2010.  

Dale Carnegie once said, “Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment.”  Worry is something that I encounter in my practice daily.  My son had hamsters when he was young. Those hamsters used to run around that wheel in the cage every night.  They would go and go and go but never get anywhere.  That’s worry.  It will prevent you from attaining happiness and success. To help you understand this problem and potential solutions, I will present a simulated case.   While the person is not real they will represent the kinds of issues I see frequently that addiction to worry can bring.