Anxiety and Stress

So Why does Anxiety and stress occur ?

Anxiety is the mind’s way of trying to protect us. When the brain senses uncertainty, overwhelm, or even subtle changes in the body, it switches into a threat‑detection mode.

This activates the ‘amygdala’, the part of the brain that scans for danger and it sends signals to the body to prepare for action. The problem is, that the brain doesn’t distinguish between real danger and perceived danger; a difficult conversation, a busy week, or even a racing heartbeat from low blood sugar can all trigger the same response. Over time, if the brain is exposed to stress or unpredictability, it becomes more sensitive, reacting faster and more intensely.

Understanding this helps us see anxiety not as a flaw, but as a protective system that sometimes fires too quickly.

I’m sure you’ve all had moments where your mind won’t switch off, when you’re overthinking, feel stressed, or replay conversations long after they’ve happened. Even when nothing is actually wrong, the mind can create a sense of unease.

Anxiety doesn’t always show up as worry; sometimes it’s a tightness in the chest, a feeling of pressure, or becoming overwhelmed by the smallest things.

For me, these sensations became much more noticeable as I moved into perimenopause, and it helped to realise they were rooted in both the body and the mind.

"What are the most common triggers of stress or anxiety for you in your daily life?“

Turning Point – What I did - ACTION

So I stopped trying to “fix” the anxiety and started focusing on calming my body instead.

One simple thing that really helped me was this:

When I noticed the anxiety, instead of spiralling in my head, I’d pause and ask myself:👉 “Am I actually in danger right now?” And 99% of the time, the answer was no.

Then I’d slow things down physically, take a few deep breaths, unclench my body, step away from whatever I was doing.

It sounds simple, but it helped me break that loop of constant stress.

Breathing is a very helpful technique to start teaching the body how to react in situations. The more you practise intentionally slowing the breathing, the quicker your body will react in the same way.

Who or what has been your biggest support in managing stress or anxiety?"

How can you apply the action to your lifeIf you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed a lot of the time, try this:

Next time it hits, don’t judge it. Don’t try to fight it straight away.

Just pause and ask yourself: 👉 “Am I safe right now?”

Then do one small thing to tell your body that you are, slow your breathing, relax your shoulders, take a minute.

Because anxiety isn’t always about what’s happening around you, sometimes it’s about what your body has got used to feeling.

What I do in the moment– I sometimes count. Distraction is a great way of dealing with anxiety. I I count to eight, keep recounting, until I recognise that I can calm down.

Another solution I have found is working out where I get triggered. One of my triggering places is at one point in the sat nav, seems to have recorded the wrong turning, over and over again I kept taking the wrong turning.

Although I know the journey now, it seems to happen every now and then. I have tried to relax and recognise, that if I take the incorrect turn, I know I can just drive to the next roundabout and turn around, which I have now done, several times. Now it actually makes me laugh, so the anxiety has reduced on most of those journeys !!

If you are going through the menopause, because oestrogen influences magnesium regulation, you can become low in magnesium, causing anxiety. Although magnesium, can be low for anyone, male or female, due to an insufficient diet or absorption, low vitamin D, some body disorders, or too high calcium levels.

When we talk about anxiety, it’s important to remember that it isn’t always driven by thoughts or emotions, the body itself can create anxiety‑like sensations.

Things like blood‑sugar dips, caffeine, or even mild dehydration can trigger the same internal alarm system as stress. Hormonal shifts, thyroid imbalances, and electrolyte issues such as low magnesium or potassium can also make the nervous system feel jumpy or overwhelmed.

Even everyday factors like poor sleep, chronic stress, or recovering from illness can leave the body in a heightened state. When we understand these physical contributors, anxiety becomes less mysterious and far easier to manage

You’re not broken for feeling this way. And you don’t have to solve everything at once.

Sometimes, it starts with just giving your body a moment to feel safe again.

Coping Mechanisms

   - "What techniques or activities do you find most effective in reducing your stress levels?"

   - "Have you tried any mindfulness or relaxation techniques? How have they worked for you?"

Understanding Chronic Stress vs Normal Stress — and What To Do About It Stress is a normal part of being human right ?. We all experience it — deadlines, unexpected changes, busy days.

In small doses, stress can even be helpful. It sharpens focus, boosts energy, and helps us respond quickly when something matters.

But there’s a difference between normal stress and chronic stress, and understanding that difference is essential for protecting your wellbeing.

Normal Stress

Normal stress is short‑term. It rises in response to a situation — and then it settles again.

Think of it like a wave: it comes, it peaks, and it goes. Your body returns to balance. You recover. You move on.

Examples include:

Preparing for a presentation

An interview

A busy day at work

Running late

A temporary conflict or challenge

Your body is designed to handle this kind of stress.

“Think about the last week — can you recall a moment of normal, short‑term stress that rose and then passed?”

“What helped your body settle again after that moment?”

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is different. It’s what happens when the stress response stays switched on for too long.

Instead of a wave, it becomes a constant pressure — something you carry every day, often without realising it.

Chronic stress can come from:

Ongoing work pressure

Caring responsibilities

Financial strain

Long‑term uncertainty

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsupported

Old emotional patterns that never fully resolved

When stress becomes chronic, your body never gets the signal to relax. This can affect sleep, energy, digestion, mood, focus, and even your immune system.

You might notice:

Feeling tired but wired

Irritability or emotional sensitivity

Trouble concentrating

Muscle tension

Headaches

Feeling disconnected or overwhelmed

A sense of “just pushing through” every day

Chronic stress isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign your system has been under pressure for far too long.

Does any part of what I’ve described feel familiar to your day‑to‑day experience?”

“If you’re honest with yourself, have you been running on ‘push through’ mode for a while?”

“Where in your body do you tend to feel stress the most — shoulders, chest, stomach, jaw?”

With adaptions to your life and learning coping mechanisms, you can reduce anxiety and stress and over time, be able to have control.

This in turn helps you to improve your overall health and change habits.