Are you feeling a little anxious today? Is moderate to mild anxiety dragging you down? Well, if this is the case you are not alone! Anxiety is the most common of all so called mental disorders impacting the lives of approximately 30 million Americans, and some experts suggest that one out of every four Americans will suffer from an anxiety disorder over the course of their lifetime. Statistics around the world tend to vary from country to country but despite the disparities, overall it is still the most common mental disorder worldwide. It is safe to say that no matter who you are, or what country you live in, you are likely to experience more mild to moderate anxiety than you wish.

What is really interesting to this writer, is that despite societies advancements levels of stress have never been higher than they are today. Could this be a byproduct of working more and earning less? The fact that job security is no longer a given? Or perhaps the divorce rate is at an all time high? Financial concerns have never been greater? It is hard to say, what exactly drives this train into our lives may not always be clear but once at the station it may be difficult to get it to leave the station.

Only a small percentage of those with this order seek treatment and by some estimates those that do may wait at least five years to seek out help. That’s a problem because moderate anxiety not only causes emotional pain and distress, but also is a contributing factor in some cases of depression and even suicide. Let’s explore four ways that mild to moderate anxiety can impact a person life.

*Weight gain: I am sure you have seen advertisement for weight loss products guaranteed to block cortisol. Cortisol production increases when a person is under a lot of stress and results in fat being stored around the mid section, thus increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Stress also causes some people to eat more high cholesterol comfort foods such as ice cream, which will pack on the pounds over time.  

*A physical wreck: High blood pressure, frequent tension headaches, artery disease, and digestive problems are just a few ways moderate to severe anxiety can negatively affect your body.

*I can’t think straight: You often hear a person under duress complain about not being able to think straight but there may be a scientific explanation for this. A recent research study found that certain types of chronic anxiety disorders change the makeup of brains structure impacting their ability to make rational choices.  

*Marital problems: Moderate anxiety can make even the most mild mannered person grumpy. How many times have you heard a spouse say that that their significant other is just not the same person they married. Could this be anxiety related?  

In summary, prolonged instances of mild to moderate anxiety can lead to serious physical and emotional health concerns and finding ways to reduce its impact is very important. You are like the teapot that needs to release steam in order to avoid a potential catastrophe and produce your best brew. Certainly, you will have many different choices including medication, behavior therapy, and natural remedies for anxiety. For some the combination of natural remedies for anxiety with cognitive behavioral therapy has proven to be an effective side effect free way to jettison anxiety and stress before it turns into something more serious.  Non prescription alternatives are an area of healing therapy worth discussing with your doctor when formulating a comprehensive treatment plan.