In our lives, we all have had our share of stress that we could do without. Stress occurs when we believe that some event in our life is threatening to our self. When we are exposed to these events, we experience what is known as the fight or flight response. When this occurs, your heart rate increases and your blood pressure. This sends more blood to your heart and muscles causing an increase in your respiration's. When this happens, it makes your body become tense.

Anxiety can be helpful when it alerts you to take action to solve a problem you are facing. You can use your anxiety as a sign to alert you that there is a problem and that you need to do something about it. For example, people who play sports that experience stress, it may make them want to perform much better.

When you experience prolonged stress, it can cause heart palpitations, dizziness, shaking ,sweating, nausea or discomfort in your chest. It may even make you feel like your having a heart attack and feel like your dying. This can end up leading to heart disease and a compromised immune system. It can also make you feel like you have no energy and have a difficult time concentrating.

Some people experience anxiety for a long period of time and end up with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders last a long time and are more intense. This can end up interfering with your life and your ability to function on a daily basis.

One type of anxiety disorder is known as generalized anxiety. This occurs when you have experienced excessive worry, continuously feeling on edge, finding it hard to sleep or difficulty trying to relax for at least six months. Some symptoms may include restlessness, irritability, feeling tired, difficulty concentrating and muscle tension.

Learning how to handle stress and anxiety, you will need to find your strengths you already have and you will need to learn new skills in coping with your stress. Stress is not something which has to be a part of your life. It is only the effect of a certain inability to manage your own thoughts, emotions, energy, and reactions, and further -the situation you’re in, the people you’re with, and so forth. Realizing this fact, is the first step towards changing the way you view things, and take action to improve how you feel, think and act. Think positive and positive things will happen.