Have you ever had anxiety and didn’t know why? There’s nothing on your mind, but you feel it in your body. It’s miserable – it’s fear of the unknown, and from that fear comes a sense of dread that you just can’t place. The good news is that anxiety can be managed with the right approach, but to do so you’ll need to identify and address what may have triggered it in the first place.

Sometimes, the cause of anxiety lies in our tendency to overlook certain areas of our lives. You may put off difficult conversations, or not take care of financial obligations that we know need attention. You might even ignore physical symptoms that should be addressed by a doctor. All these things can lead to feelings of guilt and shame, which can manifest as anxiety in both our mental and physical states.

Here are three aspects of life that often go unchecked, yet can be the source of considerable stress.

Lifestyle

It is important that you are taking care of yourself physically in order to also take care of yourself mentally. Aspects such as your sleeping patterns, eating habits, and screen time can play a role in your anxiety levels. If you are unable to pinpoint something that is causing your anxiety you might first want to take a look at how you are currently showing yourself love and care. This could also mean spending more time doing things that you enjoy such as reading, exercising, or spending time with family and friends.

Environment

An unhealthy or toxic environment can cause you to have anxiety. This can range from your house to your workplace. An environment is made up of both people and objects.

Let’s take your workplace for example, if you are surrounded by a boss or co-workers that are degrading or disrespectful this could cause you to become uneasy. Become aware of the people and interactions you encounter because they can play a role in your mental well-being. Another more surprising aspect is how you are keeping your space. Are you organized? Is your trash thrown away around your desk? Do you lose things often? For some, little changes like these can increase your productivity and create a more peaceful lifestyle.

Stress Factors

Stress is a hard topic to tackle because there are so many things in your life that could cause you to stress. Stress can then become a trigger for your anxiety. Some common stress factors include finances, relationships with your friends and family, or your health. It is important that you can find healthy ways to cope with stress in your life in order to keep you from becoming anxious. Coping can look different for everyone. If you are having trouble finding healthy coping mechanisms, finding a therapist can be a great place to start.

Next Step:

If you are experiencing anxiety in your life and are looking for ways to make changes, we CAN help you. At New Vision Counseling and Consulting it is our goal to help equip you with tools to build the life you want. You can reach us at (405) 921-7776