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Speaking Point: As a coach for over ten years helping people manage their stress and as a former pharmaceutical representative that presented anti-anxiety medication to psychiatrists, there is a big difference between anxiety and anxiety disorders. Stress and anxiety disorders are two different things and are treated very differently.

Speaking Point: Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which can be a good thing if their stress is caused by physical danger. But this can also be a bad thing, if their stress is in response to something emotional and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength. Stress can be managed in many ways such as meditation, deep breathing, exercise, and other processes that release the energy inside your body.

Speaking Point: What causes stress? Many different things can cause stress from physical (such as fear of something dangerous) to emotional (such as worry over your family or job.) Identifying what may be causing you stress is often the first step in learning how to better deal with your stress. Some of the most common sources of stress are: Survival Stress, Internal Stress, Environmental Stress, and fatigue and over work.

Speaking Point: What exactly are anxiety disorders? Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders which affect behavior, thoughts, emotions and physical health. Research into their origins continues, but it is believed they are caused by a combination of biological factors and an individuals personal circumstances, much like other health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes. It is common for people to suffer from more than one anxiety disorder; and for an anxiety disorder to be accompanied by depression, eating disorders or substance abuse. Anxiety disorders can also coexist with physical disorders, in which case the physical condition should also be treated.

Speaking Point: Some of the signs to look for are: Panic Disorder - As the name suggests, panic disorder is expressed in panic attacks which occur without warning, accompanied by sudden feelings of terror. Physically, an attack may cause chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, feelings of unreality and fear of dying. When a person avoids situations that he or she fears may cause a panic attack, his or her condition is described as panic disorder with agoraphobia. Phobias - Phobias are divided into two categories: social phobia, which involves fear of social situations, and specific phobias, such as fear of flying, blood and heights. Social Phobia - People with social phobia feel a paralyzing, irrational self-consciousness about social situations.

Speaking Point: One reason that people have anxiety is because they are projecting into a future where something unwanted or negative will happen. Anxiety can be healed by connecting and imagining a better future. Put yourself in a quiet place where you can close your eyes for a few moments. Imagine that there is a "future you" where all of your dreams come true and you get everything you want. Now, imaging that you are becoming that future you. Imagine what it feels like to be that future you and feel what it feels like to be him or her. When you do this enough it will alleviate the feelings of anxiety in your present moment. Slow down enough to breathe and ask yourself what you are anxious about when the feelings do return. Then connect back to the future where the opposite situation occurs.