Stress is spoiling my life. What can I do?

Hi, I've been struggling with memory loss and I wasn't like this before it all started. One morning, I had chills and then I felt that my head had pressure; I felt like I was going to pass out. And then there's just so many thoughts in my head that I can't get it off, especially at night.

I don't know what this is. Even my mom feels it, too. She went to a psychiatrist, who diagnosed her with anxiety disorder. Hmmm... I just want peace and to know what this is. Please help me...

I tend to feel this whenever I feel something in my body, anything. Because I'm scared of any illnesses, I panic instantly when I feel something unusual with my body or whenever I see something on my skin, I panic right away. Please help me.

This question was submitted by 'Emmanuel'

Mark says...

Hi Emmanuel and thank you for writing in.

It sounds like things have been really tough, but please be assured that stress levels in the mind and body can get back to normal levels very fast. I am assuming you have been physically checked out and given the all clear?

You mention memory loss and certainly long-term, higher than normal stress levels affect a part of the brain called the 'hippocampus', which is responsible for laying down short-term memories. That's why high stress levels make learning and recall difficult.

Anxiety needs a 'shape'. When we feel stressed, then the mind needs to find something to worry about (and worry causes us to feel stressed). You have been worrying about your health. These two articles might help you: 'Stop Being a Hypochondriac' and '5 Tips for Generalized Anxiety Disorder'

It's vital you do two things. First off, you need to relax every day, even if only for ten minutes. This will lower your general stress levels, meaning it becomes harder to become stressed even between the once-a-day relaxation sessions. Try the '10 Minute Power Nap', listen to it once a day until you find you can relax very quickly and easily, and keep doing it. It will make a huge difference to your psychological and physical wellbeing.

Secondly, it's important to understand that stress is always a signal that one or more of your primal emotional or physical needs is not being met in some way. Check out this blog and measure your own life against it. How many of these needs do you meet? And if you don't meet them the way you are living right now, how can you work to start meeting them?

If you follow and put into practice what I've said here, then you will soon feel much better and also more confident that in future you'll be able to be more in control of how you feel, too. : )

All best wishes,

Mark