Guest Author - Jim Lowrance

There is a phase that most anxiety suffers are very familiar with having experienced, as part of their anxiety condition, called; "Anxiety Sensitization". This is simply a state an anxiety sufferer reaches, when they have experienced an extra amount of stress, over a period of time and it causes them to reach a heightened state of sensitivity to anxiety feelings. When a person reaches this stage of heightened sensitivity to anxiety, they will experience anxiety reactions more easily. Anxiety responses to things will also be more easily triggered while in this state.

An anxiety sufferer, who reaches this state of sensitivity, may become concerned that they have entered a more severe stage of anxiety disorder however, these phases are almost certain to be temporary increases in the anxiety condition and not a permanent worsening of the condition.

When a person is extra tired or extra stressed, they have less resistance to any negative feelings and medical research states that there is also less resistance to physical illnesses. Most anxiety sufferers can likely also relate to the fact, that when you are physically weak from an illness, this can also cause anxiety to be triggered more easily because you are in a less resistant state.

People with anxiety conditions, should observe when they reach this state of becoming sensitized to anxiety, so that they can learn to reverse some of the trends toward getting stressed out. For example; if staying involved in mental studies, such as being on the computer for too long or doing paper work, such as tax returns, for extended periods, results in feeling stressed out and sensitized to anxiety, a person needs to learn to pace their self, instead of taking on too much at a time. It is also a good idea not to take on too many duties at once, in trying to get them all accomplished too quickly. This too is a stress-producer and we should instead be looking for stress-reducers.

Some ideas for stress-reducing, in addition to the things mentioned, would be to take time out to do things that are enjoyable and pleasurable. If you enjoy being outdoors to observe all of the natural beauty and fresh air, then take time out of your duties and take a nature walk or just sit under a shade tree, with a glass of decaffeinated tea and relax. If exercise is a stress reducer for you (and it is for many people), then leave your duties behind for a while and get some exercise and do this, as often as you need to, to keep stress levels down, as long as you do not exceed your tolerance level for exercise.

Persons with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), tend to be the type of anxiety sufferers, who push themselves too hard and try to get too many things done in unreasonably short periods of time. This is many times due to their worries about things getting piled up on them, if they don't stay ahead of their duties. GAD sufferers also stay busy, because it helps them experience some relief from their constant worry and free-floating anxiety feelings. This trend however, can also end in periods of feeling stressed out, so that there is a vicious cycle of seeking stress relief that instead actually results in causing excessive stress.

People with GAD and other anxiety conditions, should work on these methods for reducing stress but should also not get overly concerned if they should reach one of these stressed out phases, that causes them to be sensitized to anxiety. The phase will pass and afterward, another opportunity will present itself, to again work on eliminating the trends that lead to these phases.

It is also important for anxiety sufferers to remember that if they do reach the point of anxiety sensitization, it will not cause them insanity, or death from intense, ongoing periods of anxiety. Adrenaline, the major anxiety producing hormone, can only reach a certain level and then can go no further. The human body is designed, so that it will only utilize a certain amount of adrenaline at a time because it can only metabolize that amount, at a given time. The sensations from being overly-adrenalized, are unpleasant and they will pass, given time.

Work on your stress-reducing techniques, incorporating exercise, deep-breathing techniques and any other methods that you know will help you avoid those stressed out phases that lead to becoming sensitized to anxiety. With time, it will help you overcome and conquer anxiety it in your life.