Guided Meditation For Stress and Anxiety

“Enjoy this 15 minute guided meditation to help relieve stress and anxiety. Relax and release tension from your body + mind as you observe your physical sensations and thoughts. This meditation includes a body scan and single word mantra to promote mindfulness.” - Jessica Richburg

The Effects of Stress and Anxiety on the Mind and Body

Stress and anxiety are two different things, but they can work together to make you feel more anxious. Stress is a normal part of life, yet when it's chronic, it can have unhealthy effects on your body. The symptoms of stress on your mind include irritability, anger, insomnia, depression and anxiety. The effects of stress on your mind also include problems with concentration and memory. The symptoms of stress on your body include muscle tension or spasms as well as headaches or stomachaches due to issues with digestion or other factors like high blood pressure

Stress is a normal part of life, yet when it's chronic, it can have unhealthy effects on your body.

Stress is a natural reaction to challenging situations--it can help you perform better at work and get through the day with less anxiety. Stress also helps us connect with others and learn from our experiences. But when stress becomes overwhelming or lasts for too long, it can be harmful to your health in several ways:

• It increases blood pressure and heart rate (which may lead to heart disease)

• It weakens immune function by affecting how well white blood cells fight infections

• It disrupts sleep patterns so that you don't rest enough throughout the night

What does stress do to the mind?

Stress can cause anxiety, depression and insomnia. Stress can also cause memory problems, concentration problems and even hallucinations.

The symptoms of stress on your mind include irritability, anger, insomnia, depression and anxiety.

• Irritability

• Anger

• Insomnia: A lack of sleep can make you irritable, angry and depressed. It also causes your body to produce more cortisol (the stress hormone) than usual, which can lead to weight gain or difficulty losing weight. Sleeping less than six hours per night on a regular basis is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. If you're having trouble sleeping because of stress or anxiety, try these tips:

• Avoid stimulants like caffeine after noon. Caffeine may help you stay awake at first but will actually make it harder for you to fall asleep later in the evening. Limit yourself to one cup per day maximum--and don't drink tea or coffee at all if they keep you up at night!

• Keep electronics out of your bedroom as much as possible; even though it might be tempting after a long day at work/school/etc., it's better not having them there so that they aren't potentially distracting from getting good restful sleep!

The effects of stress on your mind also include problems with concentration and memory.

Stress might cause you to forget things, or have trouble concentrating. It can make your mind feel like it's racing and make it hard for you sleep. Stress also can affect your memory in other ways: if we're stressed out about something, our brains tend to focus on the negative aspects of that thing instead of remembering all the good parts of it. For example, if you're stressed about getting an important test done on time, then all that stress will make it harder for you to remember how much work went into preparing for this exam--and therefore easier for those feelings of anxiety about performing well on this test.

Stress can be disguised as physical ailments such as headaches or stomachaches due to issues with digestion or other factors like high blood pressure.

Stress can be disguised as physical ailments such as headaches or stomachaches due to issues with digestion or other factors like high blood pressure.

Stress causes digestive problems, including heartburn and indigestion. Stress also increases acid production in the stomach which may lead to GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Stress can also cause constipation by slowing down your intestinal tract making it difficult for food to pass through your system. This is why it's important to eat healthy meals that are high in fiber every day so you don't suffer from any digestive issues that could exacerbate your stress levels even further!

Stress has been linked with high blood pressure which causes headaches and muscle tension throughout your body that leads to aches all over the place - especially in places like shoulders where we carry most of our worries around with us all day long!

What does stress do to the body?

Stress can cause your body to release adrenaline and cortisol, two stress hormones that can affect your heart rate, blood pressure, and mood. The body releases these hormones when it feels threatened or endangered in some way. This is an evolutionary response meant to help us survive a dangerous situation by preparing the body for action: if you're being chased by an animal or about to get hit by an oncoming car (or both), for example--it would be helpful if your brain could tell your muscles what they need in order to react appropriately.

But when we experience chronic stress over time--the kind that comes from constantly worrying about paying bills or getting promotions at work--our bodies are constantly bombarded with these chemicals that were meant only for short-term use; they become less effective at doing their jobs because they're overused and abused so much throughout the course of a day (or week). Eventually this begins taking its toll on our health: increased risk factors like heart disease; decreased immune function; digestive problems like ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome; depression...and more!

When you're under chronic stress, your body reacts by secreting cortisol into your bloodstream; this is referred to as the "fight-or-flight" response.

When you're under chronic stress, your body reacts by secreting cortisol into your bloodstream; this is referred to as the "fight-or-flight" response. This reaction can be triggered by any number of things: from a looming deadline at work to an unexpected bill in the mail.

There are many physical and mental symptoms that result from chronic stress. Some of these include headaches and stomachaches (likely due to issues with digestion), high blood pressure or rapid heartbeat (the body's attempt to pump more oxygenated blood throughout the body), insomnia and depression (when we're stressed out we tend not to get enough sleep).

What you can do to soothe stress and anxiety

It is important to recognize that stress and anxiety are not the same thing. Stress is a normal reaction to everyday life, but it can become an issue when you experience high levels of stress for an extended period of time. Anxiety is more serious than stress, as it's defined as an overwhelming feeling of worry or fear that makes it difficult to function in everyday life.

When it comes down to treating these conditions, there are many options available. Some people choose medication while others prefer natural remedies such as meditation or exercise--and there's no wrong choice!

The effects of stress and anxiety on the mind and body can be devastating. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your daily life and are experiencing symptoms like headaches or stomachaches that seem to have no cause, it could be time to take a step back from your responsibilities and focus on yourself for once. Take some time off work if possible or spend less time worrying about others' needs--this will help lower your stress levels overall!