Yes, entrepreneurial anxiety is real and not only is it real but it can be more intense than anxiety as a traditional employee. While traditional employees typically say that stress arises from role conflict, role ambiguity, and role overload, independent entrepreneurs often face additional in depth financial, social and psychological uncertainties and risks that can cause stress and anxiety to a whole other level.

Do you ever feel a certain way or emotion due to one of life’s many challenges and aren’t able to pinpoint exactly what that feeling is? Stress, anxiety and depression are all common reactions to all types of situations that sometimes feel like they all blend together when in reality there are distinct differences. Is it Stress or Anxiety? stress [stress] to experience stress or worry: Don’t stress about the turkey; I promise it will be delicious. He is always stressing out over his job. Stress is usually caused by something external. Whether it’s your career, relationship or an illness, you’re most likely going to feel a certain type of way. People in these stressful situations typically experience fatigue, irritability, anger, muscle pain, digestive issues, high blood pressure and difficulty sleeping just to name a few. anxiety [ang-zahy-i-tee] distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune: He felt anxiety about possibly losing his job. I am full of anxiety about the future. When it comes to anxiety, it’s typically something more persistent with excessive worries that linger as a reaction to the stress. Symptoms are extremely similar and can be things like difficulty concentrating, compartmentalizing and sleeping. Then there is also your fatigue, muscle tension and irritability just like you may feel in stressful situations. For this reason, it’s not always easy to decipher whether you’re feeling stressed or anxious. Just remember, stress is a response to something external and anxiety is a person’s internal reaction to the stress. Is it Depression or Anxiety? depression [dih-presh-uhn] a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason. It’s not uncommon for someone to feel both anxious and depressed at the same time. In fact, their symptoms, causes and even treatments can often overlap. Reviewing distinguishable features of the two is probably the best way to explain the difference. People with depression often move slowly and their reactions can seem flat or dull. People with anxiety are typically more restless as they struggle to manage their thoughts as they race through their head. Another distinguishable feature is each person’s outlook on the future. Depressed people who do not have anxiety are less likely to be panicky about future events as they are often set on believing that things will continue to be bad. Anxious people tend to always be fearful about what lies ahead. If you are feeling more than one of these, hopefully now you have a better understanding of which is which and what you’re feeling at certain moments. Pinpointing the cause and effects is a great step towards improving your overall mental health and well-being. This post probably won’t help you find a new career that is less stressful or fix your relationship but there are some basic tips that may help with anxiety.

Have you ever wondered why someone got the job instead of you? Why others are making more money and have no financial worries? Why others found their other half and you haven’t? Why others seem to be able to enjoy life freely without any setbacks and you’re struggling to pay the bills? Have you ever wondered any, if not all of these things, and more when all you’ve tried to do is be a good person, love your family and friends and help others whenever possible yet you feel like you’re constantly getting the short end of the stick? All of this probably just makes you want to throw in the towel but here’s the thing… One, even though you feel like it, you’re not alone. Two, Asaph goes through exactly this in Psalm 73 and this is how it plays out… Teaser: What you look at is what you see. Asaph essentially goes through three phases: Psalm 73: 4-12 shows you how Asaph is looking at others like we just touched on. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?” This is what the wicked are like– always carefree, they increase in wealth. Takeaway #1: If all you ever do is focus on they, their and them, then all you’ll ever be is angry, upset and distressed. Psalm 73: 13-17 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Takeaway #2: If all you ever focus on is yourself you become dissapointed, disillusioned and depressed. Psalm 73: 21-28 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Takeaway #3: What you look at is what you see. Be sure to look up and create a foundation with God and put your faith in Him. The rest will fall into place when the time is right.

There are a million and one causes of anxiety and they often differ greatly from person to person. Certain situations trigger anxiety in some people but not in others but one cause that’s a trigger for most of us is conflict. One of the biggest reasons for this is because conflict often snowballs when it’s not dealt with right or not dealt with at all. To take this a step further, conflict doesn’t always mean with other people. Internal conflict Maybe there’s a part of you that wants to speak up more about something important to family or friends and at the same time another part of you thinks it’s a bad idea to do that so you just continue to keep quiet about it so you’re not a bother to others. News flash, these people care about you and want to hear from you but the hesitation is understood. One way to discuss these topics without feeling like you’re a bother is by talking to a licensed therapist. It’s a big step for most people but those who take this step are one step closer to improving their mental health and getting on with it. These internal conflicts could be from a loved one, career or a number of other situations. Easier said than done, but we need to put in the work and the effort to fix these conflicts so we can not only relieve this anxiety from ourselves but to improve our relationships with those around us. Improving our relationships is a whole other avenue to reducing anxiety. We talked about conflict snowballing in a negative way earlier but when relationships are improved then that’s typically an indicator of things snowballing in the right direction. Updated on 2/20/2022: Pastor Kent of Epic Church had a great message today about how to deal with conflict so thought this was the perfect addition to this post. Enjoy!

Looking for a win-win? It’s no secret that most pet owners experience continuous joy when it comes to their animal companions. Aside from this undeniable joy, many of us are unaware of the actual physical and health benefits that come with these balls of fur. Pets, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise which in turn can even improve your cardiovascular health. The extent of these benefits obviously vary with each type of animal but even something as simple as a fish can help relax muscles and reduce stress. These claims are not opinions either. Studies have shown the following to be factual: Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets. One study even found that when people with borderline hypertension adopted dogs from a shelter, their blood pressure declined significantly within five months. Playing with a dog, cat, or other pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax. Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets. Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without. Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets. Source: www.helpguide.org The facts don’t lie so if you’re in the market for a therapy dog or cat, consider these local organizations. In response to Pennsylvania shelters being full these Philadelphia shelters have been stepping up to help with the overflow. Check them out! ACCT Philly | Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)