Seventy percent of all people suffering from an anxiety disorder also have a lack of self-esteem. A lack of self-esteem becomes most apparent in adult life when people have matured but have not properly developed emotionally.

For example, a high-powered manager with a shining career can still have serious trouble dealing with people in his life. This might be a result of the fact that, due to an unhappy childhood, he finds it extremely difficult to trust people around him. He has had a few anxiety attacks at work, in day-to-day situations. His lack of trust makes him anxious and nervous in social relationships and, until he develops emotionally and deals with his fear and insecurity, he cannot resolve his anxiety problem. Intellectually, this man may know that there is nothing to fear and that fear will not hurt him but emotionally, he cannot come to terms with this concept.

Even though talking to a counselor or doctor is always a good idea when combating low self-esteem, there are things that you can do yourself to raise your self-image.

Statistics show that two out of ten people deal with anxiety problems these days. Anxiety itself is not an illness since people suffering severe anxiety problems cope with unexpected attacks of fear and extreme anxiety in situations where a nervous reaction or response would not be logical. As symptoms related to anxiety could also possibly point to physical illness, it is always wise to consult a doctor before embarking on a course of treatment.

How is it possible to figure out you have anxiety? There are typical reactions taking place, which indicate to the problem:

A sudden feeling of panic or fear in a situation where you would normally be quite relaxed.
The inability to sit still and relax even when your attention is focused.
A constant feeling of being rushed and a feeling of panic when things do not go as planned.
Feeling overwhelmed and snapping at family members and loved ones.

One of the best ways to avoid an anxiety attack is to avoid the stressful situations which cause it to occur. Although that may sound easy, many times a person is in the midst of an anxious episode before he/she realizes it. By the time the tell tale heart palpitations and short breathing have arrived, the attack is well on its way. How then can a person develop the self-awareness to short circuit an impending onset of anxiety? One possible way that a person can uncover hidden sources of stress is by keeping a journal.

Many people think writing a journal is like keeping a diary, and in some ways it is. However, a journal is generally less structured and even more personal than a diary. A journal is not a daily listing of events but rather a way of talking to oneself to help uncover patterns of behavior. Often, by recounting events in the safety of a non-judgmental document, a person can discover weaknesses and strengths which may have been previously unknown. Additionally, writing things down can be a form of release since a person can say things to his/her journal that it would be imprudent and/or hurtful to say to actual people.

How does a person start a journal?

It generally happens at the worst possible time. We begin to feel our necks tighten, our stomachs fill with butterflies, our mouths become dry and our heads become light--anxiety begins to take its toll. The vast majority of us will fall victim to some sort of anxiety many times during our lives. Stress, worry, lack of sleep, food and/or exercise can all be factors leading up to an anxiety episode.

While instructing our bodies to relax is one way to combat the anxiety demon, relaxation is not as simple as it may sound. In fact, relaxing effectively takes practice. If you are prone to moments of high anxiety, it might be wise to practice some relaxation techniques in advance so you can kick them into gear when you feel an impending attack. Below are a few relaxation techniques that have proven useful.

There are many theories to explain why panic attacks occur. Some believe that people who are perfectionists and distrust any situation which they cannot control are prone to attacks. Others feel that adults who have panic attacks were the children of overbearing parents who discouraged their children from showing emotion. However, almost all theorists find the physical sensation of the panic attack to be rooted in the primitive urge of “fight or flight.” When the body perceives itself to be in danger, the fight or flight mechanism actually releases chemicals into the blood stream that trigger physical responses.

The very concept of control can cause anxiety. In many people, feeling that they are not in command of a situation is the root of an anxious response. Some people do not function well if they do not feel as though they are in charge of every aspect of their lives.

Women are expected to be both caregivers and business people while men must be understanding husbands and fathers, as well as hardnosed breadwinners. Increasingly, many of us must take care of our fathers and mothers in addition to our sons and daughters. No wonder some ten million of us suffer from some form of anxiety disorder.

Anxiety can sometimes be dialed down by realizing that we cannot do everything all the time nor do we need to try. It can be a worthwhile use of your time to take an afternoon off and spent it analyzing your life, your goals and your priorities.