shoulders,	hands,	arms,	stomach,	buttocks,	legs,	feet)	while	breathing	in	for	a
count	of	5,	and	then	release	the	muscle	while	breathing	out	for	a	count	of	5.
While	doing	so,	pay	close	
attention
	
to	the	contrast	between	your	experience	of
muscle	tension	and	muscle	relaxation.
Repeat	this	exercise	a	few	times.	Notice	your	body	loosen	and	gradually
become	more	at	ease.
Anxiety’s	Physical	Symptoms
The	body’s	stress	system	combined	with	heredity	and	environmental
experiences	over	time	can	set	the	stage	for	a	variety	of	chronic	medical
conditions.	Persistent	exposure	to	stress	through	psychological	trauma,	grief
and	loss,	life	transitions,	habitual	worry,	and	chronic	perfectionism	can
cripple	the	adrenal	system.	The	adrenal	glands	overwork	to	manage	the
ongoing	stress,	and	then	eventually	give	way	and	underwork.	The	result
creates	a	roller	coaster	of	anxiety	spikes	followed	by	exhaustion.	Exhaustion
can	lead	to	a	variety	of	medical	diagnoses.
Anxiety	is	also	linked	with	the	release	of	stress	hormones	and	chemicals
that,	over	time,	can	worsen	medical	conditions.	For	example,	research	is
showing	that	stress	and	chronic	pain	are	likely	linked	to	the	same	neuronal