Last updated on October 29th, 2024 at 01:56 pm
Everyone experiences worry and stress at some point in their lives, and they can become quite overwhelming. But what are the differences between these normal emotions and anxiety? You may have an anxiety disorder and not even know it. Instead of making guesswork, here are ten important signs to look out for to determine if you have anxiety or not.
When Is Anxiety A Problem
Any mental health therapist mckinney tx will tell you that experiencing small bouts of anxiety is normal. This emotion is designed to keep you safe when confronted with a real threat. However, anxiety can be triggered when there are no actual threats, leading the person to flee from something that is not threatening their existence. It can be difficult to train the body to not react to these perceived situations and develop into an anxiety disorder.
Ten Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorders
At first, there are physical responses of anxiety and include:
1. Feeling a tight knot in your stomach
2. Muscle tension
3. A racing heart
4. Nausea and vomiting
5. Sudden perspiration
There are mental responses to anxiety as well, including:
1. Fatigue
2. Restlessness
3. Difficulty falling and remaining asleep
4. Feeling irritable and experiencing mood changes
5. Having difficulty focusing
These symptoms can vary from person to person and can grow in severity depending on the cause of stress. The real problem occurs when these symptoms are triggered for a prolonged period of time and disrupt a person’s daily life.
Types Of Anxiety Disorders
There are several anxiety disorders that have a variety of symptoms that set them apart from each other. Some of the most common anxiety disorders include:
● Obsessive-compulsive disorder: a person has fears that cause them to perform specific rituals in order to combat these fears. For example, if someone is afraid of germs, they feel compelled to wash their hands a certain number of times before the fear is no longer there.
● Generalized anxiety: this is consistent anxiety that lingers and isn’t triggered by any particular causes. Any of the ten listed symptoms can be experienced at any time.
● Panic disorder: these are indicated by panic attacks or extreme panic, leading to choking, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.
● Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a traumatic event takes place that results in feelings of anxiety. Panic attacks can be triggered out of nowhere, and can affect the quality of sleep, as well as physical and mental health.
● Phobias: a person’s anxiety peaks when they encounter certain triggers; a person can experience trembling, sweating, and nausea.
When Should Help Be Sought?
There are a few factors to take into account when determining whether you’re dealing with “normal” anxiety or if you are experiencing clinical anxiety. Some of those factors include:
● Frequency: do feelings of anxiety creep up more often than not?
● Duration: do the symptoms linger for days after the supposed stress-related trigger has passed?
● Intensity: do you feel discomfort and experience intolerable symptoms that you have difficulty managing?
● Interference: do the symptoms of anxiety reduce your ability to function in your daily life? Do they affect all areas of your life, such as work and relationships?
● Triggers: are there certain triggers that make you feel helpless to the point that you can’t complete certain tasks?
There are some triggers that you may be able to avoid that reduce your overall anxiety, but there are some that are deeply ingrained in daily life that you can’t function normally. Any symptoms of anxiety that have disrupted your normal daily routine for about six months or more should be discussed with a doctor.
Treatment Options
Your first line of defense should be your primary care provider. Speaking to them will set you on the right path to getting the professional help that you need. They’ll likely refer you to a specialist, as well as prescribe any medications they believe might help you with your anxiety.
Therapy is also recommended so that you know how to manage your symptoms on your own. Some of the most common therapy options for anxiety include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). A plan can be drawn up to determine what your triggers are, how to avoid them, and what you can do to minimize anxiety symptoms when you can’t avoid them.
There are usually two different types of medications that are prescribed:
● Daily: you take medication every day to prevent anxiety as a whole.
● As-needed: you only take medication when an episode occurs to reduce how your body reacts to specific triggers. These are great at reducing the physical symptoms of anxiety, including nausea and muscle tension.
Are There Any Factors That Contribute To Anxiety?
There are general, genetic, and environmental factors in play that make it more likely that you’ll struggle with anxiety in your life. These factors include:
● Growing up in a chaotic or unsafe environment
● Having a first-degree relative who has severe anxiety
● Having certain health conditions, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or cardiovascular disease
● Using substances like caffeine or certain medications
Some of these factors can be controlled, while others cannot. If there is a combination of these factors in play, then you can at least take the right steps to gain control over the factors you can change.
Additional Steps
In addition to therapy and medication, there are some lifestyle choices you can make in your life to reduce your anxiety. These include:
● Avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs, as they tend to worsen anxiety. If you can’t quit on your own, then you should find a support group to help you.
● Cut out smoking and caffeine, since they also worsen anxiety.
● Improve your quality of sleep so that you feel rested each day.
● Focus on eating healthier, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
● Using relaxation and stress management techniques, like yoga and meditation.
● Exercise regularly; exercise is shown to be a powerful stress reducer, improves mood, and also keeps you healthy.
If you are experiencing anxiety symptoms that make it difficult for you to live your life, speak to a medical professional now to get some help.