How to Determine If You Have Serious Issues with Anxiety
Everyone is bound to find themselves feeling anxious at some point or another. Some anxiety can also be a good thing – at its core, it's an internal motivator that pushes you toward fixing problems and finding solutions.
“However, there is such a thing as too much anxiety.”
Unfortunately, many people live with too much anxiety without realizing it. They suffer needlessly because they don't understand that the stress and pressure they're experiencing aren't normal.
While all people experience anxiety differently and have different thresholds for what's considered "too much" in their lives, some common traits are shared among folks who develop anxiety disorders.
Consider the following methods for determining whether or not you may have severe issues with anxiety.
Consider How Much Headspace Your Anxieties Claim in Your Mind.
One of the hallmark traits of severe anxiety issues is how much of your thinking is consumed by worries. Sometimes, thought-consuming anxiety makes sense.
For example, you may find yourself experiencing anxiety over an upcoming speech you're going to give in front of a huge number of people. Finding yourself worrying in this situation is understandable and normal; this anxiety will likely pass once the speech is over.
“However, if you constantly feel like you're thinking about anxieties and worries – particularly if they're purely hypothetical, worst-case scenario types of thoughts – you may have a severe anxiety issue that needs attention.”
When the amount of space in your mind consumed by anxiety impedes your ability to focus on your daily tasks and interactions with others, it takes up too much of your valuable thought-processing energy.
Make Time to Check in with Your Physical Health
While anxiety may originate in the mind, it has the terrible ability to affect a person's physical health, too.
Feeling anxious can often translate into physical symptoms, such as…
● Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
● Headaches, especially tension and migraine
● Body aches and sore muscles from tensing parts of your body
● Tiredness and fatigue
● Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
● Dizziness or lightheadedness
● Brain fog; difficulty focusing on what you're doing
If you see any of these physical symptoms persisting for an extended period, it can indicate that you may have a severe issue with anxiety.
“Sometimes, physical symptoms can persist alongside mental symptoms, making them the first noticeable sign to an individual that something is seriously wrong.”
Determine if You're Actively Avoiding New Opportunities or Experiences
Anxiety can cause people to steer clear of new, unfamiliar opportunities and experiences. Rather than allowing themselves to step outside their comfort zones and try something new, the person will let their anxious thoughts win over their decision-making process and decline the chance.
Sometimes, this is a positive thing – your anxiety about a new opportunity or experience being a bad idea can be spot-on.
“However, if you find yourself consistently steering away from opportunities and experiences, you could miss out on great opportunities to learn, grow, and develop as a person.”
When your anxiety causes you to miss out on great chances in life, you could have a severe anxiety issue.
Identify if You Have Anxiety Attacks, and if You Are, How Frequently.
Anxiety attacks are another product of anxiety that appears differently in everyone. While one person's anxiety attack may involve tears and hyperventilation, another person's experience may be silent, calm, and internal.
However, no matter how an anxiety attack presents itself, having them significantly strains your mental and physical health.
Determining if you've experienced anxiety attacks can be tricky. Consider the following list of common symptoms and complaints of folks experiencing anxiety attacks:
● Shortness of breath, feeling like your chest wall is too constricted to take in any deep breaths
● Feeling faint or lightheaded
● Rapidly increased heart rate
● Feeling chest pains
● Numbness or tingling in the extremities
● Sweating
● Shaking or trembling
● Feeling restless, nervous, or tense; sometimes, this involves twitching, bouncing your leg, etc.
You may have anxiety attacks if you're experiencing any combination of these symptoms.
“It's important to remember that an anxiety attack doesn't need to be initiated by a specific trigger or event – people suffering from anxiety issues can develop them randomly.”
Identify if Your Anxiety Rises when You're Exposed to Specific Situations
If your anxiety tends to rise or peak when exposed to a specific event or situation, you may have a severe concern that needs attention.
This is especially true if your particular anxiety-inducing trigger is something you could encounter during your everyday life.
For example, consider people suffering from social anxiety. Being social with others is a significant part of living everyday, healthy life.
Many people work in jobs requiring them to interact with clients and customers. Beyond their professional lives, people use social interactions to meet romantic partners, make friends, and advance themselves in hobbies and interests.
If social interactions are your anxiety trigger, this can create severe issues in multiple areas of your life.
“Understanding if certain situations trigger your anxiety to rise can help you identify if anxiety is a severe issue for you.”
Since many cases and triggers can't be avoided, they can cause your anxiety to rise at unexpected and inopportune times.
Take an Honest Assessment of How Normal Your Days Are when You're Experiencing Anxiety
Admitting that you have severe issues with anxiety is tough. You may try to convince yourself that you're okay and can handle feeling anxious without any assistance or intervention to lessen its effects.
Take a step back and honestly observe how your current "normal" feel to you.
“If your anxiety is causing you significant hardship, pain, and trouble, you're likely having severe issues with anxiety that need addressing.”
Even if you aren't sure how to describe your problems, make a plan to address your experiences with a medical professional ASAP.
References:
https://www.piedmont.org/living-better/signs-you-have-too-much-anxiety
