Anxious feelings are a normal, healthy part of life. It shows emotion and that you’re human. Life isn’t always a cakewalk after all.
When these feelings become stronger or persist for an extended period of time, it could be that you have anxiety. Knowing signs of an anxiety disorder can help you gain a better understanding into your own situation, but also help you determine how to move forward. Here’s some common symptoms of anxiety.
Feelings of Unease
One of the more common signs of anxiety is extreme nervousness or excessive worrying disproportionately to you daily situations. It’s normal to worry about things for a moment in time (major life events being an exception), but usually those feelings of unease are temporary. With anxiety, these feelings tend to be more intrusive and troublesome to completing daily tasks.
You may also be feeling a constant state of restlessness, but are not necessarily able to explain why. Your body may feel tense, like your nervous system is on high alert. This can also be feelings of impending danger or panic, but more of a perception than a reality. If you’re feeling a consistent state of unease, it could be related to anxiety.
Physiological Signs
When you struggle with anxiety, your sympathetic nervous system enters into an overstimulated state. The result is very obvious physiological, or bodily, effects. Your brain believes there is an imminent danger and your body then prepares for a response.
You may experience an elevated heart rate where you can feel your pulse racing, but for no significant reason. Your breathing may also become more rapid and shallow. You might notice sweaty palms or clamminess. Sometimes you’ll see trembling hands or restless legs.
With more prolonged anxiety, it’s not uncommon to experience gastrointestinal issues or stomach pains. You may also suffer from chronic headaches or backaches. Keep track of any symptoms you’re experiencing and what you’re doing when they occur.
Difficulty Concentrating
Another common sign of anxiety is having a difficult time concentrating. When you experience anxiety, it interferes with your working memory and short term memory. So when you’re going through a flare up, you’re more likely to suffer from reduced performance.
Irritability
Experts have found a link between irritability and anxiety. Think about it, your brain is perceiving danger and your body is preparing to ward it off. It makes sense to be irritable. If you’re frequently irritable or agitated, it may be that you’re dealing with anxiety.
Sleep Disruptions
If you’re experiencing frequent sleep disturbances, it could be related to anxiety. Insomnia may be causing anxiety or your anxiety may be causing the insomnia. Having trouble falling asleep, especially as a result of a racing mind or worrying about unimportant things at bedtime, can be a sign of anxiety.
Similarly, trouble staying asleep can also be a sign. Anxiety can cause frequent waking up in the middle of the night with increased difficulty falling back asleep. Once you’re awake, your mind starts to race again.
Avoidance
Social anxiety is rather common, affecting somewhere between five and ten percent of people. This can look like being fearful or uncomfortable with social situations, worrying heavily about your peers judging you, and having fear about being humiliated in front of others. You feel these feelings so hard, it becomes debilitating and you may find yourself avoiding social situations altogether.
Social anxiety generally develops in adolescent years, so it may even be something you’ve been living with for a while. Remaining calm on the outside is no problem, but on the inside you’re riddled with fear and that on edge feeling.
If any of this sounds like it’s describing you, you may be experiencing anxiety. Contact us today to discuss your symptoms further and see how we can help you in anxiety therapy.