Recognizing Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety can feel like a vice, gripping you at the most inconvenient times. One moment, you are fine, and the next, you can barely catch your breath. Anxiety can cause long-term detrimental effects physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can affect your relationships and your work life.

Recognizing the signs of anxiety and getting help when needed can make the difference between being stuck in an invisible prison of fear and stepping out into the life God created for you.

Signs of anxiety.

If you have ever felt the overwhelming sensation of anxiety, then you know it can be smothering. Anxiety not only leaves behind a suffocating heaviness in your chest but can derail your emotional and mental states.

Common signs of anxiety include:

• Racing heart.
• Sweating.
• Palpitations.
• Shortness of breath.
• A sensation of being smothered.
• Fatigue.
• Headaches.
• Body aches.
• Stomachaches and digestive distress.
• Feeling faint.
• Feeling on edge.
• Irritability.
• Worry and fear.
• Racing thoughts.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Appetite changes.
• Irrational fear that something will happen.
• Trembling or the “shakes.”
• Trouble making eye contact with others.
• Worry that they will offend someone.
• Worry about being embarrassed or humiliated.

The signs of anxiety may stem from childhood. Suppose you were overly shy, forced into situations where you had to meet new people (such as moving to new homes and starting new schools continually), or exposed to stressful and traumatic situations. In that case, you may develop an anxiety disorder as an adult.

Living through trauma or a health scare can also be a catalyst for an anxiety disorder. You are more likely to develop anxiety if a close relative, like a parent, showed signs of anxiety.

Anxiety disorders.

When fear and worry take on a life of their own, the signs of anxiety can build and lead to anxiety disorders. There are several anxiety disorders, each with its own symptoms. Only a professional mental health practitioner can make an appropriate diagnosis for an anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Generalized Anxiety Disorder can last for months. People suffering from long-term anxiety may experience symptoms for years. This anxiety is chronic, and the sufferer does not experience relief after the stressful event is over. Instead, this anxiety is persistent, and the symptoms can escalate when the person is faced with stressful situations or health problems.

With GAD, you worry excessively about everyday things. You may make statements that begin with, “I’m concerned about_____,” or, “I’m worried that_____.” You may appear pessimistic or cynical to others when you voice your concerns. This type of anxiety leaves you physically and mentally fatigued. As with any anxiety disorder, alcohol and substance abuse can worsen anxiety symptoms.

Social Anxiety Disorder.

Social Anxiety Disorder turns your everyday social interactions into fearful or worrisome encounters. For example, you would rather go through a drive-thru than walk inside a restaurant even if the employees made a mistake with your order. You do not want the confrontation. Curbside pickup has become your best friend.

This social anxiety makes it difficult to run errands or hang out with your friends. You may fear offending someone or embarrassing yourself. You may stare at the ground when you hear people whispering, convinced that they are talking about you and judging you. Often, these fears are based on past traumatic events. Perhaps you were made fun of in school or bullied. These encounters can form beliefs in our minds, even if the belief is flawed.

Isolating yourself in your home is easier, but it will only worsen anxiety as you freeze out your friends and those who care about you.

Panic Disorder.

If you have ever experienced a panic attack, you know how much it can mimic a heart attack: racing heart, increased blood pressure, shortness of breath, dizzy spells, and chest pain. A panic attack can be terrifying, especially if you have a history of respiratory or heart issues. You may find yourself going out of your way to ensure that you never have another panic attack, including changing your schedule or commute.

Panic attacks can come on without a discernable trigger and with no danger present. If you have experienced two panic attacks and fear that you will have another one, seek help from a counselor. Although you know you have nothing to fear, panic disorder can make you believe you will have a panic attack if you do a particular activity. This type of anxiety keeps you from enjoying activities with your family or unable to maintain commitments.

Phobia-related disorders.

Panic attacks can also result from fear experienced with phobia-related disorders. With a phobia, the person has an irrational fear about something, a place, a creature, or a situation. This fear is gripping and creates physical and mental distress. A specific trigger, such as spiders, will cause a cascade of reactions in the body. The person will react to the trigger as if in a life-and-death situation and try to avoid it if possible.

A few common phobias include:

• Allergiphobia – fear of food allergies.
• Arachnophobia – fear of spiders.
• Aerophobia – fear of flying.
• Claustrophobia – fear of confined spaces.
• Aquaphobia – fear of water.
• Acrophobia – fear of heights.
• Mysophobia – fear of germs.

People can develop phobias over anything. Often, phobias result from an experience during childhood, although any stressful event can lead to a phobia. Pathologic fear interferes with your daily activities and life.

You can also pass your anxiety to your children as they observe your behavior. For example, if you are excessively fearful of germs, you may over-sanitize your child’s hands and environment. As they grow, the child begins to believe that there is something to this and that all germs will make them ill.

Separation Anxiety Disorder.

Separation Anxiety Disorder is typically seen in children under stressful conditions, but adults can develop the condition too. Separation anxiety goes beyond a child not wanting to leave their parent’s side at daycare. Instead, the child may have nightmares and cry the evening before or the morning of with the thought of not having their parent or guardian with them.

Separation anxiety in children interferes with their time at school or daycare. The children become anxious and scared and may complain of headaches and stomach aches.

Adults can develop separation anxiety regarding their spouse or children. They may worry that something horrible will happen to their family member or themselves unless the family is together.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can develop at any age and is brought on by traumatic events. The trauma could have been inflicted through war, abuse, neglect, natural disasters, or violent crime. People with PTSD face intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and fear. Triggers can come from anything that reminds them of the event, like loud noises, strong smells, or places like tunnels.

PTSD can leave you feeling fearful, lonely, vulnerable, and frustrated. You might lash out at others or withdraw from the world around you.

If no one else in your circle has experienced the type of trauma you have, you may feel isolated and alone in your fight. Group therapy is an option to meet others who have experienced the same stressful event and are managing their PTSD symptoms. Your counselor can recommend group as well as family sessions to help your loved ones understand what you are going through with PTSD.

Finding help with for signs of anxiety.

Often you will see multiple anxiety disorders coexist, such as a person with Panic Disorder also having a phobia-related disorder. Treating these conditions takes a licensed mental health care professional.

If you feel stuck, or paralyzed by fear and anxiety, reach out to our office today to schedule an appointment with me or another Christian counselor specializing in anxiety disorders. Your counselor will assess your signs of anxiety and create a mental health plan to help you manage the condition. Get back to being you. Contact us today.