Panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress – Anxiety Disorder has many faces. It is usually confused with depression and it’s symptoms are easily mistaken.
We are facing many difficult issues during our every day life. Financial problems, public speaking, family matters are just some of the situations in which we get nervous or anxious. But this doesn’t mean we are suffering from an anxiety disorder. We must learn how to tell the difference between everyday stress and nervous and an actual anxiety disorder. Start by reading this 10 Sings You May Have an Anxiety Disorder.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms it is smart to talk with your doctor!
1. Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness
The first and most common symptom of an anxiety disorder is worrying too much and about everything. This means feeling constant fear, panic, uneasiness and even fatigue that happen almost every day of the week last for 6 months. How to defer everyday panic with an anxiety disorder? Ask yourself if your panic attacks are causing causing a lot of suffering and dysfunction.
2. Nightmares and Troubles falling asleep
Nightmares. Troubles falling asleep and staying asleep. If this is what you chronically experience – especially if you find yourself awake every night thinking about specific problem, or you wake up in the middle of the night feeling wired and you can’t calm yourself, you might be experiencing an anxiety disorder.
3. Muscle Tension
Balling your fists, clenching your jaw, flexing muscles throughout the body are often signs of an anxiety disorder. If you are suffering from the disorder for a longer time you might even stop noticing the pain. If the pain doesn’t stop there are exercises that can help. But don’t over do it cause if you injure yourself the situation might get worse. Always consult your doctor before starting a workout routine.
4. Stomach Cramps or Chronic Indigestion
Anxiety usually manifests itself through physical conditions that often become chronic. Most common conditions are gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, stomachaches etc. Although these symptoms are often connected to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) they often occur together with anxiety disorder.
5. Self-consciousness
When even everyday situations like one on one conversation, eating or drinking in front of other people provoke anxiety than you are probably experiencing a social anxiety disorder. People suffering from this disorder usually feel like all eyes are on them and experience blushing, nausea, sweating, trembling or even difficulties speaking. Another condition present with anxiety disorder is stage fright.
6. Panic Attacks
Panic Attacks happen suddenly – a feeling of fear and helplessness, breathing problems, racing heart, sweating, weakness, chest pain, stomach pain and feeling hot and cold. If you experience panic attacks repeatedly you might be having an anxiety disorder. People with chronic panic attacks live in fear of when the next attack will happen and tend to avoid places or people that cause the attacks.
7. Ritualistic behaviors and perfectionism
Ritualistic behaviors like constant hand washing are common symptom of anxiety disorder. People with the disorder also tend to constantly judge themselves. Perfectionism is also another sign you might be having an anxiety disorder. If you can’t get out of home for 3 hours because your make up just has to be right than you might want to talk to your doctor.
8. Self doubt
Do i love my husband as much as he loves me? Am i a good parent? Am i gay? This are questions that everyone can ask their selves but when this questions become a doubt attack it might be a case of an anxiety disorder. In those cases every question is unanswerable and it becomes an obsession.
9. Irritability or edginess
Feeling emotionally uncomfortable can make you irritated. Irritability and edginess manifest different in men and women. While men usually feel anger and violence, women tend to find everyone around them irritating – even their own children. This is a serious condition and although it is commonly present in depression it can also be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Especially if the person starts to be irritated by even the smallest things.
10. Fear of losing control or going crazy
People suffering from Anxiety Disorder often feel constant fear of losing it. Having all the panic attacks, mixed emotions, insomnia and being irritable all the time is not easy to handle. The thing they fear the most is going crazy. If you or someone you know feels this way than you or they should visit their doctor immediately!
Even if you are diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder, there is no room for giving up. This disorder is very common and treatable. The help of a trained Psychologist in order to determent the right medicine and treatment is crucial. Don’t be ashamed – with the right treatment the anxiety disorder can be completely gone.