It's normal to feel anxious when faced with a challenging situation, such as a job interview, a difficult exam, or a date, but if your worries and fears seem overwhelming and interfere with your daily life, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.
How do you know if you're experiencing anxiety?
If someone has been dealing with several of the following symptoms, and these symptoms seem to be becoming increasingly intense, they may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. The most common signs of anxiety are:
Psychological Symptoms of Anxiety
- Constant tension and worry.
- Anxiety that interferes with responsibilities at work, school, or family.
- Irrational fears that one cannot cope with.
- Feeling that something bad will happen if certain things are not done in a certain way.
- Avoidance of everyday situations or activities because they cause anxiety.
- Sense of danger and that a catastrophe may be just around the corner.
Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety
In addition to primary symptoms of excessive and irrational fear and worry, other common emotional symptoms of anxiety include:
- Feelings of apprehension or fear
- Difficulty concentrating
- Tension and nervousness
- Pessimism
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Hypervigilance
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
- Rapid heartbeat
- Cold sweats
- Stomach aches or dizziness
- Frequent urination or diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Tremors and spasms
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
Symptoms of anxiety attacks / anxiety attacks include:
- Overwhelming panic wave
- Feeling of losing control or going crazy
- Palpitations
- Chest pains
- Feeling faint
- Difficulty breathing or feeling suffocated
- Hyperventilation
- Waves of heat or chills
- Tremors
- Nausea or stomach pain
- Feeling disconnected from reality
While anxiety disorders may manifest in other ways, the listed symptoms of anxiety are the most common and can have a significant impact on the lives of those suffering from this type of disorder.
