Anxiety Disorders – The Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders – The Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

Everyone knows that feeling of anxiety. Our heart starts to pound before giving a big presentation or when we are about to take a tough exam. We get butterflies in our stomach before a first date. We worry and fret over family issues and feel nervous about asking the boss for a raise.

Anxiety is a normal human emotion. It’s normal to worry and feel tensed or scared when we are under pressure or when faced with a stressful situation. However, if those worries or fears get in the way of living your life the way you want to, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Here, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorder has many signs. If you are inflicted with this condition, you might identify with most of these signs:

if you are always tense, worried or on edge

if your anxiety interferes with your work, school or family responsibilities

if you are plagued by fears that you know are irrational but can’t banish

if you believe that something bad will happen when certain things aren’t done a particular way

if you avoid day to day situations or activities because they make you anxious

if you experience sudden and unexpected attacks of heart pounding panic

if you feel like and catastrophe is around every corner

Anxiety disorders are a group of related conditions instead of being one single disorder, so it can be different from person to person. However, despite their many forms, all anxiety disorders have one symptom in common. That is they feel persistent or severe fear or worry during situations where most people wouldn’t feel threatened.

Some common emotional symptoms of anxiety are:

feeling of apprehension or dread

trouble concentrating

feeling tense or jumpy

anticipating the worst

irritability

restlessness

watching for signs of danger

feeling detached or like your mind has gone blank

Anxiety is a product of the body’s fight – or – flight response and also involves a variety of physical symptoms. Because of these many symptom, people who suffer from anxiety sometimes mistake their disorder for a medical condition.

Here are some common physical symptoms of anxiety:

pounding heart

sweating

upset stomach or dizziness

frequent urination or diarrhea

shortness of breath

tremors or twitches

muscle tension

headache

fatigue

insomnia

An anxiety attack, commonly known as a panic attack is an episode of intense panic or fear. It usually occurs suddenly and without warning. Sometimes the trigger is obvious, like getting stuck in an elevator. Other times, the attack comes out of the blue.

The symptoms of an anxiety attack are:

a surge of overwhelming panic

feeling like you’re losing control or going crazy

heart palpitations or chest pain

feeling like you’re going to pass out

trouble breathing or a choking sensation

hyperventilation

feeling hot or cold

trembling or shaking

nausea or stomach cramps

feeling detached or unreal

If you’ve had any of those feelings, you are showing signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders. Although this malady can be an extremely uncomfortable and painful experience, it can easily be treated effectively. In most cases, cognitive behavioral therapy, anti anxiety medication or a combination of both will eliminate your anxiety or to a point where they are no longer debilitating.