We аll get nеrvоuѕ ѕоmеtіmеѕ.
Fоr іnѕtаnсе, wаіtіng fоr mеdісаl rеѕultѕ lіkе those thаt can dеtесt whеthеr wе have a thуrоіd рrоblеmіѕ соmрlеtеlу nеrvе-wrасkіng. Sо is ѕреаkіng in frоnt оf аn аudіеnсе, соnfrоntіng ѕоmеоnе about a рrоblеm, or even gоіng оn a dаtе.
But for mаnу оf us,once wе tackle these difficult situations, our nеrvеѕ саlm аnd wе саn hарріlу gо on wіth оur lіvеѕ.
However,for 6.8 million Amеrісаnѕ with аn аnxіеtу dіѕоrdеr, forgetting аbоut рrоblеmѕ іѕnt ѕо еаѕу. Thе mоѕt соmmоn form оf this іllnеѕѕ іѕ саllеd generalized аnxіеtу dіѕоrdеr, or GAD, аnd it іѕ сhаrасtеrіzеd bу еxсеѕѕіvе worry аbоut еvеrуdау life even whеn there іѕ lіttlе to no reason to wоrrу.
Aссоrdіng tо the National Inѕtіtutе fоr Mеntаl Hеаlth, ѕuffеrеrѕ аrеnt even аwаrе that thеу hаvе thе аіlmеnt, whісh also аffесtѕ mоrе wоmеn thаn men.
I always thоught I wаѕ just a wоrrіеr, ѕауѕ аn anonymous раtіеnt whо worked with NIMH. At tіmеѕ іt wоuld соmе аnd gо, and at times іt wоuld bе соnѕtаnt. It соuld go on fоr dауѕ. Id wоrrу about what I wаѕ gоіng tо fіx for a dinner party, оr what wоuld bе a grеаt present for ѕоmеbоdу. I juѕt couldnt lеt ѕоmеthіng gо.
Does this ѕоund lіkе ѕоmеthіng you оr роѕѕіblу a lоvеd оnе mау hаvе? Check оut the symptoms bеlоw, аnd lеt uѕ know what you thіnk in thе соmmеntѕ!
Anxiety Symptom #1: Excessive Worry
Wе аll wоrrу about thіngѕ like a hеаlth, mоnеу, аnd fаmіlу problems. But people wіth an аnxіеtу disorder аrе еxtrеmеlу wоrrіеd about theseandother things, еvеn whеn there is nо rеаѕоn tо worry аbоut thеm.
They thіnk things аrе аlwауѕ going tо gо bаdlу аnd gеttіng thrоugh a tурісаl dау is an upward bаttlе. Sоmеtіmеѕ thіѕ еvеn рrеvеntѕ them from dоіng everyday tаѕkѕ.
Yоu соntіnuаllу аntісіраtе bаd things hарреnіng to you thаt саn rаngе frоm mіѕѕіng wоrk dеаdlіnеѕ tо dуіng іn a nаturаl dіѕаѕtеr, says Doctor of Pѕусhоlоgу Dеbоrаh Khoshaba. Yоu most likely trу tо wаrd оff bad thіngѕ frоm hарреnіng to уоu, bу еxеrсіѕіng a lot оf control оvеr уоur dаіlу life аnd by еngаgіng іn оthеr maladaptive strategies tо manage thе anxiety thаt уоu feel.
If реорlе often rеfеr tо уоu as nеurоtіс, high-strung, оr a perfectionistic, there іѕ a сhаnсе уоu mау hаvе GAD.
Anxiety Symptom #2: Muscle Tension
Anxiety is not just a mental issue. If you have a disorder, your anxiety can be so intense that it can quite evenhave a physical effect on your health.
In fact, according to published psychologistsCatherine C. Goodman and Kenda S. Fuller,anxiety increases muscle tension. This increase in tension can reduce blood flow and oxygen to the tissue and in turn cause a buildup of cellular metabolites.
For instance, if your jaw often feels swore or tense, it could be a sign of a much bigger issue.
Anxiety Symptom #3: Headaches
Headaches are a result of muscle tension, so if you are getting intense headaches that develop in areas where you can strain your face muscles like around the temples or behind one eye or ear its a good indicator that you may have GAD.
If fact, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, migraine headaches can act as alarm bells for the onset of a mental disorder.
Researchers found that 11 percent of participants in the study had migraines and a variety of disorders: major depression, general anxiety disorder (GAD), dysthymia, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, panic disorder, substance abuse disorders, agoraphobia, and simple phobia.
Anxiety Symptom #4: Difficulty Concentrating
When one tries to concentrate when they have anxiety, they often suffer from something called rapid thoughts.
Rapid thoughts are actually another type of anxiety symptom, according to the Calm Clinic.They are caused by your body becoming overly activated to the point where it starts processing all thoughts as rapidly as possible, only to end up focusing on nothing at all.
When rapid thoughts start to pop into someones brain while theyre trying to focus, they have to use even more mental energy to drive them out, which can make a simple task feel really exhausting.
Another tactic some people with anxiety use to cope is distraction. In situations where someone may feel anxious, like at work, theyll try to escape their problems by browsing the Internet to calm and get their mind off of situations that make them nervous.
Yet, this strategyprevents them from actually getting anything done.
Anxiety Symptom #5: Sweating
You may get sweaty palms before a job interview or feel a drop trickle down your back before having to speak publicly.
This kind of perspiration, provoked by nervousness, is actually different from the kind of sweat you get from exercise or heat.
Sweat from being overheated is produced by eccrine glands, which are located just under the skin all over the body, says theWall Street Journal.But sweat caused by stress, fear, anxiety and sexual arousal is produced in the apocrine glands, found only in certain areas, such as under the arms.
Ifyou tend to break out in nervous sweats on your palms or under your armpits, it is suggested you visit the doctor.
Anxiety Symptom #6: Nausea
According to WebMD, nausea that is not provoked by a stomach virus is often linked to anxiety, varying from social and performance anxiety to fear, stress, and over excitement.
Our lives are filled with emotions, from anger to shame, fear to delight, Tracy A. Dennis, PhD, associate professor in the department of psychology at Hunter College, told WebMD. These physiological and neuroendocrine changes associated with emotion influence all aspects of our body, including the digestive system.”
If you tend to experience nausea often, especially when youre stressed, it is advised that you tell a doctor. But, for a quick fix, try deep breathing. Close your eyes and take a deep breath, then another. Inhale and exhale slowly. Repeat until your stomach begins to feel better.
Anxiety Symptom #7: Frequent Bathroom Breaks
Do you feel like you need to use the bathroom all the time?
Do you worry about how often you need to use it?
Do you fearneeding to use the bathroom when there may not be one available, like while on a bus or before a movie?
Do you oftenfeel like you have to use the bathroom, but nothing comes out?
If these kinds of scenarios happen to you often, it can be an indicator of anxiety. While digestive problems are hard to pin down without the help of a doctor, you digestive system is very delicate.
Bowel problems are a common problem with anxiety, according toCalm Clinic. As the stress from anxiety alters hormones, changes digestion speeds, and puts significant pressure on your intestines.
Anxiety Symptom #8: Trouble Sleeping
If youre experiencing bathroom troubles and rapid thoughts, its no wonder youd have difficulty falling and staying asleep and that you would develop anxiety around bedtime.
The more anxious [you] are about sleep, that undermines the ability to sleep well, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, says David Neubauer, MD, an associate director at the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center in Baltimore, MD.
Sleep is important if you want to be emotionally healthy. If you cant remember the last time you had a full nights sleep, you may want to talk to a doctor.
Anxiety Symptom #9: Trembling
Trembling is also a sign of an anxiety disorder especially if trembling occurs in situations of high stress and continues even after you have attempted to calm the stress.
The reason why you may experiencethe shakes? Its a spike in adrenaline.
Anxiety is the activation of your fight or flight response to danger, even when no danger is present, says Calm Clinic. The response triggers a rush of adrenaline, which feeds your body with energy and prepares you to run or fight. It also constricts your blood vessels and feeds your nerves. All of these cause your body to start shaking.
Anxiety Symptom #10: Easily Startled
According to WebMD, being startled easily is one of the biggest symptoms of GAD, and being jumpy does seem like a normal response to other symptoms like tiredness, rapid thoughts, headaches, and constant worry.
If you find yourself on edge often, maybe its not so much your personality,” but rathera sign that there is something much more complex at play.
If you get frightened easily and think you may have an anxiety disorder, its also important to recognize the signs of a panic attack.
Those who are suffer from GAD often experience panic attacks, which can be a confusing and scary experience. It can also happen suddenly and without warning.
Because a panic attack can resemble othermedical emergencies, its important to know the signs, which we’ve explained on Page 2.
Click “Next” to learn how to identify a panic attack.