5 Signs and Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder

Many people have experienced anxiety in response to stressful events at some point or another.

However, for a person with an anxiety disorder, anxiety is frequent to the point that it takes over their life.

Anxiety disorders come in many different forms, namely panic attacks, phobias and social anxiety. However, the distinction between regular anxiety and an anxiety disorder can be made by a few common signs and symptoms.

If you regularly experience any of these five signs and/or symptoms, it’s advised that you consult a doctor for a diagnosis:

Excessive Worrying

Persistent worrying about normal, everyday matters for long stretches of time is a hallmark of an anxiety disorder. This can make it difficult for you concentrate or accomplish daily tasks, as well as cause fatigue.

Fatigue

If you’re struggling to sleep and find yourself lying awake at night, agonising over specific problems or perhaps nothing at all, you may have an anxiety disorder.

This can leave you feeling agitated, irritable, tense in the muscles and unable to calm down.

Self-Consciousness

Anxiety can be provoked by being in situations such as one-on-one conversations, eating or drinking in front of other people.

The feeling of being watched can result in blushing, nausea and trembling, which can disrupt your efforts to maintain relationships, make new friends, or advance at work or school.

Agitation

Physical signs of agitation include sweaty palms, tightening of the chest, difficulty breathing, shaky hands and an increased heart rate, among others.

Panic Attacks

This is when you feel overcome by debilitating sensations of fear and helplessness.

Attack can last for a few minutes, and you experience laboured breathing, chest and stomach pain, nausea, shaking and sweating. If you frequently suffer from panic attacks, this indicates that you have an anxiety disorder.