When Worry Becomes Too Much: Recognizing Anxiety Disorder
Have you felt unusually worried or anxious recently? Does it feel like your worrying has spiraled out of control and it's interfering with your life? You are not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States, affecting over 40 million adults. The good news is anxiety disorders are very treatable. But first, you must recognize when normal worry crosses the line into an anxiety disorder.
If you're worrying feels uncontrollable causes physical symptoms like a racing heart or nausea, and is interfering with your work relationships or health, it could be a sign your anxiety has become too much. The key is not to brush it off and assume it will just go away. Anxiety disorders tend to worsen over time without treatment. The sooner you recognize excessive anxiety for what it is, the sooner you can get the help you need to feel better and get your life back on track. There are many effective treatments for anxiety comma from therapy to medication to lifestyle changes. You don’t have to live with constant worry and fear-help is out there.
Feeling Anxious Versus Having an Anxiety Disorder
Feeling anxious at times is a normal human emotion, but an anxiety disorder is different. If you frequently experience intense worries and fears that persist for months and disrupt your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder. The line between feeling anxious and having an anxiety disorder can be blurry but here are some signs your anxiety may have crossed into disorder territory:
Your worries are disproportionate to the situation you agonize over things that most people cope with easily.
You have trouble controlling your worries and anxiety. Once a worried thought enters your mind you have a hard time redirecting your thoughts to something else your anxiety feels uncontrollable. You are easily overwhelmed.
Your anxiety causes physical symptoms excessive anxiety manifests in your body through symptoms such as stomach issues, restlessness, headaches, insomnia and panic attacks.
Your anxiety interferes with your normal activities. It impacts your work or school performance, relationships and social life. You avoid situations or places or events due to anxiety and fear.
You worry excessively about a variety of things. Rather than one specific phobia, you have generalized anxiety and worry. Your worries shift from one thing to the next, like a never-ending cycle.
You have felt this way for at least six months. Occasional anxiety is normal, but if excessive worry and fear have dominated your life for a long time, it may indicate an anxiety disorder.
The bottom line is if your anxiety feels uncontrollable causes significant problems and persists for an extended time you may need treatment such as therapy, medication, and self-help strategies to help gain control of your anxiety and improve your quality of life. The good news is anxiety disorders are treatable. Speaking to a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or other mental health professional is the first step to overcoming chronic anxiety and fear.
If you have decided to reach out for help, we would be happy to help you on your journey to healing. Please call us at (951)366-0661 or click the Book Now tab and schedule an evaluation.
