Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomeMust ReadHow To Tell If You Have Anxiety

How To Tell If You Have Anxiety

Take The Anxiety Disorder Test1

ð§ How Do You Know If You Have Anxiety? – Simple Test – by Dr Sam Robbins

1. Are you troubled by the following?

Repeated, unexpected panic attacks during which you suddenly are overcome by intense fear or discomfort for no apparent reason or the fear of having another panic attack

Yes No

Persistent, inappropriate thoughts, impulses, or images that you can’t get out of your mind

Powerful and ongoing fear of social situations involving unfamiliar people

Excessive worrying about events or activities

Yes No

Fear of places or situations where getting help or escape might be difficult, such as in a crowd or on a bridge

Shortness of breath or a racing heart for no apparent reason

Yes No

Persistent and unreasonable fear of an object or situation, such as flying, heights, animals, blood, etc.

Tense muscles or problems sleeping?

Your anxiety interfering with your daily life

Yes No

3. Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Depression and substance abuse are among the conditions that occasionally complicate anxiety disorders.

In the last year have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel sad or depressed?

More days than not, do you feel disinterested in life?

More days than not, do you feel worthless or guilty?

4. During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs…

resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

What A Mental Health Professional Looks For

Your mental health professional can diagnose you by evaluating your symptoms on specific criteria in the DSM-5, including whether:

  • Youve experienced significant life changes recently
  • Youve had anxiety and worry for at least six months
  • Youve had trouble control your worries
  • Your anxiety involves at least three of the most common symptoms of anxiety
  • Your symptoms cause significant impairment in your everyday life
  • Your symptoms are better explained by a different mental condition

Your mental health professional will work with you to uncover the root of your anxiety, make a diagnosis whether its generalized anxiety disorder or another anxiety disorder and find the best treatment for your unique symptoms.

Get Anxiety Treatment From Experts Who Care

Having feelings of anxiety or an anxiety disorder is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. You dont have to go it alone, either. Anxiety is highly treatable, and its possible to manage it effectively and feel fulfilled.

At the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute, we can offer you meaningful support from mental health professionals who want to help you feel whole, physically and mentally. Learn more about our our mental health care or reach out to us to get started.

Read Also: What To Do If You Have Bad Anxiety

Figuring Out If You Have An Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders come in many forms. What I have is known as generalized anxiety disorder , which is marked by consistent, excessive worries that are difficult to control or stop. It affects about 6.8 million American adults and women are twice as likely as men to have it.

Other types of anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Because anxiety has such a wide range of signs and symptoms, it can be difficult to diagnose, according to Christen Sistrunk, a licensed professional counselor in Texas who specializes in treating anxiety disorders.

The first step to evaluating whether you have anxiety is to figure out the type of anxiety you have and how it affects you, said Justin Baksh, chief clinical officer of Foundations Wellness Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida. For instance, maybe you feel it because you brain cant shut off. No matter how hard you try, your mind wanders into the future about finances, work, family issues, and so on, Baksh said.

Or perhaps you experience more physical symptoms, like an upset stomach, digestive issues, sweaty palms, a constant uneasiness, heart palpitations or bouncing legs. Depending on the type of disorder, you could also experience specific fears, avoidance of social situations, shaking, dizziness, fear of losing control, a sense of unreality the list goes on.

How To Tell If You’re Having An Anxiety Attack

12 Signs You May Have An Anxiety Disorder Infographic

If you feel like you had severe anxiety, then you had an anxiety attack. Any form of severe anxiety can count as an attack. But for those that are experiencing something more like panic attacks, the experience tends to be similar between different people.

Recall that anxiety attacks can mimic other health problems. If you haven’t been to a doctor, it’s a good idea to go at least once to rule out any more serious issues. Make sure your doctor knows about anxiety, however. Not all doctors are aware of the severity of anxiety attack symptoms. Some may not believe that anxiety can cause so many physical symptoms and sensations, but it absolutely can. Thats why its so important to find the right doctor.

The symptoms below are often experienced differently by different people. During an anxiety attack, your body experiences a wave of stress that is so profound, it’s difficult to know exactly how your individual body will react. Yet below are some of the most common symptoms of an anxiety attack:

You may not experience all of these symptoms at once either, and each one may cause various degrees of severity. You may also feel as though there is no way that it is an anxiety attack. Anxiety attacks and panic attacks are often so severe that the sufferers live in constant fear of the symptoms coming back.

Anxiety attacks also tend to peak around 10 minutes . Then as they dissipate, they often leave you feeling fatigued and drained, possibly fearful of another attack.

Recommended Reading: How To Stop Health Anxiety

Children May Tend Towards Obsessive

Often times, in an effort to manage strong feelings of anxiety, children may begin to develop rituals, leaving them prone to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder . Children may engage in particular rituals that need to be completed in the morning, after school, or before bed, in an effort to ward off potentially negative things. Common themes of OCD are germ phobia, safety, perfection, and orderliness. Children may also begin to expect family members to adhere to their rituals or particular ways in which they should function in an effort to maintain safety. For example, Sarah did not want her mother to sit on the same couch as her because she believed that if she did, her mother would become hurt. She also wanted her mother to follow a particular path down the stairs, through the hall, and into the kitchen so that she did not become ill or injured.

How Is Anxiety Treated

Treatment for anxiety typically consists of a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective form of psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder. CBT teaches specific skills to manage your worries and help you gradually return to the activities you have avoided because of anxiety.

You May Like: How To Help Daughter With Anxiety

Can I Get Diagnosed With Anxiety By An Online Mental Health Provider

While online assessments can let you know whether you are experiencing symptoms associated with an anxiety disorder, its best to see a health care professional in person to rule out or discover and treat any physical causes of your symptoms. Only qualified health care professionals can make an accurate diagnosis and start you on a treatment plan.

Treatment For Social Anxiety Disorder

How To Know If You Have Anxiety? – The Anxiety Quiz

The first step in treatment is coming to the conclusion that you could benefit from a little help. Interestingly, this is a lot easier said than done.

When you have a broken ankle, the obvious thing to do is to go and see a doctor for treatment. When your thoughts and feelings are preventing you from engaging with other people, though, its pretty easy to make the decision not to get any help.

A lot of the time, negative thoughts and biases convince us that the problems were having are our fault, that no one could help, and that its just something well have to figure out on our own.

If youre thinking about whether you could use help, though, thats a sign that you might benefit from at least speaking with someone.Theres no shame in seeking help, and there are a lot of individuals who talk with counselors and doctors about their mental health without even having a disorder.

Read Also: What Are Some Anxiety Disorders

When To Consider Talking To Your Doctor

There are a few factors that separate typical anxiety from a more serious issue you might seek treatment for, Dr. Rock says. Factors to consider include:

  • Intensity. Does your anxiety cause significant discomfort or intolerable symptoms?
  • Duration. Do your symptoms linger beyond the anxiety-inducing experience ?
  • Interference. Does your anxiety reduce your ability to function so that you cant work or do other tasks?
  • Triggers. Do you have triggers that render you helpless? Do you have so many triggers that you stop doing things like leaving your home or driving on the freeway?
  • Affect on your life overall. Consider how the anxiety is affecting all areas of your life, such as work and relationships. How would your life look if you didnt have the anxiety? Would it be significantly different?
  • You really have to think about how much it affects your functioning, Dr. Rock says. You can avoid some triggers: If youre afraid of lions, dont go to the zoo. But if you are afraid of people, thats more of a problem.

    Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders In Adults

    Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress that most people experience throughout their lives. A person may feel anxious when speaking in public, taking a test, or making an important life decision. But if the anxiety is more than temporary worry or fear, does not go away, or worsens over time, this may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

    NYU Langone specialists offer expert diagnosis of anxiety disorders, which are common mental health conditions that can interfere with daily activities, affecting your performance at work and school as well as your relationships.

    If you experience any symptoms of an anxiety disorder, see your doctor or a mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker.

    To diagnose an anxiety disorder, a doctor performs a physical exam, asks about your symptoms, and recommends a blood test, which helps the doctor determine if another condition, such as hypothyroidism, may be causing your symptoms.

    The doctor may also ask about any medications you are taking. Certain medications may cause symptoms of anxiety. These include levodopa, a medication used to manage Parkinsons disease, and cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant used to prevent the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

    If the doctor does not find an underlying cause of the symptoms, he or she performs a psychological evaluation.

    Read Also: How To Help Cats With Separation Anxiety

    What About Shyness Or Quietness

    While shyness and general quietness arent mutually exclusive from social anxiety disorder, one doesnt always mean the other. Many people are what we would consider shy or quiet, and those normal traits can lead to some anxiety.

    People who are shy might be asked to speak up or just be themselves, and this social feedback could make them think that something is wrong. Its normal and natural to be introverted or shy, so long as youre not shuttered by an underlying feeling of intense anxiety and fear around social situations.

    Social anxiety disorder doesnt have to do with your personality traits so much as your internal experience surrounding social interactions.

    That intense anxiety will likely interrupt your ability to conduct life in the way you otherwise would. Lets take a look at some of the symptoms that social anxiety disorder produces that prevent one from living life freely.

    Signs And Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorders

    Living With Anxiety Health Resource Center Pakistan

    Many people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. In fact, anxiety is a very normal response to stressful life events like moving, changing jobs, or having financial troubles.

    However, when anxiety symptoms become larger than the events that triggered them and begin to interfere with your life, they could be signs of an anxiety disorder.

    Anxiety disorders can be debilitating, but people can manage them with proper help from a medical professional. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step.

    In this article, we discuss common symptoms of an anxiety disorder, as well as how to reduce anxiety naturally and when to seek professional help.

    One of the most common symptoms of an anxiety disorder is excessive worrying.

    People with anxiety disorders will worry disproportionately about events or everyday situations.

    A doctor will diagnose someone with a generalized anxiety disorder if this worrying occurs on most days for at least 6 months and is difficult to control.

    The worrying must also be severe and intrusive, making it difficult to concentrate and accomplish daily tasks.

    According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, generalized anxiety disorder affects around 6.8 million Americans, roughly 3.1 percent of the United States population. However, less than 45 percent of people with the disorder are receiving treatment.

    This kicks off effects throughout the body, such as:

    • racing pulse
    • shaky hands
    • dry mouth

    Also Check: What Does Anxiety And Depression Feel Like

    How To Tell If You Have Anxiety: 10 Signs And Symptoms

    Anxiety can manifest itself in numerous ways and for many reasons. Important exams, having to make a speech, or going on a first date with someone can all be sources of nervousness or other feelings commonly associated with anxiety. However, these feelings can also be chronic and not based on specific scenarios and it could indicate an anxiety disorder. If you are unsure whether you are experiencing an anxiety disorder, this article will discuss the mental and physical symptoms so that you can learn how to tell if you have anxiety, and start managing it today.

    The Signs Of Anxiety

    People experience anxiety differently. And there are different types of anxiety disorders some people have generalized anxiety disorder. Others may live with panic disorder. Some people may have difficulty with specific phobias. Despite there being differences between the types, here are some of the most common hallmarks of an anxiety disorder:

  • Excessive Worrying
  • According to the National Institute of Mental Health, individuals with anxiety disorders often worry excessively or have a sense of dread, usually lasting six months or longer. These anxious feelings can stem from school, the workplace, social interactions, personal relationships, health, or finances, to name a few causes. For those with anxiety, keeping these feelings under control can be challenging, even if they realize that their worries or fears are irrational.

  • Difficulties Sleeping & Restlessness
  • Fatigue
  • Concentration Issues
  • RELATED ARTICLES
    - Advertisment -

    Most Popular

    - Advertisment -