Do I have anxiety? This is a question that many people ask themselves. It’s important to understand the signs and symptoms of anxiety, but you should always consult a qualified healthcare professional if you think that you may suffer from an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, fear, or unease that can range from mild to severe. It’s normal to experience these feelings in certain situations — like when taking an exam or starting a new job — but if they become overwhelming and interfere with your daily life, it could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
Common signs and symptoms of anxiety include: feeling overwhelmed; having difficulty concentrating; experiencing racing thoughts; increased heart rate; trouble sleeping; irritability; excessive worrying; and physical tension such as headaches, muscle tension, stomach upset, and fatigue. If these feelings last for more than six months and are interfering with your day-to-day activities, it’s important to talk to your healthcare professional about possible treatment options.
You should also consider other factors that may contribute to anxiety-like behaviour, such as stress at work or school, financial problems, difficulties in relationships, significant life changes such as getting married or divorced, health issues such as chronic pain or illness, substance abuse problems, traumatic events like a car accident or natural disaster. It’s important to take into account any potential cause before making a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder.
There are several different types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. Each type has its own set of criteria for diagnosis, which can help determine which type you may have.
It is also important to note that there are treatments available for managing the symptoms of anxiety — both psychotherapy and medication can be helpful forms of treatment depending on the severity of the symptoms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches strategies for changing thinking patterns that may lead to anxious behaviours, while medications like SSRIs can help regulate neurotransmitter levels associated with stress response systems in the brain, helping reduce overall levels of distress in people suffering from an anxiety disorder.
The most important thing is to talk to someone if you are unsure if you have an anxiety disorder — talking through your experiences with a healthcare provider or mental health professional can help you understand if the feelings you are having meet the criteria for diagnosis as well as what treatments might be helpful for managing them over time.
