How To Tell If You Have Anxiety
If you feel anxious from time to time, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have an anxiety disorder. The nervousness you might feel before an exam, interview, or presentation, for instance, is generally considered to be normal, as it tends to dissipate once the event is over. However, if you have chronic anxiety that isn’t always based on specific scenarios and causes disruptions to your daily life, it may qualify as a disorder.
An overview of anxiety disorders and their effects on mental health
As discussed above, most of us feel anxious occasionally, whether your anxiety is due to career challenges, a medical condition you may have, or conflicts you're experiencing with family members. If you’re experiencing feelings of nervousness, apprehension, or distress that are persistent or intense, though, you may have an anxiety disorder. A class of mental health disorders characterized by excessive fear and worry, anxiety disorders can significantly impact several aspects of your everyday life.
How to tell if you have anxiety
Determining if you are experiencing anxiety can be the first step toward seeking professional help. Below, we detail the signs that may indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder.
Common anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder and their causes
The following are three of the most common anxiety disorders and symptoms that may help you identify how to find treatment.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
10 common symptoms: How to tell if you have anxiety
Excessive worry
Fatigue
Irritability
Avoidance of situations that may induce anxiety
Treatment for anxiety disorders
Mental health therapy for anxiety disorders
Takeaway
What are the warning signs of anxiety?
There are several different types of anxiety disorders, each with its own signs and symptoms. In general, however, a persistent sense of worry, fear, or impending danger—especially when there is no actual danger at hand—may be a key warning sign. If it’s negatively impacting your daily functioning, life, and relationships and/or causing significant distress regularly, it could qualify as an anxiety disorder. Consult with a mental health care provider if you're experiencing mild to intense mental health concerns that are impacting your well-being.
Do you have an anxiety disorder, or are you just nervous?
Feelings of nervousness from time to time can be a normal response to various life circumstances and situations. It may qualify as an anxiety disorder when the nervousness, worry, and fear become “excessive” and are associated with avoidance behaviors.
In addition to excessive anxiety and unrealistic worry, anxiety disorders often involve several physical signs and symptoms. These may include a racing heart, rapid breathing, muscle tension, and sleep problems such as difficulty falling or staying asleep.
There are different types of anxiety disorders, each with their own set of specific symptoms, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia), panic disorder, and selective mutism. There are also other related conditions that can involve intense fear and anxiety, such as obsessive compulsive disorder.
How can anxiety start?
The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but researchers suspect it may be some combination of factors including genetics and environment. Various other factors can potentially worsen your symptoms throughout your lifetime as well, such as high stress levels, certain lifestyle habits, and a lack of healthy coping mechanisms.
The exact factors that trigger anxiety disorders or worsen anxiety symptoms may vary from one person to the next. In some cases, certain physical conditions, such as thyroid problems, may also contribute to anxiety symptoms.
What does anxiety feel like?
Mentally, anxiety can feel like worry or fear about something. It can also show up as irritability and trouble concentrating. Physically, it can manifest as muscle tension, chest pain, headaches, increased heart rate, and similar signs. Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but it may qualify as an anxiety disorder if it’s persistent, difficult to control, excessive, and/or negatively impacts daily functioning.
How do people with anxiety think?
People who live with mental disorders like these tend to have trouble controlling their level of worry. They may have excessive fear related to everyday situations, and it may be hard for them to exit the thought loop of these concerns. They might overthink, expect the worst, and want to prepare for every possibility. Professional treatment for mental health conditions in this category can help an individual learn to manage their symptoms.
Can you cure them?
As with some other mental and medical illnesses, anxiety disorders are generally thought of as “treatable” rather than “curable.” In other words, a tendency to engage in anxious thought patterns may always be present in an individual, but various strategies and treatments can help a person learn to manage these tendencies to improve their overall functioning and quality of life.
There are a number of approaches available to treat anxiety disorders, including therapy with a qualified professional, a support group, and medication. If you are experiencing severe anxiety and are interested in medication, consult with your primary care provider to discuss your options; they may review your medical history and closely monitor side effects to avoid serious complications.
Are you just overreacting?
It’s possible to feel anxiety and nervousness but not have an anxiety disorder. That’s because feeling anxious or fearful from time to time is a natural human response to a variety of situations.
Such feelings may qualify as a disorder if they’re persistent, excessive, and/or negatively impact daily functioning, work, school, relationships, and/or overall well-being. If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety, meeting with a mental health professional like a therapist for evaluation and support is typically recommended.
How long does anxiety last?
Clinical anxiety is considered to be a treatable condition rather than a curable one. That means a tendency toward anxious thought patterns may not go away, but you can learn healthy coping techniques for effectively managing them.
How common is anxiety?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, anxiety disorders affect around 30% of adults at some point in their lifetimes. They’re currently the most common type of mental illness in the United States.
Can I self-diagnose anxiety?
Only a qualified health professional can give an official diagnosis, but paying attention to the symptoms you are experiencing can be an important part of knowing when to seek treatment. If you are experiencing excessive anxiety, poor quality sleep, a pounding heart, or other symptoms, consider reaching out to a mental health provider for professional support.
- Previous Article
- Next Article