Simply defined Anxiety is fears or worries that are strong enough to interfere with your day to day life. These can come in episodes called attacks or show in other ways. So here are 7 symptoms. Begin recognizing anxiety in yourself.
Anxiety attacks or symptoms are your body telling you something is off. They can come on at any time and look different for everyone. They are not always hyperventilating and rocking back and forth.
01 BOUTS OF IRRITABILITY AND ANGER
Negative thoughts brought on by anxiety often lead to frustration and fear, which can lead to anger. Anger gives us a short sense of control which can be brought on when fear and anxiety have overwhelmed us.
Bouts of irritability and anger should never be ignored when connected to anxiety. They may appear to come out of now where, but they are often the tipping point as anxiety builds up inside us.
02 HYPERSENSITIVITY TO DISARRAY
Anxiety is often connected to OCD tendencies. When you are dealing with anxiety you have a desire to control as much as possible, but controlling everything is impossible.
When things are out of place or a schedule is thrown off anxiety can peak. You become hypersensitive to disarray. Things that don’t usually bother you may cause you great distress, like a dirty room or being late.
Remove yourself from the source. Give yourself a chance to breath and think rationally. Acting to correct the disarray in a moment of high anxiety can lead to frustration and anger.
03 CHANGES IN SPEECH
Just like someone afraid of public speaking about to give a speech, you may find it hard to speak.
Anxiety can make it harder for you to think clearly so your speech may become disjointed. You forget words, use the wrong words, stumble over your words, mumble or become unable to speak at all.
Anxiety can also cause you to feel short of breath which can also lead to difficulties speaking.
In these instances try to take long, deep breaths and remove yourself from the situation. You need to calm your mind by focusing on simple tasks like breathing. Check out this post on 12 ways to deal with anxiety.
04 DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING
When you have anxiety it is like something stuck in your mind at all times and poking your brain at random. This of course makes it difficult to concentrate.
Anxiety can feel like a physical weight or cloud over you mind that you just can’t shake. This is frustrating and even scary.
One exercise you might try is to solve your worst case scenario. Figure out what the worst possible thing that could happen. Then figure out everything you would do in that situation. Who would you call? What would be your exact steps?
Write it down if you want and then step back and congratulate yourself on solving your worst case scenario. If you can do that then you can work through your current anxieties. Find these and other ways to deal with your anxiety here.
05 HYPERVENTILATING
This is a very real and scary symptom of anxiety. It can come on at the oddest and most inconvenient times.
Hyperventilating is when we take quick, shallow breaths instead of steady deep ones. This can start a cycle as hyperventilating cause you more anxiety which causes more hyperventilating.
Try breathing into a paper bag or cupped hands. You can also try to hold your breath for 10 seconds to help your diaphragm relax.
06 SLEEP DISTURBANCES
Anxiety can cause sleep disturbances and sleep disturbance can cause anxiety. The importance of being well rested it obvious.
Try to keep a consistent nightly routine without watching TV or staring at a phone with blue light. Make sure you room is at a proper temperature (between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit), dark and with comfortable bedding. Check out more suggestions here.
Consider visiting your doctor or a sleep specialist if you continue to have issues with getting a good nights rest.
07 MUSCLE TENSION
When we feel fear or anxiety our body tenses. It is a primal instinct meant to protect us. Muscle tension can cause muscle soreness.
You may find your body is very tense after an anxiety attack or that you are constantly tense all day long.
The best medicine is breathing and removing yourself from stressors. Here are 12 tips to help you deal with anxiety in the moment that can help your relax your muscles.
CONCLUSION
Anxiety can affect every aspect of your life and shows itself in different ways. It is very important to understand the signs and symptoms of anxiety and how to counter them.
Recognizing anxiety in yourself is the first step to dealing with it. There is hope for a happy life. You are not a lone. Relying on trusted friends and family can be a great strength.
Share with someone you know that may be struggling.