How to Recognize the Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety, stress, depression, and other mental illnesses are becoming more and more common in today’s fast-paced world. In the United States, over 18% of the population experience anxiety in any given year. Anxiety disorders are very treatable, but out of those experiencing anxiety, only 36% of those with this mental illness pursue treatment. Before you can get the treatment you need, it’s crucial to be able to recognize the signs of anxiety.

Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety, as common it is, varies widely in terms of its appearance in people. In today’s society, it’s not uncommon to be told you’re over-reacting, even if you explain you have anxiety. It’s important to recognize that a prominent “anxiety attack” or breakdown is not the only way to tell someone has anxiety. Some of the most prevalent signs of anxiety are:

1. Trembling of limbs, especially hands 
2. Urge to shake or move a leg or foot continuously
3. Difficulty in breathing 
4. Inability to focus or memorize things
5. Feelings of nausea and vomiting 
6. Agitation
7. Loss of appetite 
8. Extreme hunger cravings and binge eating
9. Inability to sleep 
10. Confusion, headache, mood disorders
11. Perspiration and high bl ood pressure
12. Chills all over the body
13. Abdominal cramps and diarrhea 
14. Pain in the chest or biceps

Because every individual is unique, anxiety symptoms can vary from individual to individual. While one person feels hungry and cold, another might not feel hungry at all and experience headaches. Regardless of your symptoms, there is no shame in admitting that you have anxiety. Recognizing this is the first step towards improving your situation, followed by learning potential triggers, ways to cope, and if needed, seeking treatment  such as TMS, ketamine therapy, talk therapy, or medication.

Anxiety can be triggered by a variety of circumstances. It can be stress from work, distress in a relationship with a loved one, or it can even be induced from remembering a trauma in the past (sometimes this is associated with PTSD ). There is some evidence that depression  can also trigger or aggravate anxiety in individuals with both depression and anxiety.

If you choose to seek treatment from a professional, it’s important to pay attention to the frequency of your symptoms. If you are experiencing frequent or severe physical symptoms, sometimes an additional medication may be needed to treat them.

If you find that these symptoms sound familiar to you, please remember you are not alone, and there is help. There are more than 40 million adults struggling with anxiety every year, and that number is only rising. Anxiety does not mean you have to give up your happiness, your goals, or your ambitions. Just as any illness, it simply means you need to adjust. If you have questions about treatment options for your anxiety, or are seeking a new treatment after failed treatments, you can learn more about what we offer  or give us a call at (844) 692-7100 .