For the people without experience or exposure to it, anxiety disorders may seem silly. The unfamiliar may dismiss an anxiety disorder as simply “worrying too much.” But while worry is a very real component of an anxiety disorder, this simple description ignores the complexity of the problem and it’s very real, negative effects on a person’s life. An anxiety disorder is a serious condition that is chronic; that is, it is present in a person’s life on a regular basis and often influences their life and behavior. If you think you, or someone you know has an anxiety disorder, you should keep an eye out for symptoms in three key areas.
Physical Symptoms
One of the easiest things to track with an anxiety disorder is the physical symptoms. This is because many of the symptoms exhibited with anxiety are similar to the “fight or flight” response we experience in a crisis situation, except that there’s no crisis currently occurring. It simply means your body is in a heightened state of readiness to deal with a significant threat, even though there is none. Over a prolonged period of time, this sustained readiness can affect your body.
Restlessness is a key symptom, as is tensioned or tightened muscles, since the body is prepared to fight or run at a moment’s notice. Sweaty palms, shortness of breath or a feeling of choking may also be in evidence. Stomach problems over the long term can also occur. During acute moments of anxiety, dizziness, nausea or high heart rate may also be present.
Emotional Symptoms
Feelings are at the heart of an anxiety disorder, and these feelings in turn have an effect on everything else. Worry is obviously the most common emotional state, but this changes in form to other variations such as heightened fear or terror, a sense of dread, a feeling of being overwhelmed, or a state of nervousness where it is easy to be frightened, surprised or provoked.
The emotional component of an anxiety disorder is often the dominant component, but can be the most difficult to deal with, especially for people looking for a quick, short-term fix. The feelings of dread, worry or even panic can have a major impact on the ability to live a normal life, and it is these feelings that people most often wish to address.
Behavioral Symptoms
Because of the combination of negative physical and emotional symptoms, this usually results in anxiety disorder sufferers displaying certain behaviors. All of these behaviors have one simple motivation; avoid whatever might be the source of anxiety.
Attachment behavior, for example, ascribes a certain amount of safety to a person, action or concept. This may mean an anxiety sufferer feels better with a person or pet present, and always wants that person or pet to be present, taking great pains to ensure that separation is kept to a minimum.
On the other hand, avoidance behavior is the opposite. Someone with social anxiety feels stress when it comes to dealing with strangers or large groups, so the behavior here is to stay away from parties, night clubs, movie theaters, shopping malls, or any other area with a large gathering of people.
An anxiety disorder goes far beyond just worrying a lot. Over a long enough period of time, this can have very serious, crippling consequences on a person’s ability to function and enjoy a normal life. In the same way that chronic depression can color everything about a person’s ability to live, the same is true of anxiety disorders. If you or someone you care about has an anxiety disorder, don’t just try to “deal with it.” Get help from people with experience and understanding.
To learn more about the signs and symptoms of anxiety or to talk to a therapist, call or contact us today at 202-641-5335.
