Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety varies from person to person because we all feel things differently and so feelings of anxiety can range from butterflies in your stomach to your heart pounding out of your chest.  Other ways you may experience anxiety include nightmares, panic attacks, and painful thoughts or memories that you just can’t control. You may show an overall pattern of social anxiety, a hypersensitivity to the criticism or disapproval of others, or avoidance of situations that require interactions or contact with others.  Here are ten signs you may be struggling with anxiety:

1. not being able to stop or control worrying

2. worrying too much about too many different things

3. feelings of apprehension or dread

4. watching for signs of danger

5. anticipating the worst 

6. difficulties with concentration

7. trouble falling or staying asleep

8. becoming easily annoyed or irritated

9. feeling nervous, on edge, tense or jumpy

10. feeling like your mind has gone blank

Types of Anxiety Disorders

So there is this really big book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, also known as the DSM-5 for short.  Within the approximate 950 pages of this book are descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria that help clinicians and counselors like me diagnose mental health issues, including 9 different anxiety disorders.  Of those 9 anxiety disorders, the following are the primary ones I see in my office: 

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder - do you worry about every day activities and feel anxious nearly all the time and are not sure why?  Do you feel as if you are being a "worry-wart?"  If you answered yes to either of these, you may be struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD for short.  Anxiety related to GAD often shows itself in physical symptoms too like difficulties with sleeping, upset stomach, restlessness and fidgeting, and/or feeling tired or fatigued.

2. Social Anxiety Disorder (social phobia) - do you have a debilitating fear of being viewed negatively by others and humiliated in public?  Are you extremely shy, avoiding social situations, or suffer from stage fright?  If you answered yes to any of these, you may be struggling with Social Anxiety Disorder.

3. Agoraphobia - if you are likely to avoid being away from home alone or avoid public places or situations such as riding the city bus, going to a shopping mall, or avoid even confined spaces because you are fearful of being unable to get away or get help, you may be struggling with agoraphobia.  When in these types of situations, you may experience panic attacks, which is the sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and may include physical symptoms such as your heart pounding, accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, a sense of smothering, etc.

4. Panic Disorder - if you experience repeated, unexpected panic attacks such as that described above and are afraid you may have another attack to the point where you avoid situations you think might trigger an attack, then you may be struggling with panic disorder.    

Ways I Can Help

I can help you:

• Learn ways to reduce anxiety and gain control over unhealthy thoughts

• Learn and implement calming and coping skills to use when feeling anxious

• Discover, explore and heal childhood hurts (or trauma) that contribute to anxiety

• Set goals to become the person you have always envisioned

Together, we will come up with a plan for you to reduce your anxiety.  I can provide you with tools, such as, meditation, mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, thought stopping, changing belief systems, re-framing unhealthy thinking patterns and relaxation techniques.  If you would like to learn various ways to take care of yourself so you can reduce your overall levels of anxiety, please contact me.