Many people experience anxiety in some form throughout their lives, but some people suffer from a higher level of anxiety that is truly debilitating. It can be a normal response to life events such as moving, divorce, changing careers, and other majorly stressful situations. When you suffer from anxiety, you may be able to continue going to work and interacting with your loved ones, and you may not even be aware of how to define it. The key is to understand the symptoms of serious anxiety and know what to look for.
If you find that you do have bad anxiety, it is important to try to get some help to treat it. When it passes to the point of interfering in your daily life, you will want to do something about it. Anxiety can get in the way of your happiness and your ability to enjoy those around you, so you need to be able to identify it. Continue reading to learn how to tell if you have bad anxiety.
You Feel Worried and Irritable Most of the Time
One sign of bad anxiety is feeling worried or irritable most of the time. You might notice that you overreact to events that aren’t really a big deal. If you have bad anxiety, you will find that you worry excessively about little things most days for a period of six months or more. If you find that you are worried all of the time, you might have bad anxiety.
You may also feel irritated because your brain is sending off warning signals to the rest of your body. Your heart rate may be higher, and you may have stronger senses. Your brain literally starts reacting to everyday situations as if they are a threat to your survival. If you notice that you are irritated and agitated most of the time, it could be a sign of bad anxiety.
You Have Trouble Falling Asleep and Staying Asleep
Another sign of bad anxiety is having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. In fact, this is the most common sign. You might lay in bed for hours without falling into a deep sleep. You may find that thoughts about things you are worried about continuously play in your head and prevent you from sleeping.
If you are able to fall asleep, you might wake up in the middle of the night feeling worried, and you may have trouble falling back to sleep afterward. This kind of insomnia reduces the quality of your life because your body isn’t getting enough rest, which actually leads to increased anxiety. When you have bad anxiety, your body causes greater anxiety by preventing itself from getting the rest you need. You can talk to your doctor and come up with a plan to treat the anxiety, and you will be able to get the sleep you need to function without it.
You Find Yourself Avoiding Social Situations
When you have bad anxiety, you may find yourself fearing social situations or worrying about how other people will judge or perceive you. You may feel embarrassed easily and want to avoid being around other people. This is a common symptom of anxiety, and if it reaches the point where you actually avoid social settings, you will know that you have bad anxiety.
Feeling uncomfortable around other people can interfere with your job and your life and make it far less pleasurable. Your doctor may be able to help you get through this so that you can enjoy life again.
Having bad anxiety can interfere in your ability to live a fulfilling and happy life. It can make you feel exhausted, lonely, afraid, and so many other things. If any of these symptoms are making it difficult for you to do everyday things such as going to work or interacting with your friends and family, you will want to see your doctor to come up with a treatment plan.
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