Everyone overthinks at times, which can help their emotions in dealing with a potential threat. However, some individuals experience intense worries that are distressing and interfering with their lives. This is known as anxiety.

For many people, anxiety interferes with their ability to function normally. If you have any of the following signs and symptoms, it’s time to seek professional help.

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The Definition Of Anxiety

Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state that includes worry, fear, uneasiness, and nervousness. Depending on your condition, triggers may consist of stressful situations or thoughts that make you uneasy. Here’s a list of anxiety disorders:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the uncontrollable and excessive worry about daily life events and activities, such as work or academic responsibilities like deadlines or redoing imperfect tasks.
Panic disorder occurs when you experience sudden attacks of extreme fear that reach a peak within minutes, with symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. It can be so severe that it causes you to believe you have a heart attack or stroke.
Social anxiety disorder or anthropophobia is the fear of being judged or embarrassed during social interactions. This is the most common.
Separation anxiety disorder happens if you have a paralyzing fear when separated from something that you formed a deep attachment to, such as a person, animal, or favorite thing. It triggers an anxiety attack if you’re away from them.

According to Alvarado Parkway Institute and similar websites, the causes of anxiety are not yet fully understood. But treating it is essential, as it helps you discover the triggers of your worries and learn healthy coping mechanisms. This requires seeking help, so you don’t have to go through it alone.

Signs You Need Help For Anxiety

Dealing with a significant life change or transition can cause a lot of anxiety. But for many people, anxiety interferes with their ability to function normally. If you have any of the following signs and symptoms, it’s time to seek professional help:

You Have Trouble Concentrating

Focusing is vital, especially when working on a project. But underlying anxiety can affect your ability to concentrate. Rather than focusing on your tasks, your mind drifts away from responsibility, resulting in delays and underperformance, both harmful to your studies or career.

You Experience Physical Reactions

When dealing with anxiety, you often experience physical symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat, nausea, fainting, excessive sweating, insomnia, and difficulty breathing. If left untreated, it might result in impaired functioning due to changes in your prefrontal cortex, increasing your risk of developing severe disorders like dementia and depression.

You Are Having Problems With Your Loved Ones

Humans are social beings, and connecting with others is vital. This is important when working with teammates or sustaining a good relationship with parents, children, friends, and your partner. However, anxiety affects your behavior, causing you to feel annoyed and lash out at your loved ones. You may also worry about saying something wrong, leading to awkward silences, causing misunderstanding, conflict, or even verbal or physical harm.

You Avoid Situations That Might Bring Panic

Avoidance is an unhealthy coping mechanism when you’re afraid of humiliation. For instance, you might be invited to a family gathering during Christmas or New Year’s break. If you have anxiety, you may make up excuses to avoid attending. This could be because you don’t want to deal with questions about your academic performance or financial status.

The same goes for tasks you’re working on. Instead of working on a project, you might procrastinate because you’re afraid of failing your class. You might play video games or scroll through social media for hours to feel better temporarily. However, wasting time only makes matters worse and leads to additional stress.

Best Practices In Seeking Help For Anxiety

If you’re experiencing many, if not all, of the four signs of anxiety, it’s time to seek help. This way, you can find healthier coping mechanisms and retake control of your life. Here are several ways you can seek treatment for anxiety.

Look For Support Groups

If anxious thoughts are getting the best of you, talk to your family. Whether it’s your parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, or favorite aunt or uncle, this gives you a chance to express your feelings. If you’re uncomfortable speaking with family, consider talking to your friends. They will be there for you when things get tough and can provide comfort when you need it most. However, make sure your peers are a good influence; otherwise, it could lead to substance addiction.

Another option is to join a support group. This includes people who are going through the same thing as you. These groups typically meet in person or online, allowing members to express their emotions and feel less alone during their recovery process.

Seek Professional Support From Healthcare Practitioners

Your general practitioner (GP) might know psychological therapists. So, consider scheduling an appointment with them. Your GP will ask questions about your experiences, history, and lifestyle to assess your condition. If they suspect that you may have anxiety, they’ll recommend a psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety treatment. They may suggest the following treatment options:

Exposure therapy uses systematic desensitization, exposing the patient to situations that trigger their anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy involves shifting the patterns of beliefs, thinking, and behavior of the person. This helps reduce their anxiety symptoms by teaching them how to change their thinking.

Medication includes benzodiazepines and antidepressants prescribed by healthcare providers for the treatment of mental health conditions. Relaxation techniques include meditation, breathing exercises, counseling, and deep muscle relaxation. These techniques help reduce stress levels and make it easier to cope with anxiety.

These healthcare practitioners will guide you as you understand the root causes of your anxiety. They also help develop strategies for managing its symptoms through treatment programs.

If you’re experiencing many, if not all, of the four signs of anxiety, it’s time to seek help.

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Summing It Up

As you deal with daily stresses, it can be overwhelming at times. This causes you to overthink and start fearing situations that might never happen in the first place.

You might experience physical symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe mood swings that affect how you deal with loved ones. This happens when you have anxiety, and if you go through this, seeking help is crucial. That way, you’ll find healthier coping mechanisms to silence your anxious thoughts and start living with a peaceful mind.