What are the 7 Symptoms of Anxiety?

Anxiety is a disorder that is affecting millions of people globally. It’s important to know what changes in behavior and mood are signs of anxiety so that one can address them as soon as possible. In this blog, we will discuss seven significant anxiety signs and available forms of treatment.

Signs of Anxiety

Excessive Worrying

Insecurities or excessive worrying is a major sign of an anxiety disorder. It is characterized by a persistent irrational concern with an undesired event and is qualitatively different from normal worrying. An anxious person uncomfortably worries and feels concerned about regular chores and occurrences in his or her life.

For instance, while worries can be generalized and affect anyone, one particular worry may be too much about work or school performance, physical well-being, or even daily interactions.

Such worrying can be chronic, lasting for months or even years, and can hardly be considered an option for a normal functioning individual.

Restlessness

Another sign of anxiety is getting fidgety and not being able to stay still like how one can get when they have a lot on their mind. Such restlessness is characterized by the inability to sit still or relax.

Some of the possible symptoms of restlessness may include; always feeling alert without any reason or having a sense of having to do something though there is no particular thing to do.

Primarily, this symptom affects cognitive abilities, hence altering daily activities, work performance, or leisure time.

Some of the physical manifestations of restlessness include leg swinging, rocking, standing up and sitting down, or any other activity that makes the patient way from sitting quietly for a long time. Other symptoms caused by anxiety such as restlessness may worsen sleep and therefore affect anxiety too.

Fatigue

Despite high stress and worry, fatigue is a common symptom that patients with anxiety present. Chronic anxiety impacts physical and emotional well-being, it is obvious that such individuals are bound to lack usual energy levels.

Fatigue related to anxiety is not just about feeling tired after a long day. It is a condition that gives a person a tired feeling that does not disappear even if they are relaxed or at a time when one has a feeling of drowsiness that cannot be relieved by sleep.

 It may be so severe that it hinders an individual or group from carrying out their tasks effectively or even performing other activities. Fatigue as a symptom is closely related to anxiety and requires the basic anxiety to be addressed along with providing the necessary rest.

Difficulty Concentrating

Stress is known to have direct negative impacts on an individual’s ability to think effectively and undertake various activities. This symptom can take various forms, which can be having a problem following discussions, forgetting things, or being slow at doing activities.

This symptom can be quite taxing since the individual will have to struggle during their classes or work to try and get things done.

Behavioral changes that can help enhance concentration include establishing achievable targets, precise management of activities so that they can be completed in manageable segments, and the ability to focus on what is happening at a particular time.

Irritability

One particular sign of anxiety that is not very well recognized is increased irritability, but it is rather widespread. Stress is also associated with increased anxiety making the bearers more sensitive to stress and hence obtaining a shorter fuse.

This increase in irritability may cause tension in human interactions and therefore add more pressure on individuals in social or working environments. Knowing that mood swings are a sign of anxiety may assist in the search for better ways to cope with the condition, for instance, using techniques of relaxation or discussing feelings with close ones.

Muscle Tension

Trembling is a physical sign closely relative to anxiety, the other important sign being muscle tension. Pain may be felt as tightness, rigidity, or discomfort in the muscles of the neck, shoulders, or back. This tension is usually the effect of the stress that the body is always on alert due to the fight or flight syndrome.

To reduce muscle tension, one may use methods like; breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or yoga. The other measures that can be taken include exercising and stretching exercises to also reduce the incidences of stiffness in muscles.

Sleep Disturbances

Bothering people’s sleep is frequent since anxiety affects sleep patterns; those affected may experience insomnia, wake up frequently during the night, or get poor-quality sleep. This symptom proves a loop with poor sleep being a major trigger for an escalating anxiety level and the condition being capable of denying a person proper sleep.

Improving sleep hygiene is one of the most important elements in the treatment of anxiety disorders. This ranges from waking up and going to bed at specific times, establishing sleep rituals, and avoiding substances that cause excitement before sleep. However, for extreme sleeping problems, you may require help from professionals.

Treatment Methods for Anxiety

Developing an understanding of the signs of anxiety is the first key point towards curing the condition. To this effect, available treatment approaches that can assist a person to deal with anxiety as well as enhance the quality of his or her life are as follows.

Therapy

Psychotherapy is considered to be one of the primary strategies in the management of anxiety. Among the methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is very useful for anxiety patients, as people learn the patterns of negative thinking and change the related behavior. The other therapies that may be helpful include exposure therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Medication

Medication is one of the ways through which symptoms of anxiety can be well dealt with. SSRIs are the typical type of drugs used for equalizing serotonin levels in the brain and eradicating anxiety. Benzodiazepines can be prescribed for immediate intervention of severe anxiety episodes; however, they should not be used as a long-term solution because it can develop dependence on the substance.

Lifestyle Changes

Specifically, concerning the anxiety level, several positive changes in lifestyle may be implemented. Exercise normal nutrition and sleep are basic when it comes to the upkeep of one’s psychological well-being. However, one may affirm that exercise, especially, assists in decreasing stress and anxiety levels by the provision of contentment endorphins.

Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

Techniques like meditation, yoga deep breathing exercises, and other such forms of practice can also be used in controlling anxiety because of their calming effects. These methods promote awareness of the current moment and may be useful in interrupting the process of excessive worrying.

Support Groups

Self-help support groups are beneficial for persons suffering from anxiety since it will help them feel that they are not alone. Sometimes it helps to talk to people who face the same issues as you do because it can provide you with a lot of comfort and advice.

Anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent and treatable mental health disorders and understanding the early signs that indicate the onset of anxiety and choosing the right treatment strategy can help enhance the quality of the patient’s life.

At Deland Treatment Solutions, we focus on treating anxiety and ensuring that patients derive the best positive results. The anxiety treatment program developed for the treatment of patients includes elements of inpatient and outpatient care that have been adapted for each patient, with the help of practitioners & facilities to create an individual approach.

If you or your loved one is suffering from anxiety, please do not wait call us at (386) 866-8689 and get in touch with Deland Treatment Solutions at the earliest. It is our privilege to be here for you and to ease your way toward a new, more fulfilling, and balanced life.