How to Know if Your Anxiety Could Be an Anxiety Disorder

When you feel overwhelmed with constant worry or fear, it can affect every area of your life. Are these symptoms due to stress or do they possibly indicate an anxiety disorder?

You Feel Anxious: Is it an Anxiety Disorder?

It is perfectly normal to feel anxious sometimes. Life is full of stressful situations that can cause us to feel nervous, jumpy, and even nauseas.

Some people just worry more than others, thus the term “worry wart.” Others have highly demanding jobs that can cause feelings of chronic stress. Still others may be going through a difficult life event like a divorce or a death in the family. Any of these situations can result in feelings of anxiety.

So, when do the symptoms of fear and worry indicate an anxiety disorder? One of the ways how to know if your anxiety could be an anxiety disorder is the frequency of the symptoms. If the feelings of intense fear or dread occur on a regular basis, then you may have an anxiety disorder.

About Anxiety Disorder

More people struggle with anxiety than any other mental health issue, with about 40 million adults, or 19%, diagnosed with anxiety disorder. There are many factors that contribute to anxiety disorder, such as genetics, environmental factors, biology, history of trauma, and brain chemistry.

There are several subtypes of anxiety disorder. Each sub-type has its own specific features and symptoms, but common symptoms of anxiety disorder include:

• Excessive worry or fear that is out of proportion to the situation
• Frequent feelings of dread
• Always feeling on edge or on alert for danger
• Racing heart
• Headaches
• Shaking or trembling
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Hyperventilating
• Shortness of breath or holding your breath
• Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea
• Feeling jumpy or restless
• Problems with sleep, such as insomnia
• Short-term memory problems
• Trouble concentrating, mental confusion

Types of Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety presents in various ways, with each type featuring a unique fear mechanism. Some people may fear social settings while others may fear an object. The most common types of anxiety disorder in adults include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder. GAD features irrational feelings of fear and worry that cause impairment in daily life. You may find it hard to let go of your worries, which affects your work, family life, or social life. Symptoms include restlessness, stomach upset, fatigue, and sleep problems.
• Panic disorder. Panic disorder involves recurring panic attacks that usually emerge without warning. Panic attacks are similar to the symptoms of a heart attack, with chest pain, dizziness, trembling, and shortness of breath.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD involves unresolved residual anxiety lasting more than a month after experiencing a traumatic event. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, avoidance behaviors, sleep problems, and emotional detachment.
• Specific phobia. Having an irrational fear of an object, situation, person, or place that often results in isolating behaviors. The fear is so intense that the person may go to great lengths to avoid any exposure to the triggering object or situation.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD features a cycle of obsessive worries followed by compulsive behaviors. The compulsive behavior response is a method of alleviating the stress caused by the obsessive worries or thoughts.
• Social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety features an irrational fear of being judged or ridiculed in public, which leads to avoidance behaviors. Symptoms include sweating, muscle tension, nausea, blushing, and rapid heartbeat.

Diagnosis of Anxiety Disorder

You may find yourself feeling anxious much of the time, or having situational anxiety that is irrational considering the trigger. Anxiety can also impact your physical health due to increased cortisol levels. Symptoms that are ongoing and cause you to miss work, school, or avoid socializing may point to anxiety disorder.

A mental health professional is trained to assess your symptoms and conduct a psychological evaluation. After considering all your input, the therapist or doctor will determine whether you have an anxiety disorder. If so, they will specify the type of anxiety disorder and create a tailored treatment plan for you.

Treatment for Anxiety Disorder

After being diagnosed with anxiety, you may wonder what types of treatments will help your symptoms. The core treatment method for anxiety is psychotherapy, and there are several types of therapy that provide excellent results.

Treatment methods for anxiety disorder include:

• CBT. CBT is a short-term therapy that helps you change your dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns. CBT guides you toward shifting the worrying thoughts towards a focus on the positive.
• Exposure Therapy. Anxiety may be caused by a trauma, so exposure therapy helps you face the troubling memories of the trauma. This helps you slowly process the event while in a safe and supportive setting.
• EMDR. EMDR is also helpful for trauma-induced anxiety. In the sessions, you discuss the trauma with the clinician while following an object or therapist’s finger with your eyes.
• Medication. Some patients benefit from certain medications to help relieve symptoms of anxiety. These may be benzos like Xanax or Valium, or SSRIs like Lexapro, Zoloft, or Paxil.
• Holistic methods. There are several holistic activities that help to reduce symptoms of anxiety. These include mindfulness, guided meditation, and yoga.

While outpatient treatment may be enough to manage your anxiety disorder, some patients may warrant a higher level of care. A residential mental health treatment program is a good choice when outpatient methods are not resulting in symptom relief.

Mental Health Hope Online Resource for Mental Health Guidance

Mental Health Hope is a free online resource that provides information and guidance for individuals struggling with a mental health challenge. If you wonder how to know if your anxiety could be an anxiety disorder, we can help. Take this online assessment for anxiety to get started. For more information, call us today at (424) 622-6369.