Recognising Anxiety. The Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders.

Anxiety is more than just being nervous

We've all been nervous at one point in our lives. The racing heart before a first date, the sweaty palms moments prior to a presentation, a dry mouth before you step in front of a crowd. It's natural to feel nervous when we're faced with challenging events in our lives.

Why? It's because that's our body's way to protect us from the unknown.

Feelings of nervousness and anxiety are survival traits that we developed as part of our evolution. So it's a natural emotion, especially during times of uncertainty.

What's not normal is when these feelings become a persistent and overwhelming presence in our lives. Interfering with daily activities and overall well-being. Holding us back from living our lives to the fullest.

These moments of excess and prolonged nervousness and anxiety is where we draw the line between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders.

In this guide, we'll share some of the most common (and not so common) signs and symptoms of common anxiety disorders. This will hopefully help you recognize the different manifestations of anxiety in yourself or the people around you.

What are the Different Types of Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders come in various forms, each with its unique set of symptoms and challenges. Understanding the different types can help us better recognise and address the struggles we or our loved ones may be facing.

1. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Characterised by persistent and excessive worry about a variety of issues, such as work, health, or family.
2. Phobias: Intense and irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities, like spiders, heights, or social interactions.
3. Social Anxiety Disorder: A crippling fear of social situations, often leading to avoidance and isolation.
4. Panic Disorder: Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which can be accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, and feelings of dread.
5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate anxiety.
6. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Develops after experiencing a traumatic event, often leading to intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and hypervigilance.

You can learn more about the different types of anxiety disorders by reading this article we published going in-depth on each condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterised by a persistent and excessive worry about different aspects of life such as work, health, or family. As we mentioned in our article about the types of anxiety, generalised anxiety is a nagging worry about almost everything in our daily life.

The signs and symptoms of GAD can include:

• Always being worried about everyday events and activities, and finding it hard to control your thoughts.
• Being too focused on the negative side of things, sometimes forgetting the positive.
• Constantly feeling restless, tense, or on edge.
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing on your daily tasks.
• Being highly irritable and easily angered.
• Experiencing frequent mood swings.
• Muscle tension or aches around your body, typically on your shoulders and neck.
• Always feeling tired, drained, and longing for sleep.
• Finding it hard to fall asleep at night because your body feels uncomfortable or you have a lot of racing thoughts.
• Difficulty controlling your negative thoughts.
• Feelings of dread or a sense that something bad is about to happen at any time.

These symptoms can have a significant impact on your daily life, making it challenging to function effectively in work, social, and personal settings. That's why it's important to seek help from licensed professionals like our team at MeHelp Psychology. We can help you overcome your negative thought patterns that make you anxious.

Signs and Symptoms of Phobias

Phobias are intense and irrational fears of specific things, events, or activities. These fears typically trigger a strong reaction when exposed to the phobia or reminders of it.

The signs and symptoms of phobias can include:

• Intense and sometimes irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
• Doing everything you can to avoid the feared object or situation (or even reminders of it).
• Panic attacks and intense reactions when exposed to the feared object or situation (and reminders of it).

Phobias, when not managed, can have a debilitating effect on your daily life. Especially if your phobia is something we encounter on a regular basis like driving a car, riding an aeroplane, or speaking in front of people.

Signs and Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder is a crippling fear of social situations. This usually stems from the fear of embarrassment, rejection, or scrutiny. This often leads to avoidance and isolation. Which ultimately makes one's mental health worse.

The signs and symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder can include:

• Not wanting to participate in social situations, such as going to reunions and gatherings, public speaking, meeting new people, or attending social events.
• Having constant thoughts of being judged, criticised, or embarrassed by other people when around others.
• Physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, trembling, or a racing heart when exposed to other people.
• Feelings of self-consciousness, inadequacy, or inferiority in social settings (or even when alone).
• Difficulty making eye contact or initiating conversations with other people.
• Overthinking and ruminating about past social interactions.
• Negative visions about possible social interactions.
• Shutting off any social invitation or invitation to go out with other people.

Social Anxiety Disorder can have a significant impact on someone's personal and professional life. This makes it challenging to form meaningful connections and engage in social activities.

Signs and Symptoms of Panic Disorder

Professional counsellors and therapists define panic Disorder as repeated and unexpected panic attacks. These panic attacks typically mimic the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, so it's important to learn the distinction between the two.

The signs and symptoms of Panic Disorder can include:

• Physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or nausea.
• Trembling, sweating, or shaking.
• Difficulty breathing or a sensation of choking.
• Sudden fear of dying or going crazy.
• Intense feelings of fear or anxiety that pops out of the blue, often for no apparent reason.
• Feelings of impending doom or a sense of losing control.
• Multiple episodes of panic attacks over a short period of time.

The key trait of panic disorders is repetition and frequency of panic attacks during a period of time. Panic disorder can be extremely distressing and disruptive. It can also lead to anticipatory anxiety and avoidance of situations where a panic attack might occur. Moreover, it might lead to several trips to the emergency room because of the physical symptoms and one's fear of dying.

Signs and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

People typically develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after experiencing a traumatic event like an accident, war, or other extreme events. This often leads to intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and hypervigilance.

The signs and symptoms of PTSD can include:

• Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or nightmares related to the traumatic event.
• Avoidance of situations or stimuli associated with the trauma.
• Negative changes in mood, such as feeling guilty, ashamed, or detached.
• Being on a constant fight-or-flight mode and anticipating an "attack." This includes insomnia, irritability, or being easily startled.
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering details
• Feelings of emotional numbness or disconnection from other people.

The signs and symptoms of PTSD can have a profound impact on a person's life. The condition makes it challenging for people to engage in work, social, romantic, and personal activities. When suffering from PTSD, or coming out of a traumatic event, it's important to seek help. Professionals like our team at MeHelp Psychology can help you navigate these traumatic events so it doesn't lead to (or worsen) PTSD.

Signs and Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterised by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions). These obsessions serve as a soothing/defence mechanism for one's obsessions (anxious thoughts).

The signs and symptoms can vary widely but often include:

Obsessions

• Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and unwanted.
• Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others.
• Unwanted thoughts involving taboo subjects such as sex, religion, or harm.
• A need to be in control of everything.
• Seeking symmetry or order in every aspect of life.

Compulsions

• Repetitive behaviours or mental acts that you feel driven to perform in response to an obsession.
• Checking doors, appliances, and locks repeatedly.
• Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other repetitive or sequential things to reduce anxiety.
• Arranging items in a precise, symmetrical, or "perfect" way.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms in Yourself

Recognising the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders in yourself can be challenging. But it's an important step in seeking help and addressing the issue.

Some key things to look out for include:

• Having persistent and uncontrollable worrying about everyday events.
• Wanting to avoid, or outright avoiding certain situations or activities due to fear or anxiety.
• Physical discomforts throughout the day like a racing heart, shortness of breath, and muscle tension.
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or focusing on tasks.
• Changes in your mood, such as increased irritability or mood swings.
• Disruptions to sleep, appetite, or daily routines.

A good way to keep track of these is to start a simple daily journal. In this journal, it's important to note your thoughts and feelings throughout the day. This way, you'll be able to recognize if it's a pattern of behaviour or just one off events. Journaling might also help you identify causes/triggers which is a helpful insight during therapy. You can do this in as easy as 5 minutes every night.

If you notice these signs and symptoms in yourself, it's important to acknowledge them and take steps to address the underlying issue, whether through self-care, therapy, or seeking professional help.

Recognising the Signs and Symptoms in Others

Recognising the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders in your loved ones can also be crucial in providing support and encouraging them to seek help. Some things to look out for include:

• Frequently declining invites to go out and hang out.
• Always talking about worries or anxieties about a variety of issues.
• Being fixated on the negatives (or dangers) or something.
• Noticeable physical symptoms like fidgeting or discomfort.
• Changes in mood or behaviour, such as increased irritability, aggression, and procrastination.
• Disruptions to their daily routines or activities

If you notice these signs in someone close to you, it's important to approach the conversation with empathy and understanding. Offer to listen, provide support, and encourage them to seek professional help if necessary.

Takeaway

Anxiety is a natural response to challenging situations, but when it becomes overwhelming and persistent, it can indicate an anxiety disorder.

Different types of anxiety disorders have unique symptoms and challenges. Which is why it's important to be aware of the distinct manifestations of each.

Recognising these signs in ourselves and others is crucial because it might just save a life. That's why we need to be mindful not only of our thoughts and feelings, but the behaviours of the people around us.

If you see these signs and symptoms on yourself, or your loved ones, it's okay to seek help and support. You can always reach out to our team at MeHelp Psychology.