Beyond Regular Stress: How to Recognize When Anxiety Needs Professional Attention
Beyond Regular Stress: How to Recognize When Anxiety Needs Professional Attention
Written by Lily Thrope
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a common emotional struggle experienced by many individuals. For some, anxiety can manifest as a distressing burden that weighs heavily on the mind and heart. Most people have experienced anxiety at points in their life, whether it be the jumble of nerves before a job interview, or a rapid heartbeat before an important doctor's appointment. In some cases, having a little bit of anxiety can be healthy and a form of motivation and drive. However, if you find your anxiety to be disrupting your daily life and ability to cope, it is possible you are struggling with an anxiety disorder. There are several different types of anxiety disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent and excessive worry, usually about everyday matters. GAD is the most common type of anxiety disorder.
Phobia Disorder: Persistent and excessive fear around a particular object, activity or situation. There are certain types of phobia disorders, such as Agoraphobia, which is a fear of being in places or situations where it might be difficult to escape.
Panic Disorder: Anxiety that manifests as sudden and intense panic attacks. Signs of a panic attack include: nausea, chills or hot flashes, sweating, shaking, dizziness and sometimes hyperventilation.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): Intense anxiety about being embarrassed or rejected, specifically in social situations. This might manifest as fear of speaking up in class or participating in events/activities.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether or not you have an anxiety disorder. Here are a few ways to differentiate normal anxiety from excessive anxiety:
Inability to concentrate
Frequently feeling tired/fatigued
Physical symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dry mouth, and others
You consistently feel tense and irritable
You have issues falling asleep or staying asleep
You avoid social situations
Racing thoughts
Withdrawal from social life
Feeling nervousness or tense
Here are a few questions to ask yourself regarding your anxiety:
How severe is your anxiety?
Is anxiety affecting your daily life, work and/or relationships?
Does the anxiety feel impossible to control or manage?
If you find that your answers to these questions indicate a need for professional intervention, consider speaking to a mental health practitioner.
At Thrope Therapy, we work to create an individualized plan for each client and aim to provide care that fits the needs of the client in their mental health journey. Anxiety treatment takes work, but with time and commitment, you can break free of its grasp.
Click here to schedule your free 15 minute consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.
