Anxiety: The Signs and Symptoms

Many of us experience feelings of worry and anxiety, especially when we’re stressed or in an uncomfortable situation. If you’re nervous about an exam, job interview or even a first date, don’t worry – it’s normal to feel somewhat uneasy. In these instances, anxiety is actually meant to be helpful. It’s supposed to make us more alert and prepared for the situation at hand, but this isn’t always the case.

 Anxiety can be more frequent for some, which means it can have a much larger impact on everyday life. If you have ongoing feelings of worry or fear, you might be suffering with an anxiety disorder.

 Below are the psychological symptoms associated with anxiety as laid out by the NHS.

 · Feelings of worry or unease over long periods of time

· Trouble relaxing or sleeping

· Feeling insecure, tearful or irritable

· Finding it difficult to focus

· Feeling on edge and unusually alert most of the time

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 The symptoms don’t stop there, however. Anxiety also comes with physical symptoms, and these are as follows.

· A fast, pounding heartbeat

· An irregular heartbeat or palpitations

· Headaches, chest pains and feelings of nausea

· Feeling light-headed, faint and having “butterflies”

· The need to use the bathroom more regularly

· Sweating

While infrequent, short periods of anxiety are normal (and nothing to worry about), longer, more interfering bouts of anxiety are problematic and will cause you further stress. Anxiety can also be a symptom in itself, for conditions such as panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

 There are a number of ways to deal with anxiety issues. If you think you might be suffering with anxiety, make an appointment with your GP to discuss your options. Alternatively, you can look online for a free online mental health service.

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Sources

 Tags

mental, mentalhealth, health, disease, illness, stress,symptoms, NHS, wellness, wellbeing, healthcare, SensioAIR, anxiety, depression

 [Image courtesy of Devon Beard/ Unsplash]

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