Am I Experiencing Symptoms of Anxiety?

Anxiety vs. worry

Have you ever thought, “Am I anxious or am I just worried?” For example, a high school student might be worried about an upcoming calculus test, but once the test is done and graded, they are not worried about that test anymore. Like this teenager, we have all been worried about something, but this worry usually goes away once the situation is resolved.

On the other hand, what if that same teenager finds themselves constantly worrying about their grades to the point that they have trouble sleeping, become noticeably more fidgety, and start to have panic attacks? These are symptoms of anxiety and are distinct from worry. Those struggling with anxiety usually experience both emotional and physical symptoms, which if left untreated can affect your personal, professional, and spiritual life.

Anxiety is widespread

Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the United States, affecting over forty million adults, or 19.1% of the population. As the OCD & Anxiety Center explains, “For many, it has become increasingly challenging to feel “enough” in a culture that puts a lot of value on having it “all together.” The pressure and stress to achieve near-impossible goals in work and personal life can, in time, result in increased anxiety and even depression.”

For those struggling with anxiety, the constant worries and stress can be overwhelming, because it feels like the worries will never stop. With anxiety, these worries can last for a longer period and there might not be a specific reason behind the anxiety.

Ruminating thoughts

These constant worries are a key feature of anxiety and are known as ruminating thoughts. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), rumination involves, “repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings and distress and their causes and consequences.”

Below are a few examples of ruminating thoughts I’ve heard from clients:

“Why did I say that? I can’t believe I embarrassed myself in front of everyone.”

“Did I say the wrong thing to my friend? I know they don’t want to be friends anymore.”

“I am a failure. What if I am not good enough for this job? What if I get fired?”

Our thoughts, emotions, and actions are all intertwined. If these ruminating thoughts become more frequent it can make your anxiety worse, because in addition to the ruminating thoughts now you are worried these thoughts will never go away.

One of the most powerful tools for reducing these ruminating thoughts is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT has been shown in numerous clinical trials to be highly effective in reducing anxiety in a shortened amount of time, compared to other treatments. CBT examines the negative thoughts in detail so we can better understand how these thoughts impact our emotions and behaviors.

However, these negative thoughts are often based on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking which have become ingrained over time. Challenging and reframing these thoughts to be more balanced and realistic helps break the rumination cycle.

Psychological symptoms of anxiety

In addition to ruminating thoughts, there are also other psychological symptoms of anxiety such as:

• Feelings of dread or impending doom.
• Irritability or restlessness.
• Feeling overwhelmed or out of control.
• Heightened sensitivity to stress.
• Difficulty concentrating.

Everyone experiences times when they are full of dread, stressed, or overwhelmed. This is part of human nature and does not mean you have an anxiety disorder. However, if you notice these symptoms are becoming more frequent, intense, and impacting your daily life to a point where your job or school performance is suffering, it could signal an anxiety disorder.

Another key indicator of anxiety is with regards to the physical impact anxiety can have on our bodies. Our nervous system regulates our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and digestion unconsciously. When we start to feel extremely anxious, scared, or threatened our nervous system kicks in and tells our brain that we are in danger. As a result, our body goes into a fight-or-flight response.

Physical symptoms of anxiety

Imagine a lion escaped from the Dallas Zoo and is roaming through NorthPark Mall where you also happen to be shopping. If you came across this lion, your heart rate would start to increase, and you would probably start running or find a place to hide (hopefully). This is our body’s natural response to protect ourselves when faced with a life-threatening situation.

Most likely we will not be running from lions, however, it is still important to listen to our body’s response to situations and events that cause us to feel anxious. When we experience these physical symptoms, our body is signaling us to pay attention

Below are some common physical symptoms of anxiety:

• Upset stomach.
• Feeling light-headed or dizzy.
• Feeling restless or unable to sit still.
• Headaches, backaches, or other aches and pains.
• Elevated breathing.
• A fast, thumping, or irregular heartbeat.
• Sweating or hot flushes.
• Trouble sleeping (waking up more during the night, unable to fall asleep, etc.)
• Grinding your teeth, especially at night.
• Needing the toilet more often.
• Changes in your sex drive.
• Panic attacks.

If left untreated, these physical symptoms can negatively impact your physical health. For clients experiencing these symptoms, we discuss ways to reduce the intensity and severity of these symptoms. Possible treatments include incorporating deep breathing exercises, meditation, prayer, exercise, listening to your favorite music, or calling a loved one.

It can be helpful to find practical ways to regulate your nervous system. In some cases, speaking with your medical provider about medication or other treatments might be advisable if these physical symptoms continue to persist.

Getting help for symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety affects everyone differently and can vary significantly from person to person. Often, we see a combination of both physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety that have reached a point where it is now negatively impacting their life. If you struggle with anxiety, you are not alone and do not have to fix this all on your own.

Meeting with a therapist can provide you with a safe, non-judgmental place to process how you are feeling. We can address the root cause behind these ruminating thoughts and provide practical ways for you to reduce these psychological and physical symptoms.

I have witnessed remarkable improvement in my clients’ and seen them be freed from the burden of their anxiety. If you are interested in learning more about how to manage your anxiety, I would love to partner with you. Please call our office to schedule a risk-free session for more information.