At some point in our lives we all experience the feelings of hopelessness, stress or anxiety – but how do we know when to spot the signs of an anxiety disorder?
As somebody who was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) at 18, I know how difficult it can be to identify a problem and to seek help.
Identifying and accepting that you have a mental health issue, is often the first hurdle you face in your recovery. Here’s seven signs of an anxiety disorder, that could help you to detect GAD in yourself or somebody else.
You May Feel Worried A Lot Of The Time
Before my diagnosis, I remember feeling irrational worry. I used to (and still do sometimes) worry about everything from a mole on my arm, to whether or not I’m falling behind in life.
Worry can be a day-to-day thing that stays with you constantly, or it can fluctuate – coming and going, creeping up on you when you least expect it.
Feeling worried is a common occurrence, especially in this pandemic-filled world in which we reside at the moment, but if it’s overpowering and preventing you from living your life, then it could be related to an anxiety disorder.
You May Have Trouble Sleeping
Do you find yourself wide awake at 3am, unable to stop your mind from doing overtime?
Often when we are stressed or ‘have a lot on our minds’ we have trouble sleeping, but if you’re experiencing this consistently, then you might have an anxiety disorder.
Perhaps your mind is racing and causing you to overthink everything you said during the day before?
Or maybe you have a feeling of dread or fear that is preventing you from getting the rest that your body needs.
Our bodies need sleep to function properly, by recognising that trouble sleeping is a sign of an anxiety disorder, you will be able to get the help you need and get back to a regular sleeping pattern, in turn aiding your recovery.
You Cancel Plans And ‘Flake’ On Your Friends
Cancelling plans last minute or for no reason can mean that you’re suffering from GAD or another mental health issue.
Cancelling plans last minute can be down to a multitude of anxiety-related reasons, you may feel overwhelmed, or not want to burden your friends with your problems, or you may feel on-edge and out of control in certain situations, therefore cancelling them so they don’t trigger you.
If you notice a friend cancelling plans last minute, maybe send them a text to see if they’re okay or talk to somebody close to them. Or if you notice this trait within yourself, perhaps talk to somebody you can trust about the feelings you experience when it comes to social situations and making plans.
Being Indecisive
Not being able to make a decision is often a sign of having anxiety.
Decision making is an important aspect of living – we make decisions constantly, so when making a decision becomes increasingly more difficult, it’s important to take note.
Perhaps you find it hard, or even impossible, to make decisions throughout the day? Do you overthink situations to the point that you question your decisions, which makes you change your mind?
Difficulty Concentrating
Concentration is a skill that we develop throughout our lives, school teaches us how to concentrate and from there on out we apply it. Perhaps you have always been good at concentrating and applying yourself to tasks, but if you have an anxiety disorder you may have found it more difficult in recent weeks or months.
Being sidetracked, procrastinating or not being able to focus your mind on one task can often point in the direction of having an anxiety disorder.
Breathing And Speaking Fast
A common overlooked sign of an anxiety disorder is breathing and speaking faster than normal.
When anxious, you may find yourself taking faster more shallow breaths, causing your heart rate to increase. This all causes you to speak faster which then causes you to shake or sweat.
This happens when somebody is extremely anxious or nervous and could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. You may notice this happening when you have to speak in public or do something that you’re not used to doing.
These are just six signs of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety presents itself in a vast amount of mental and physical ways – everybody experiences anxiety differently, so it’s important that you seek help from a medical professional.
Once you’ve identified an anxiety disorder, there’s a lot of help out there that will aid and support your recovery.
