Identifying Anxiety: Signs and Symptoms

1. Identifying Anxiety: Signs and Symptoms Identifying Anxiety: Signs and Symptoms Life can be likened to a sea, stormy at times and calm at others. However, when anxiety is at play in a person’s life, it could feel as if the coast is never clear and the mind never at rest. The anticipation of a storm, or perceiving every wave to be a tsunami, becomes a norm, never allowing the person to be at ease or rest. An anxiety disorder affects how people feel, behave, think and decipher physical sensations. While a bit of anxiety is part and parcel of life, being persistently weighed down by one’s anxiety or panic attacks is certainly far from normal. The entanglement with anxiety spells bad news for individual’s mental physical While researchers not exactly know what leads to the manifestation of anxiety disorders, they believe that a combination of factors, such as changes in the brain, environment and genetics, play a significant role in the development of mental health disorders. frequent chronic an and health. most do Other elements like the faulty wiring of the brain, prevalence of anxiety disorders in the family or certain traumatic circumstances can trigger these disorders. Therefore, it is an arduous task to single out the causes of anxiety and discern the symptoms. However, anxiety disorders are an umbrella term for several conditions that share some common recognizable symptoms, such as: • Excessive worrying: It’s normal to feel troubled or frazzled about the actual or potential problems every now and then. But when a person’s worry escalates beyond what is considered normal, it could indicate an anxiety disorder, particularly when he or she is unable to determine the reason behind all the excessive worrying. Sleeplessness: The feeling of restlessness, being “high-strung” or “on edge,” is common during an anxiety attack. Such stressors even when moderately • www.sovmentalhealth.com

2. experienced have the ability to disrupt one’s sleep by causing frequent breaks, trouble in going back to sleep, etc. Similarly, simply lying in bed, unable to sleep due to extreme stress may point to an anxiety disorder. Stomach problems: A person’s overall health is governed by the well-being of both one’s mental and physical health that complement one another. The symptoms of anxiety often manifest in the form of digestive problems, such as indigestion, nausea, gas, bloating and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In fact, the gut is believed to be the “second brain” that is vulnerable to the emotions that a person feels. Uneasiness: Many individuals experiencing the symptoms of an anxiety disorder aren’t aware of what is afflicting them and do not receive any medical attention as a result. Anxiety is a breeding ground for a number of overwhelming feelings, such as nervousness, panic, dread and apprehension. When these feelings become more pronounced over a course of time, an individual is at an increased risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Muscle tension and stress: The body has its own way of signaling anxiety warnings even when it is hard for an individual to identify and acknowledge that he or she is experiencing an anxiety attack. Some of the apparent physical changes triggered by anxiety include physical stiffness and tension in muscles. It also causes an individual to clench his or her teeth or jaws without being aware of it. Pessimistic outlook: The constant bouts of anxiety can affect the way a person experiences things, makes choices, molds his or her personality and outlook, etc. Individuals who are grappling with an anxiety disorder tend to expect the worst possible outcome in almost all situations. However, a pessimistic outlook is presumably a sign that an underlying anxiety disorder is pulling the strings. Rather than being in control of such a life-disruptive disorder, it is advisable to seek professional help. Establish an anxiety-free life • • • • Anxiety disorders are treatable conditions, but only some people with the condition receive any medical care. The cost borne of an unidentified and untreated anxiety disorder is quite high. Generally, the repercussions of anxiety disorders include poor personal relationships, loss of socioeconomic opportunities, increased risk of substance abuse, etc. Sovereign Mental Health Services offers behavioral treatment for individuals with mental disorders, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. To treat mental disorders like anxiety disorders, it is recommended to connect to Sovereign Health’s state-of-the-art treatment centers for anxiety disorders in California thatoffer evidence-based therapies and interventions. We offer a comprehensive treatment to all our patients that include medication, therapy or both. For more information on anxiety disorders treatment in California, call at our 24/7 helpline number 866-973-7164. www.sovmentalhealth.com