Because anxiety is a natural feeling and there are many different types of anxiety disorders, some people have trouble recognizing their condition. Nevertheless, some of the most common symptoms of anxiety disorders include:
- Feelings of apprehension or dread
- Feeling tense or jumpy
- Restlessness or irritability
- Expecting the worst from people and situations
- Constantly watching for and anticipating danger
- Sweating, twitching, and tremors
- Shortness of breath
- Increased heart rate or pounding in the chest
- Headaches, fatigue, and insomnia
- Digestive problems – upset stomach and diarrhea
- Frequent urination
You may only experience 1 or 2 of the physical and emotional symptoms above, but they can be severe enough to interfere with your daily activities. Further, these feelings of excessive fear or worry usually come up in situations where you are not actively in danger of physical or emotional harm.
With the right treatment, you can free yourself from unnecessary fear and anxiety. Click here to learn more about our treatment programs here at Tapestry.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can manifest itself and create problems in several different situations.
General anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday life. People with GAD lose hours of each day to unexplained worry and may feel exhausted, achy, nauseous, or tense.
Social anxiety disorder is often mistaken for shyness but is much more intense. People with social anxiety disorders may be extremely afraid of social situations or moments where they need to perform. They typically feel embarrassed when speaking, learning, or working and tend to self-isolate.
Panic disorder occurs when someone has panic attacks or sudden, debilitating feelings of worry or terror. Panic attacks are so severe some people mistake them for heart attacks, and they can strike frequently and without warning.
Phobias happen when things or situations create strong, irrational, and debilitating fear reactions. Multiple phobias can derail someone’s life. Agoraphobia, or fear of being outside or in crowds, can be especially harmful and cause people to become housebound.
People with separation anxiety disorder can be terrified of being alone or losing the people they are attached to, which can have harmful effects on relationships and mental health.
If you are suffering from any of the scenarios described above, you might have trouble living a full and complete life. The road to meaningful living begins with treatment at Tapestry.