Adjustment Disorders

Anxiety: symptoms, treatment, and how to distinguish between anxiety and normal worry

With fast-paced and hectic lifestyles comes consistent stress. Especially in busy cities, stress can begin to weigh down on you and cause some unwanted side effects including anxiety. Anxiety is a normal human reaction to stressful situations and is not always harmful. However, if it begins to pile up and is not properly addressed early on, it can develop into a disorder.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an “imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. It helps us to prepare for tough situations. However, when these small natural anxieties begin to impact our ability to live normal, healthy lives – it becomes a real anxiety disorder.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Constant, unsubstantiated worry
  • Sudden, uncalled for panic attacks
  • Feelings of anxiety towards every type of social interaction
  • Irrational fears of objects, places, or events
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Nausea
  • Shortness of breath

How to distinguish between normal worry and anxiety disorder?

One of the easiest ways to distinguish between normal worry and an anxiety disorder is the randomness or symptom onset. Typical anxiety occurs around common stressors such as a new job, paying bills, awkward social situations, moving to a new city, or realistic fears. This classifies normal anxiety, whereas constant worry and unwarranted physical symptoms may be telltale signs that you have an anxiety disorder.

Managing Anxiety

Some of the easiest ways you can prevent anxiety disorders or begin to curb symptoms begin with leading a healthier lifestyle. Poor diet, lack of exercise, and even decreased interactions with friends and family can result in a higher susceptibility to developing anxious tendencies.

If you feel like your anxiety is starting to develop into something more serious, discussing your issues with a mental health professional can help you get things in order before they get worse. There is no better way to get a firm understanding of your unique case of anxiety, its severity, prevention, and treatment options available to you.