For some people this question can be answered very quickly and easily as a simple yes or no. For others however, anxiety can creep up on you in different ways and at different times in your life. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million adults (or 18% of the population!) have an anxiety disorder! I can remember my first panic attack and having no idea that it was actually a panic attack at all. My heart was racing, I was shaking, sweating like a pig, and could not catch my breath. My first thought was “geez, I must need to eat something, maybe this is my blood sugar.” I had anxiety in so many different ways and I had no clue.
Often times, clients will come in describing symptoms because knowing they are feeling different but can’t put their finger on why. An astounding amount of ER visits every year are due to people with mental health problems. There is much research being done regarding the amount of individuals who believe they are having a heart attack when in reality they are experiencing a panic attack. It does not mean that you are crazy, you are just one of other 40 million Americans out there- and I can help you get control over this!
Let’s start with a checklist of symptoms to see where you fall.
- Excessive worry or fear- impacting your day to day life in a way that you don’t like.
- Feeling tired or easily fatigued.
- Muscle tension.
- Problems sleeping. Your mind won’t shut up.
- Feelings of impending doom or danger.
- Inability to control your worry.
- Irritability or feeling cranky.
- Difficulties concentrating.
Really, many of these symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg. There are several different types of anxiety, which I will be talking more about in blogs to come. If you have checked more than three of these symptoms, you have anxiety. Sometimes recognizing it is the first step down the road to recovering from it and living a much happier and less stressed life.
