January 3, 2021

Anxiety

Anxiety is distress caused by an anticipation of a future problem occurring. The severity of anxiety differs from person to person and can change over time. According to the World Health Organization, 4% (301 million) of the world’s population was estimated to have anxiety in 2019.

How can I tell I have anxiety?

Recognizing the signs of anxiety helps in managing it. Anxiety manifests in terms of how we think, feel, and behave. We also experience anxiety in our bodies. 

  • The Physical signs include feeling like you cannot breathe, heart beating fast and loud, muscle tightness, body aches, sweaty hands, and feeling fatigue even after having adequate rest. One may also have an upset stomach, diarrhea or frequent need to urinate, dizziness, different parts of the body shaking involuntarily, and having problems with sleep. A person’s mouth or throat may also feel dry and hydration does not relieve the dryness.
  • Anxiety also affects how you think. Some signs include repeatedly thinking about the worst-case scenarios, forgetfulness, poor concentration, struggling to relax or calm down, living in a tense/ on edge or irritable state, and heightened awareness of potential environmental threats. The uncontrollable nature of these thoughts may lead some to feel like they do not understand themselves, their environment, and their emotions.
  • Emotional signs of anxiety are excessive worry and overwhelming fear with or without a clear cause. The magnitude of the fear and worry may take up someone’s energy leaving one feeling tired, irritable, and moody.
  • People at times change their behavior to manage their anxiety. Such behaviors include avoiding the situation or event, seeking constant validation, substance use, constant fidgeting/inability to relax, overcommitting to several things just to stay busy, putting things off,  perfectionism, and compulsive behaviors (like nail biting, hair pulling). At times avoiding situations can lead to isolation or social withdrawal (avoiding people, not responding to messages, pulling away from people, and keeping to the safety of one’s house).

Anxiety can impact physical health and has been linked to life limiting diseases like cardiovascular disease as well as a general reduced way of working. If you notice some signs of anxiety in yourself or others and your coping no longer works, please get in touch with us for support.

Wazo Therapy recognizes the negative impact of anxiety and works to empower clients with skills to manage anxiety productively. Clients at Wazo Therapy Clinic learn to calm their mind and body, reframe unhelpful and negative beliefs, and process the distressing memories.

Reading suggestions

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References

  • American Psychological Association (APA). “Anxiety.” https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2022). “Anxiety Disorders.” https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders
  • World Health Organization (2023). Anxiety disorders, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anxiety-disorders