Symptoms Of Anxiety

It’s normal to worry and feel tense or scared when under pressure or facing a stressful situation. Anxiety is the body’s natural response to danger, an automatic alarm that goes off when we feel threatened. Although it may be unpleasant, anxiety isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, anxiety can help us stay alert and focused, spur us to action, and motivate us to solve problems. But when anxiety is constant or overwhelming, when it interferes with your relationships and activities—that’s when you’ve crossed the line from normal anxiety into the territory of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety symptoms are the result of an abnormal increase in the levels of adrenaline in the blood, which sets off a 'chain reaction' of normal, but inappropriate, bodily functions. Anxiety symptoms can affect a sufferer both physically and emotionally but it is important to note that there is not one anxiety symptom that represents any kind of threat to a sufferer. Despite their different forms, all anxiety disorders share one major symptom - persistent or severe fear or worry in situations where most people wouldn’t feel threatened.

• Emotional symptoms of anxiety

In addition to the primary symptoms of irrational and excessive fear and worry, other common emotional symptoms of anxiety include:
- Feelings of apprehension or dread
- Trouble concentrating
- Feeling tense and jumpy
- Anticipating the worst
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Watching for signs of danger
- Feeling like your mind’s gone blank

• Physical symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the body’s fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their disorder for a medical illness. They may visit many doctors and make numerous trips to the hospital before their anxiety disorder is discovered.

- Pounding heart
- Sweating
- Stomach upset or dizziness
- Frequent urination or diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Tremors and twitches
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Insomnia

• Psychological symptoms

GAD can cause a change in your behavior and the way you think and feel about things. Your symptoms may cause you to withdraw from social contact (seeing your family and friends) to avoid feelings of worry and dread. You may also find it difficult and stressful going to work and may take time off sick. These actions can make you worry even more about yourself and increase your lack of self-esteem.

- Restlessness
- A sense of dread
- Feeling constantly 'on edge'
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Impatience
- Being easily distracted

Anxiety symptoms cannot cause any actual harm, as they are simply exaggerated experiences of normal bodily sensations and reactions. However, if anxiety symptoms intensify and interfere with normal day-to-day activities, it is necessary to take appropriate action to eliminate them before they become too intrusive or dramatically reduce the sufferer's experience of life.

Being aware of the severe anxiety symptoms is important, as is learning how to naturally treat and control this problem. Drugs are not always the best answer and many times natural options like meditation, stretching, and just breathing right can be a big help.

1. Exercise helps your body relieve stress. It also will make your body stronger to be able to handle stress.
2. You need to take time to relax yourself and do things you enjoy.
3. Take care of yourself by eating well. Avoid crash diets, skipping meals and eating before bed. These eating programs are sure ways to increase your anxiety level and cause restless sleep.
4. If you are experiencing physical severe anxiety symptoms that are incapacitating or seriously interfering with your daily and social life, you should seek medical attention.