People often ask me how do I know if I have anxiety?
Listed below are some of the symptoms of anxiety grouped under physical, emotional, mental, and behavioural for easier awareness.
Physical Symptoms
Physical symptoms which can be caused by anxiety are:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) / Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems /constipation and diarrhoea
- Tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes and other parts of the body
- Tinnitus
- Pain/tightness in the chest
- Breathing rapidly
- Heart pounding, skipping beats
- Restlessness and difficulties relaxing
- Feeling hot and sweating excessively
- Tightness in the throat
- Loss of sense of balance
- Trembling and shaking
- Feeling faint or light-headed
- Panic attacks which can include most of the symptoms listed above
- Feeling weak, easily tired or lethargic
- Loss of hair
- Loss of appetite/increased appetite
- Nail biting
- Teeth grinding
- Skin problems
- Coughing
- Headaches
- Insomnia / difficulty falling asleep or difficulties staying asleep
Emotional Symptoms
Feelings linked to anxiety:
- Feeling anxious, nervousness, difficulty controlling worry
- Things feel unreal
- Feeling spaced out – mind blank for periods of time
- Feeling detached from the body
- Apprehension; a sense that something bad is going to happen
- Feeling jumpy and on edge / irritable
- Over emotional
Mental Symptoms
Some thoughts affected by anxiety:
- Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
- Mind preoccupied with lots of thoughts
- Difficulties making decisions
- Feeling out of control
- Worrying about having a nervous breakdown
- Lots of negative thoughts
- Significant worries about health
- Lack of confidence
- Fear of being alone, isolated or abandoned
- Fear or worry about criticism or disapproval
- Catastrophic thinking / reduced trust in own abilities to cope while perceiving a problem as bigger than it actually is
- Reduced ability to think clearly and misunderstand things
- Lack of trust in own judgement
- Persistent, excessive worry about events and activities; sometimes ordinary, routine issues can heighten anxiety
Behavioural Symptoms
Behaviours linked to anxiety
- Avoiding social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness and concern about being judged or viewed negatively by others
- Avoiding phone calls
- Avoiding leaving the house in case something bad happens
- Often avoiding places and situations that might cause heightened worry or make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed
- Avoiding situations where there are lots of people
- Taking time off work because it’s too difficult to cope with it
- Getting angry, upset and overwhelmed more quickly than usual
- Drinking more alcohol and taking drugs to try to numb emotions
Can Hypnotherapy Sessions Help Me?
Are you or somebody you know experiencing many of the physical, emotional, mental or behaviourial symptoms listed above? If so, book a free 15-minute call to see if hypnotherapy is right for you.
Booking a call is easy. Either click on the Call Elaine button below or schedule a call by completing the form below.
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