Clients often ask us, “how do I know if I have anxiety?”
Maybe you’re not sure if what you’re feeling and going through IS an anxiety disorder, so we wanted to break it down for you here. We work with women and girls who have anxiety all day, every day.
First of all, the technical explanation for anxiety according to Webster’s Dictionary is “apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill.”
And according to Medlineplus.gov, “anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision.”
Okay, that’s interesting, but how do I know if I have anxiety?
I hear you, hang with me.
Okay, so based on these 2 explanations, anxiety is a normal part of life, right? We all get worried or nervous before doing things that are new to us or make us feel uncomfortable. Our brain’s first and most important job is to protect us, and this is where normal anxiety comes in. It’s our brain saying to us “hold on, going on stage is nothing we’ve done before and it’s scary AF so don’t do it!!”
I mean come on, this isn’t a rational thought, right? It’s just our brain protecting us and it’s up to us to weed through these thoughts and respond appropriately, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Anyhoo, what we are talking about though is an anxiety disorder which is essentially anxiety, 100x what is normal.
This is clinically referred to as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) which impacts millions of us each year and is characterized by prolonged, increased worry, and anxiety symptoms that lasts at least 6 months and is negatively impactful on your life and relationships. According to the National Institutes of Health, 3.7% of women in the US are diagnosed with GAD, but they have lots of additional information on anxiety disorders as well if you want to learn more.
Are you experiencing the following physical anxiety symptoms daily and/or regularly?
- Trouble sleeping, falling asleep and/or staying asleep
- Lack of concentration
- Sweating a lot
- Trembling or shaking throughout the day
- Stomach issues such as weird bowel movements
- Headaches or muscle aches
Are you feeling any of these psychological symptoms of anxiety?
- Persistent worrying or anxiety about a number of areas that are out of proportion to the impact of the events
- Overthinking plans and solutions to all possible worst-case outcomes
- Perceiving situations and events as threatening, even when they aren’t
- Difficulty handling uncertainty
- Indecisiveness and fear of making the wrong decision
- Inability to set aside or let go of a worry
- Inability to relax, feeling restless, and feeling keyed up or on edge
- Difficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind “goes blank”
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms of anxiety on the regular, then it’s time to seek some extra help.
Remember that taking medication for anxiety can help reduce your symptoms and when you add therapy to your regime, you’re on your way to an anxiety less life! Trust me, life is too precious for you to be suffering and struggling each day, let us help you!
Therapy has been proven to be super effective in combating anxiety. This is where we come in.
For almost a decade, we have been working with women who are suffering with anxiety and have a planned approach that will help you manage your symptoms (and usually we can help you reduce them as well) and get your life back!
Note: if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, head to your local emergency room or contact your doctor or therapist right away.
You can self-schedule with any of our expert therapists here, any time day or night! We offer in person and virtual sessions in all our locations in Maryland (Bethesda, Dunkirk, and Leonardtown) and virtual sessions to residents of Washington DC, South Carolina, and North Carolina. We also have a therapist in our Bethesda office who can see Washington DC residents in person as well. We’ve got you babe!
