Five Questions to Determine If You Have Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common mental afflictions, affecting over 4 million adults in the United States alone. Despite the fact that anxiety is so common, and has such a negative impact on people’s lives, many have difficulty recognizing whether or not they struggle with it. Here are five questions that can help you determine if you’re struggling with anxiety.

1.     Do You Feel Restless or Keyed Up?

Restlessness is a feeling of being “on edge” or having an uncomfortable urge to always be moving or working. In many ways, restlessness is an attempt at addressing an undefined, invisible problem. Unfortunately, since we are often not able to clearly solve or escape this undefined problem, we find ourselves in a state of exhausting, constant, mental motion. 

2.     Do You Have Difficulty Concentrating or Find That Your Mind is Blank?

Anxiety is disruptive. You may have “intrusive” thoughts or be unable to shut-down a single thought that eventually runs out of control. Either can make it difficult to focus on the task at hand, or to be present in the moment. Your ability to concentrate may be directly connected to your level of anxiety. 

3.     Do You Have Difficulty Sleeping?

Peace of mind and body are almost always required to initiate or maintain sleep. The constant chaos and disruptive nature of anxiety cause falling and staying asleep to become quite difficult. You may find yourself having “racing” thoughts as you lie down for the night, or perhaps once you fall asleep you experience disturbing or distressing dreams. 

4.     Are You Concerned by Rational or Irrational Fears that You Can't Get Rid Of?

While fear is sometimes an appropriate response to the stressful events in our lives, anxiety often causes this fear to become unstoppable. Regardless of whether the danger is real or imagined, it may run out of control, and bring you along for the ride.

5.     Does Anxiety or Worry Interfere with your Work, School or Family? 

As mentioned above, anxiety often causes difficulty in concentration, which can obviously have an impact on your work, school or family life. Anxiety also tends to take a physical and mental toll on your body and mind, often leading to exhaustion and irritability. Anxiety can have a lingering effect, which may make your daily activities and interactions with others more difficult. 

Anxiety may express itself in other ways, but these are some common symptoms to help you identify whether or not you are struggling with anxiety. 

Thankfully there are many effective ways to remove, or at least greatly reduce, the harmful effects of anxiety in your life. Talking with a trusted therapist is one of the most effective ways to begin treating anxiety. If you answered yes to one or more of the questions above, it may be time to start seeing a therapist. The Renewing Life Center has many trained professionals that can help you begin to get your life back on track. To schedule an appointment, call, email, or message us using our Contact Page linked below.