Anxiety and stress are normal reactions that everyone experiences. You might feel anxious before a big test or interview, when your teenage daughter goes on her first date or if you find a lump in your breast. It's important for people who have anxiety disorders to recognize the first symptoms of anxiety, so they can take steps to reduce anxiety, such as deep breathing or taking a walk around the block.
Worry and Fear
When people suffer from anxiety, the first symptom they experience is probably worry, fear or dread. Without these emotions, anxiety usually isn't present. You might fear meeting new people, dread giving a presentation in front of your coworkers or worry about your child on her first day of school. These emotions are brought about through thoughts. First, you must have a thought, such as "My child might get bullied," and that causes you to feel anxious and worried.
Difficulty Concentrating
Helpguide.org reports that trouble concentrating is a sign of anxiety. If a woman isn't able to focus at work or school because she's consumed by worrisome and fearful thoughts, she's experiencing the first signs of anxiety or an anxiety disorder. To deal with this, she could practice a relaxation technique or take a few minutes to exercise and then return to her work.
Irritability
Another common symptom that occurs when you first experience anxiety is irritability, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who feel anxious might snap at their wife or kids, argue with their supervisors and start arguments for no good reason. Many times, the person's loved ones might wonder why his mood suddenly changed. For instance, if he suffers from social anxiety disorder, he might get extremely irritable before a job interview or before going to a party where he'll have to meet new people.
Physical Symptoms
Physical symptoms occur during the first few moments of anxiety. According to Helpguide.org, many people experience sweating, nausea, rapid heartbeat, trouble breathing and tremors when anxious. If a person suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, an anxiety disorder, due to being in a severe car accident, she might begin to sweat and feel dizzy when she drives near the place where the accident occurred. A woman who suffers from a specific phobia, such as a fear of heights, might have tremors and trouble breathing when she has to ride in an elevator or is exposed to heights. Many people with anxiety disorders have physical symptoms when they even think about their fear.
