Everyone feels anxiety, fear and worry during their lives, especially during times of stress or change. But if you experience persistent anxiousness and worry regardless of the circumstances in your life and often without a clear cause, you may have an anxiety disorder. Several different signs and symptoms of anxiety exist, some of which may indicate that you have an anxiety disorder that could require the help of a doctor.
Constant Worry and Fear
If you're suffering from anxiety, the primary symptoms that you'll likely experience are constant feelings of worry, fear and dread. You may feel anxious about future events or concerns, to the point of obsessive, persistent worry about things that may range from insignificant to substantial. If you have constant worry or anxiousness during more than half the day continuously for six months or longer, your doctor may diagnose you with generalized anxiety disorder, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have social anxiety disorder or agoraphobia, you may experience feelings of anxiety only when you're in social situations or in public places. Children with anxiety disorders may be preoccupied or overly worried about their schoolwork or performance in sports, their ability to "fit in" socially and approval from teachers and parents, as well as natural disasters, wars or other types of catastrophes.
Restlessness and Irritability
Another common sign of anxiety is a feeling of being restless or "on edge." You may feel irritable and lose your temper easily. You could also experience uncontrollable trembling or twitching.
Sleep Problems
Many people who have anxiety also have difficulty sleeping. If you have chronic, severe anxiety or a related disorder, you may experience insomnia or frequent nightmares, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Another common sign of anxiety is feelings of fatigue, which may be mild to severe. The anxiety-related fatigue may occur with or without sleep problems.
Difficulty Concentrating
If you have anxiety, you may experience signs like concentration difficulties. You may notice that you cannot concentrate as well as you usually do. You could also experience frequent episodes of mental blocks, or feeling that your mind has "gone blank."
Muscle Tension
Frequent or prolonged tension in your muscles is another sign of anxiety, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. You may also experience muscle aches and frequent headaches.
Sweating
Excessive or unexplained sweating is a common sign of anxiety, MayoClinic.com says. You may also notice that your anxiety is accompanied by frequent dry mouth and difficulty swallowing.
Rapid Heartbeat
An irregular or rapid heartbeat, dizziness and rapid breathing are also typical signs of anxiety. You may also experience shortness of breath. If you have a panic disorder or experience panic attacks with your anxiety, you may have sudden, unexplained episodes of extreme fear or dread, accompanied by rapid breathing and heart rate, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Many people who have a panic attack actually think that they're having a heart attack because the symptoms can feel similar.
Gastrointestinal Problems
People who have anxiety may experience some gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea and diarrhea. Stomach pains are also signs of anxiety, especially in children, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. You may also have an increased urge to urinate.
