People with anxiety can worry so excessively that it leads to physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, dizziness and nausea. The unpleasant effects often stem from the exaggerated thoughts in their heads. In severe cases, it can lead to anxiety disorders that need treatment, which usually succeeds by helping patients control their thought patterns. They learn to focus on positive, constructive thinking rather than negative thoughts.
Irrational Concerns
Excessive worry about normal situations creates tension for people with generalized anxiety disorder, the National Institute of Mental Health explains. They may believe the worst will happen when it comes to family problems, financial issues, health matters or conflicts at work. Although such situations call for some concern at times, the anxiety occurs nearly every day over a period of months or longer for people with generalized anxiety disorder. As a result, they cannot relax or they startle easily about many issues they face. People with post-traumatic stress disorder may have flashbacks or nightmares about past traumatic events, according to "Medical News Today." The terrifying episodes they have experienced as witnesses or victims may include crimes, violent acts or natural disasters that continue to haunt them. They relive these encounters in their mind, especially when coming across a situation that reminds them of the experience.
Loss of Control
People with panic disorder suffer panic or anxiety attacks that make them feel they are going mad, according to National Panic & Anxiety Disorder News. The feeling of losing control results from unpleasant thoughts and emotions that compound their panicky feelings. The fears of some panic disorder patients may cause sweating, dizziness or a racing heart, making them believe they will faint, have a heart attack or die. Panic attacks can develop in people who suffer from other anxiety disorders. Treatment of the disorder involves therapies that help patients confront their fears and realize they are not losing control or about to faint or die when particular situations arise.
Concentration Difficulty
An obsession with concerns may cause many anxiety patients to have difficulties concentrating on other subjects, even more important matters in their daily lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder patients often have difficulty concentrating or sleeping because of past experiences that may cause them to frequently fear or avoid conditions that remind them of past incidents that trigger anxiety. People with social phobias spend more time avoiding people, places or situations that cause anxiety. They may feel claustrophobic in a room during social or work-related occasions and concentrate on ways to leave quickly through the nearest door if necessary, instead of thinking about the communication or information available around them. People with generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior or panic disorder pay excessive attention to possible anxiety-provoking situations that interfere with normal thinking.
