Most often, people suffering from anxiety believe they only have a character flaw, not a mental disorder.
Unfortunately, people who suffer from anxiety are labeled as 'moody' or 'paranoid.' Anxiety sufferers have difficulty reacting appropriately to stressful situations and are most often depicted as blowing things out of proportion.
Psychological Symptoms
The definition of anxiety is experiencing overwhelming thoughts of worry or fear for a period of six months or more. There are however additional symptoms for these disorders that vary from person to person dependent upon type and severity of the illness.
A short temper, irritability and impatience are common symptoms anxiety sufferers deal with along with restlessness, trouble concentrating and the inability to complete tasks or goals. Further symptoms include the inability to express thoughts coherently along with complaints of the mind going blank.
The body of a person suffering from anxiety is in a constant state of alertness. They are always looking out for danger and tend to anticipate the worst scenarios. Oftentimes, people who are around an anxiety sufferer will see this person as pessimistic.
Some people with anxiety may also experience agoraphobia, or fear of public spaces. This is especially the case of people with obsessive-compulsive disorders, although other anxiety disorder sufferers are prone to this problem as well, though likely to a lesser degree.
A person with more severe anxiety may also have to deal with hallucinations and depression. Thoughts can sometimes turn suicidal.
Excessive thoughts of worry, fear, irrationality and negative feelings are persistent in those suffering from anxiety.
Physical Symptoms
Anxiety is a psychological condition, but it can be physically taxing on the body. It has a tendency to manifest itself into several symptoms that can further affect a persons day to day functioning.
Some of the most common physical symptoms include an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure, sweating, dizziness, and headaches. A person with anxiety often has trouble taking deep breaths and hyperventilates quite frequently. He or she may experience fatigue, insomnia, and hyperactivity.
Because of the elevated levels of adrenaline present in the body of an anxious person, he or she may also have muscle tension and aches throughout the body. Adrenaline also helps to explain mood swings that come with anxiety.
As the mind of an anxiety sufferer is in a constant state of worry, the body can become compromised as well. Symptoms include loss of appetite, frequent urination, excessive thirst, nausea and diahrrea. In addition, some sufferers also reported a decrease in sex drive.
Other Anxiety Symptoms
However, not all anxiety disorder sufferers have the same symptoms. In fact, some show signs that contradict the symptoms mentioned above. These symptoms usually take place when anxiety levels become very high. For example, these symptoms may occur for a person with SAD when he or she is in a gathering of strangers.
One of these symptoms is low blood pressure (levels below 90/60) and this can reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the brain.
Another symptom reported during high levels of anxiety is a heightened degree of sex drive.
Food cravings have also been reported. In most cases, sugar was at the top of the list. It is believed that this occurs due to the excessively low blood pressure during a heightened anxiety episode.
Unfortunately, people who suffer from anxiety are labeled as 'moody' or 'paranoid.' Anxiety sufferers have difficulty reacting appropriately to stressful situations and are most often depicted as blowing things out of proportion.
Psychological Symptoms
The definition of anxiety is experiencing overwhelming thoughts of worry or fear for a period of six months or more. There are however additional symptoms for these disorders that vary from person to person dependent upon type and severity of the illness.
A short temper, irritability and impatience are common symptoms anxiety sufferers deal with along with restlessness, trouble concentrating and the inability to complete tasks or goals. Further symptoms include the inability to express thoughts coherently along with complaints of the mind going blank.
The body of a person suffering from anxiety is in a constant state of alertness. They are always looking out for danger and tend to anticipate the worst scenarios. Oftentimes, people who are around an anxiety sufferer will see this person as pessimistic.
Some people with anxiety may also experience agoraphobia, or fear of public spaces. This is especially the case of people with obsessive-compulsive disorders, although other anxiety disorder sufferers are prone to this problem as well, though likely to a lesser degree.
A person with more severe anxiety may also have to deal with hallucinations and depression. Thoughts can sometimes turn suicidal.
Excessive thoughts of worry, fear, irrationality and negative feelings are persistent in those suffering from anxiety.
Physical Symptoms
Anxiety is a psychological condition, but it can be physically taxing on the body. It has a tendency to manifest itself into several symptoms that can further affect a persons day to day functioning.
Some of the most common physical symptoms include an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure, sweating, dizziness, and headaches. A person with anxiety often has trouble taking deep breaths and hyperventilates quite frequently. He or she may experience fatigue, insomnia, and hyperactivity.
Because of the elevated levels of adrenaline present in the body of an anxious person, he or she may also have muscle tension and aches throughout the body. Adrenaline also helps to explain mood swings that come with anxiety.
As the mind of an anxiety sufferer is in a constant state of worry, the body can become compromised as well. Symptoms include loss of appetite, frequent urination, excessive thirst, nausea and diahrrea. In addition, some sufferers also reported a decrease in sex drive.
Other Anxiety Symptoms
However, not all anxiety disorder sufferers have the same symptoms. In fact, some show signs that contradict the symptoms mentioned above. These symptoms usually take place when anxiety levels become very high. For example, these symptoms may occur for a person with SAD when he or she is in a gathering of strangers.
One of these symptoms is low blood pressure (levels below 90/60) and this can reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the brain.
Another symptom reported during high levels of anxiety is a heightened degree of sex drive.
Food cravings have also been reported. In most cases, sugar was at the top of the list. It is believed that this occurs due to the excessively low blood pressure during a heightened anxiety episode.
About the Author:
An established writer, Funmi Salami loves to share her health related knowledge and experience. Her articles about Physiology of Anxiety and Anxiety Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be found on Clivir.com - the free learning community site.
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