The Many Faces of Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a mental health disorder that is characterised by feelings of excessive worry, fear, or anxiety that cause disruptions in your daily life.

Anxiety can manifest in various forms and symptoms, making it vital to learn about the many faces of anxiety.
 

The symptoms commonly associated with anxiety:

• Persistent worrying or anxiety where the perceived severity does not match the event
• Difficulty handling uncertainty
• Difficulty concentrating and constantly having a feeling of going blank
• Perceiving happenings as being threatening even when they may not be
• Over-thinking situations and events and always expecting the worst outcome
• Not being able to let go of worry
• Fear of making the wrong decision which leads to indecisiveness and uncertainty
• Not being able to relax or constantly feeling restless
• Always feeling on edge

The physical symptoms associated with anxiety:

• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Muscle aches and tension
• Fatigue
• Being startled easily or having a constant feeling of nervousness
• Trembling or feeling twitchy

The common signs of anxiety in children and teenagers

Children and teens who suffer from anxiety may worry excessively about:

• School or sporting events
• Earthquakes, wars, or other catastrophic events
• Punctuality
• The safety of loved ones

Children and teens who are anxious may do the following:

• Display signs of perfectionism
• Spend excessive amounts of time doing homework
• Lack confidence
• Experience extreme anxiety to fit in
• Avoid school or social interactions
• Require a lot of reassurance about performance
• Have stomach aches or complain of other physical ailments

Common ailments that are not widely known to be linked to anxiety:

• Frequent headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting spells
• Feelings of detachment
• Heart palpitations/chest pains

When to see a doctor:

• If you feel like worrying is getting in the way of your everyday life, relationships, or work
• Feelings of depression or irritability
• Excessive drinking or drug consumption
• Having other mental concerns along with anxiety
• Having suicidal thoughts or tendencies

Sharing your knowledge about the many faces of anxiety can help other people to identify the signs of anxiety in their lives so that they can get help early on. You may also want to read about how Workplace Stress May Be Killing You.