Ever Thought: Do I Have Anxiety Or Am I Just Worried?

Updated January 22, 2021

Medically Reviewed By: Audrey Kelly, LMFT

Content/Trigger Warning: Please be advised, the below article might mention trauma-related topics that include sexual assault & violence which could potentially be triggering.

Everybody worries from time to time- its part of being human. Many people feel nervous about certain social situations. A lot of people feel anxious when there are big changes happening in their lives. And a large number of people sometimes feel anxious for reasons they can't quite put their finger on. It's totally normal to feel worried sometimes, particularly if you have challenges or big life changes coming up. But it's important to understand how to know if you have anxiety which needs treating, and when you're just worried.

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What IS Anxiety?

So what is anxiety? Anxiety can be defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. An anxiety disorder, on the other hand, is when these feelings doesn't go away once the stressful situation has passed, or when we feel anxious with no reasonable cause, and these feelings are very difficult to control. You may wonder how many people have anxiety.

Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States affecting 40 million people or 18% of the population, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. With the exception of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), women are twice as likely to experience anxiety disorders as men are, and women tend to be affected at a younger age than men on average. Women are most likely to be affected between puberty and the age of 50.

There are several different types of anxiety disorders which you should know about. The six most common anxiety disorders are as follows.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) - this is when a person feels anxious most days and worries about lots of different things or feels anxious for no reason, for a period of 6 months or more. GAD affects 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population.
Social anxiety - a person gets very worried about social situations and has an intense fear of being criticized or humiliated socially. If you're wondering 'do I have social anxiety?' You're not alone - this anxiety disorder affects 6.8% of the American population. Men and women are equally likely to be affected with symptoms most often beginning around age 13.
Specific phobias - when a person feels unreasonably fearful of a particular object, situation or creature and goes to great lengths to avoid it. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men, and the phobia typically begins in childhood; the median age of onset is 7.

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - a person feels inclined to carry out specific rituals or behaviors to relieve anxiety. OCD is equally common among men and women, and the median age of onset is 19, with 25 percent of cases occurring by age 14. One-third of affected adults first experienced symptoms in childhood.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - extreme stress after a person experiences a traumatic event. Symptoms can include difficulty relaxing, upsetting dreams or flashbacks of the event, and avoidance of anything related to the event. PTSD is diagnosed when a person has symptoms for at least a month. Women are more likely to be affected than men. Rape is one of the most likely triggers of PTSD: 65% of men and 45.9% of women who are raped will develop the disorder. Childhood sexual abuse is a strong predictor of lifetime likelihood for developing PTSD.
Panic Disorder - A person experiences panic attacks which are intense, overwhelming feelings of anxiety combined with physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, and dizziness. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men, and there is a very high co-morbidity rate with major depression.

How do you know if you have anxiety?

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If you're wondering how to tell if you have anxiety, it is best to first consider the symptoms. Each anxiety condition has its own unique features, and everyone is affected differently. However, there are some common signs that you have anxiety:

Panic Attacks
Hot and cold flushes
Racing heart
Tightening of the chest
Quick breathing
Restlessness
Feeling tense, wound up or on edge
Feeling tightness in your stomach or feeling sick
Excessive fear or worry
Obsessive thinking
Feeling powerless
A sense of impending doom
Difficulty concentrating or remembering
Trembling
Feeling tired or weak
Dizziness
Diarrhea
Difficulty sleeping

Why do I Have Anxiety?

Whilst it is difficult to say exactly what causes anxiety, there are a number of risk factors which can be linked to its development. It usually results from a combination of a predisposition to anxiety, life events, and physical health.

Anxiety can run in families, suggesting that some people may have a genetic predisposition to the illness. However, that does not mean that if a relative experiences anxiety then you will definitely experience it too, as it is a complex illness most likely linked to a combination of genes and not just one. Whilst plenty of research has been conducted into this, the genetic influence is still uncertain.

Research has also shown chemicals in the brain are linked to anxiety, and people with abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain are more likely to experience an anxiety disorder. Use or abuse of alcohol or illegal substances has also been linked to the onset of anxiety. Medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease can also contribute to anxiety disorders. If a person has a predisposition to anxiety certain stressful life events can trigger the onset of the illness, for example, work stress, family and relationship problems, abuse or loss to name just a few.

Diagnosing Anxiety

If you relate to several of the above symptoms and have experienced them for some time, there is a good chance that you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder. There are many anxiety tests online which can be easily found by typing 'do I have anxiety test', 'do I have anxiety quiz' or 'how do I know if I have anxiety?' into a search engine. These tests can shed some light on the topic and give some idea of whether or not you have anxiety.

However, it is best to seek advice from a health professional. It can seem scary approaching a professional and saying 'I think I have anxiety', but it is the only way to answer the question: do I have an anxiety disorder? In order to reach a diagnosis, they may conduct physical tests such as blood tests or urine tests to determine if your anxiety is linked to an underlying medical condition.

They will then ask detailed questions about your symptoms and medical history, and they may use psychology questionnaires to diagnose you. It's normal to feel uncomfortable or exposed answering such personal questions; however, it is very important to answer honestly as you are now with a professional who can ensure that you receive the help you may need. (http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/discomfort-15/better-sleep/slideshow-sleep-tips)

Treating Anxiety

For some experiencing anxiety, their symptoms may go away on their own after some time, however, many people will continue to experience these symptoms for years if their anxiety is left untreated. There are things you can do yourself to help relieve the symptoms of anxiety without needing medical treatment. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help so try to eat a healthy, balanced diet, engage in regular exercise or physical activity, and get a good night's sleep if possible. If your anxiety is keeping you awake at night, try these tips from Web MD for a better night's sleep: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/discomfort-15/better-sleep/slideshow-sleep-tips.

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Reducing and managing stress levels can also help to reduce anxiety - try to tackle your stress head on by addressing problems and making plans to overcome them. You may also find relaxation training useful in order to calm your body and mind. Many free resources are available for this online and via the app store, such as this one: freemeditation.com. Spending more time with family and friends can also relieve symptoms, even if you don't feel like it. Letting them know what you're going through can help them to support you, and just spending time with people is likely to make you feel better.

Psychological Therapy

Psychological treatments aim to change thinking patterns in order to control anxiety and reduce irrational worries. The most common psychological treatments are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavior therapy. CBT involves working with a professional to identify thought and behavior patterns which are contributing to your anxiety and replace them with thoughts and behaviors which reduce anxiety and improve coping skills. Behavior therapy focuses on encouraging rewarding activities in order to avoid patterns which make anxiety worse.

Better Help

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Better Help is an online counseling platform which aims to overcome barriers which may be preventing people from receiving the help they need, by providing easy, affordable and discreet access to licensed therapists anytime, anywhere. Patients receive professional counseling via a computer, tablet or mobile phone making it much easier to access help.

Better Help has assisted over 200,000 people so far and received glowing reviews from patients who have experienced huge improvements as a result. Licensed, trained, experienced counselors, specialize in different areas to ensure that all patients can be matched to a highly qualified professional who fits your requirements. Find out more here: https://www.betterhelp.com/about/.

Anxiety is a common mental illness which can have severe negative effects on a person's day to day life if left untreated. Ensure that you are familiar with the signs and symptoms so that you can recognize them in yourself or someone close to you. If you think that you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder, then it is very important that you receive professional help. Better Help is just here to help you to feel better and return to normal, so don't hesitate to get in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you self diagnose anxiety?

While it may be easy to look up symptoms for anxiety online and compare them with your own experiences, the best way to diagnose anxiety is to consult your doctor. Health care professionals are more reliable than any online source, regardless of the professional pedigree claimed in any given article. You can also try an online anxiety quiz, but they are not a substitute for actual diagnosis or treatment. Consulting a medical professional is the most efficient way to stop anxiety from interfering with your life.

What are the first signs of anxiety?

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have anxiety, there are a few signs or symptoms that can indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder. Be aware that these signs can be the result of something else, such as not feeling well for one particular day, or the symptoms could be a part of their personality. If these symptoms occur constantly and affect one’s quality of life or mental health, then they could be warning signs of anxiety:

Excessive worrying
Restlessness
Lack of energy
Having trouble sleeping
Difficulty concentrating
Panic attacks
Being distant from friends and family
Muscle tension
Pounding heart

The safest bet is to consult your doctor about advice diagnosis or treatment of anxiety or bipolar disorder, depending on your circumstance.

How do I know if I experience anxiety?

Analyzing your response to stressors in your life can help determine if you could have anxiety. If you think that your mental health is being negatively impacted by your worries, then you may consider consulting your primary care provider and undergoing a professional diagnosis for anxiety. Symptoms of an anxiety disorder can include the following:

Your worrying is affecting social relationships, academic performance, and career path
- You may also experience a fear of dying
You are experiencing constant physical symptoms, such as restlessness, insomnia, or getting tired easily, along with your worries
You cannot let go of your worries and fears
You are experiencing physical symptoms, such as feeling a shortness of breath, chest pain

While the above signs apply for generalized anxiety disorder, there are also separate signs for separation anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and disorder panic disorder. You can ask a doctor for a disorder treatment specific to each of these anxiety types.

Furthermore, most patients who have bipolar disorder may also exhibit symptoms of anxiety. A combination of bipolar disorder with anxiety disorder can result in other health complications as well.

You can also use an anxiety quiz available freely online, but these should not be a substitute for an actual diagnosis or treatment from a health care professional.

What does mild anxiety feel like?

Mild anxiety can impact various parts of your life and, if left untreated, lead to other, more severe mental health conditions, such as panic disorder. This type of anxiety can be experienced in early childhood and last through adulthood; however, it can also exist in childhood and not resurface in later years. Those experiencing mild anxiety may feel shy or exhibit symptoms of social anxiety.

Those with bipolar disorder can also experience mild anxiety as well. Bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders can be common in children.

Taking an anxiety quiz can help you identify symptoms of mild anxiety, but they should not be substituted for an actual diagnosis or treatment.

How do I get diagnosed with anxiety?

You can get officially diagnosed with anxiety by a mental health professional who had evaluated your needs. You can either research a professional on your own or get a referral from your primary care provider. After scheduling a therapy appointment, the therapist will ask questions about potential symptoms to help understand what type of anxiety disorder you exhibit.

Is anxiety a mental illness?

In the United States, over 40 million adults over 18 years of age are affected by anxiety disorders, making it the most common mental illness in the country. Anxiety is a mental illness because it affects the natural functions of the brain, much like other disorders, as an adhd overview will show. For instance, anxiety disorders can cause intense fear, which may paralyze or prevent the affected individual from continuing to exhibit regular behavior.

How long can anxiety last?

During an anxiety attack, even if an episode seemingly lasts for a few minutes, each minute may feel like an hour of unrelenting pain and fear. Additionally, the end of one anxiety attack can lead to another attack. While this is not common, you can try to prevent escalating anxiety attacks in the moment by performing simple breathing practices. If you find yourself experiencing intense anxiety, the best way to calm yourself at that moment is to take a deep breath and think positively about your ability to get through.

If you believe that you are experiencing intense anxiety attacks, but have not been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, then you can take an anxiety test to see if you need further medical attention.

How do you calm down anxiety?

You can try to calm down your anxiety by simply taking a deep breath in and out during an episode. By grounding and encouraging yourself with positive thoughts of getting through the episode, you can draw on your own inner strength. It is important to remember the control you have over your own thoughts, and try to steer your thinking toward peacefulness and self-belief.

If you want to check to see if you are exhibiting symptoms of an anxiety disorder, then utilize an anxiety test and see if you should consult your doctor about personalized strategies. An unverified anxiety test cannot replace medical advice diagnosis, but it can provide you with more language to describe your anxiety symptoms and their severity. Then you can make a decision to see a doctor about anxiety treatment. Having a health care professional provide medical advice diagnosis will be important in order to devise the most effective treatment plan.

What causes anxiety?

Anxiety causes could come from multiple factors. Genetics as well as environmental factors can influence anxiety. Uncontrollable factors, like a predisposition to anxiety or experiencing poverty or abuse, can cause anxiety. An anxiety disorder test cannot determine the cause of your anxiety, but will help you identify if you are exhibiting the symptoms.

Does anxiety go away if you ignore it?

Anxiety likely will not go away if you ignore it, and in fact it could get even worse. The more you try not to think about your anxiety, the more you build up those feelings, until they can burst out in a more intense episode.

The best ways to approach anxiety is to consult a doctor, or if you are not ready to take that step, take an anxiety quiz on your own. These quizzes should not be a substitute for an official diagnosis or treatment of a social anxiety disorder.

What are the 6 types of anxiety disorders?

The six types of anxiety disorders are distinct from one another since they exhibit different symptoms. All anxiety disorders are serious and should be diagnosed by a medical professional.

Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Phobias
Separation anxiety
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

In recent years, PTSD and OCD have been commonly considered to be their own types of mental health disorders. But you may discover that some articles about anxiety will group the two as types of anxiety disorders. Another type of disorder associated with anxiety disorders is bipolar disorder. If you or a loved one has bipolar disorder, then there is a chance that you have an anxiety disorder as well. If you feel that you do have either PTSD or OCD, consult a doctor about them in particular, as they may require different diagnosis or treatment methods.

Can anxiety be cured completely?

Whether you have been experiencing anxiety since you were a child or it began during adulthood, a positive mind set about controlling anxiety is the best approach. One way to reduce anxiety is to consult a medical professional and discuss advice diagnosis or treatment options. While a doctor might not be able to cure your anxiety immediately, just putting a name to your specific anxiety and knowing that you are utilizing the best resources can be an initial relief.

One of the best ways to control your anxiety is through cognitive behavioral therapy sessions. Through these talk therapy sessions, your doctor can help you understand your thought patterns and come up with strategies that can improve your mental health.

When should you see a doctor about anxiety?

You should see your doctor about anxiety if it is starting to disrupt your way of life. Medical advice diagnosis or treatment can help you handle your anxiety, or at least understand it.

Anxiety may become detrimental to students who think academic performance is not meeting previous standards could have an indication of anxiety negatively impacting their lives.

Essentially, if your anxiety is making things worse in any capacity, consult a doctor or take an anxiety quiz (that should not be a substitute for an official diagnosis or treatment). Be kind to yourself as you try to pinpoint emotions and stressors that may seem upsetting.

What's the worst type of anxiety?

There is not a worst type of anxiety, per se. Anyone who experiences an anxiety disorder can be affected in large and small ways. Some anxiety disorders may be a nuisance, while others disrupt daily life, and anyone who is experiencing anxiety in any capacity deserves understanding and personalized medical attention.

Can anxiety last all day?

The length of anxiety depends on the episode. Some episodes may only last minutes, while others can last for days or even longer. Through these long stretches of time, you may develop physical symptoms of anxiety disorder, such as eating disorders and binge eating. If these symptoms are having a harmful impact on your life, then you should see a doctor for more help to treat your anxiety disorder’s symptoms.

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For Additional Help & Support With Your Concerns

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The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

Ever Thought: Do I Have Anxiety Or Am I Just Worried?

What IS Anxiety?

How do you know if you have anxiety?

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