Maybe you’re feeling “on edge”, fearful or irritable. Perhaps things you used to do without much thought, seem overwhelming. Maybe you find yourself constantly preparing for the next challenge around the corner, so much so that you’ve lost sight of enjoying the moment. Or perhaps you find yourself avoiding activities, people, and situations. You just might be coping with anxiety.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2019, “Mental Health Information: Statistics: Any Anxiety Disorder”), anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues affecting Americans today. Approximately 19% of people will experience anxiety within a given year; while, an estimated 31% of individuals will experience some kind of anxiety disorder within his/her lifetime. And yet, there are many effective treatments for these concerns.
Anxiety can manifest in many different ways (e.g., obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, agoraphobia, or other specific phobias). Here’s a list of anxiety symptoms which are common to many of the anxiety disorders.
Do you relate to any of the following symptoms?