5 signs your anxiety has become a bigger challenge

Anxiety is a normal part of life. It has one goal: to protect us from harm. It puts sensations into our bodies that make us either fight through the situation or walk away from it.

For instance, we may fear: 

1. An interview - We still fight those fears and go ahead with it, because we want to get the job.
2. Travelling - We control the anxious sensations and fight through that fear to get to our destination. Whether that be a holiday, work or visiting relatives and friends).
3. Moving house - We plough through the lengthy and stressful process because we need, or want, to move on.

These can seem like unfounded, unjustified fears that consume you and, on the whole, they may be. But, when those anxious sensations begin to interfere with your ability to do these things and more, that’s when your anxiety may start to control you.

Signs anxiety has become a major problem

Anxiety can be one of the most common emotional health conditions that you can suffer. However, there’s some good news. Even if you believe your anxiety is beginning to get control of you, there are ways you can get a handle on it. However, until then, I’ve listed five signs here that give you an indication that your anxiety has become a major problem to overcome.

1. Physical symptoms

People often tell us that ‘anxiety is all in your head’. Technically, it is. However, anxiety can have physical sensations that can overwhelm us. Here’s a very brief list:

• panic attacks
• shortness of breath
• increased heart rate
• heart palpitations
• sweating
• tingling in your body 
• headaches
• insomnia
• extreme fatigue
• digestive issues

Panic attacks can be so scary and overwhelming that they can be mistaken for a heart attack. Be reassured that, with severe bouts of anxiety, panic attacks are common. 

If you are regularly experiencing any of these symptoms, and feel unable to control them, this may be a sign that you need professional assistance from a qualified therapist. 

2. Reassurance doesn’t help - it can even make it worse

You may have heard the Mary Poppins’ song “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down” - and yes, there's a Mary Poppins in everyone who cares for you. However, people who give you their advice sincerely believe they are giving you sweet (sugary) advice to help make the situation appear better than it is. However, good they may feel their advice is, they can only retell from their own experiences, and, let’s be realistic here, they have only so much patience.

Of course, you need reassurance, support, and love, you need to know you are not alone in this, particularly with the reassurance from those closest to you.

As with experiencing short and gentle episodes of anxiety (as a form of protection), most of us need reassurance to calm us down. However, if you suffer from extreme and continuous anxiety, the symptoms may grow if your feelings and fears are validated by an inexperienced, but well-meaning, person.

Well-meaning advice can have the potential to help your anxiety spiral out of control. Therefore, if you feel no one can help calm you or ease your anxiety, the next best thing you can do is to consult an experienced professional therapist. They should be qualified to help you figure out why this is happening to you.

3. It’s become difficult for you to perform daily tasks

When you have anxiety, doing the smallest, mundane tasks can become nearly impossible. This can be anything as simple as: 

• getting a shower
• brushing your teeth
• paying your bills
• answering your emails
• doing your laundry
• showing up at work

You may recognise these as typical signs of depression, but anxiety and excessive worrying, when it’s not addressed can lead to depression.

To help you out a little bit here, think of your mind like a picnic basket. When it is filled with all the goodies you want, you cannot put any more into it because it's full. Your mind is the same. If you fill it with what is worrying you, or what frightens you or makes your heart filled with dread, then you won’t have any more room for the pleasurable (or even mundane) activities in your life.

A professional therapist should be able to help you work through these fears and worries you are experiencing so that you can return to a life that you look forward to, rather than dread.

4. You feel unable to control yourself

Your mind's reactions are typically intended to protect you, but when anxiety becomes overwhelming, it can take over your life.

There are a host of challenges that stem from anxiety. When you are anxious, you can often resort to repetitive behaviours (like OCD), dislike going out and interacting with others (social anxiety), or maybe even be fearful that some dreadful event is going to repeat (PTSD).

When you start to feel as though you are unable to control your anxious sensations, this is when you should pay attention. Some common signs to look out for include:

• you feel overwhelmed
• your fears become unmanageable 
• you keep repeating thoughts in your head
• your body experiences dreadful sensations (increased heart rate or you toss and turn at night)

If you are severely struggling, this is a sign that you need the experience of a professional therapist. When you get to the point of thinking, “Nothing seems to work,” start looking for the treatment that you need. 

5. You have suicidal thoughts

You may have reached the point of saying to yourself “Where’s the point?” or “Why should I bother? No one cares.”This can be a sign that your anxiety is beginning to control your life and you may even begin to have thoughts of ending your life.

This is the time to find professional help immediately.

Every person on this earth is different. We all have different qualities, skills and knowledge to offer. You need to begin to learn you are worth it. That your life is worth living. Even if you feel you have nothing to offer the world, your family or your friends, or you feel they don’t care, there is always something you can live for.

Crisis professionals, like the Samaritans, can help you right away. They are always available 24/7. 

Finally, if you do notice any of these signs, then it can be a signal to you that your anxiety may be becoming more of a major problem than you can handle on your own. Though anxiety can be challenging to live with, remember that it is treatable. 

While the following list may not be the answer to everything you are going through just now, the key is to pick one you feel able to cope with, then put yourself through the motions of it, until you manage to get the help you need:

• understand that doubts and challenges will come throughout life
• realise that making decisions while in a highly emotional state of mind is not the best thing to do
• be like a tree – conjure strength, perseverance, patience
• know that you are not alone in your pain
• exercise, or go for a gentle stroll with your dog
• accept your doubts about yourself, you're only human after all
• do something for someone else
• paint/draw, focus on a hobby
• create a list of your blessings
• create a gratitude list
• meditate or pray
• lean not on your own understanding (proverbs 3:5) - give your cares to God
• find a qualified, professional therapist 

The greatest battles we fight are mostly against our own emotions. Remember, emotions can be changed, if we learn about what they are designed for and learn different ways to cope with and manage them. Best of all is the guidance you can receive from a professional, qualified therapist.