We all have stress, worry, and fear in our lives.
Everyone feels anxiety at some point in their life. For many people, it is their body’s way of responding to stress.
But there is a point where anxiety isn’t “normal” anymore. Instead of lessening over time, it gets worse!
Your brain stays on day and night, constantly churning and never giving you a moment of peace. At this point, your anxiety may be spiraling out of control!
Below are 9 signs that your anxiety is completely out of control.
1.) You worry about absolutely everything!
It’s like your brain has decided to never give you another moment of rest.
You worry about everything – big and small.
During the moments of life that are supposed to be happy and enjoyable, your brain is telling you to FREAK OUT about something else.
It isn’t just interfering with your daily life, it is starting to ruin it – and you are absolutely exhausted.
2.) Your Sleep Patterns Are Completely Off
Lack of sleep can be very bad for your physical and psychological health.
It’s normal to have trouble sleeping before a big change or life event, but not every single night.
You lay awake in bed feeling worried and agitated. Your brain will NOT let you go to sleep.
You may feel exhausted, but the moment you lay down in bed, your brain turns ON!
Related Article: 9 Warning Signs That You Are Emotionally and Mentally Exhausted
3.) You Have Headaches and Muscle Tension
When you are extremely stressed (or your anxiety is over the top), you may notice that you are clenching your fists, tightening your shoulders, clenching your jaw, hunching over more, and never fully relaxing.
You may not even notice that your body is tense almost all the time!
As the muscle tension builds, you may start to experience back and neck problems, as well as debilitating headaches.
This is where a deep tissue massage and a trip to the chiropractor come in very handy!
4.) Your Gut Is Acting Up – Big Time!
Anxiety can effect the body just like it does the mind.
Chronic digestion problems is one of the many negative side effects.
Cramping, stomachaches, bloating, gas, chronic constipation, diarrhea, and other changes in bowel movements.
Anxiety can actually bring on IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). It is crazy that your stress levels can effect your gut health in such a major way!
5.) You Start Experiencing Uncontrollable Panic
Out of nowhere, you are suddenly overwhelmed by a gripping sense of helplessness and fear!
You may start to experience breathing problems, a racing heart, tingling hands and/or feet, dizziness, chest pain, stomachaches, hot flashes, and sweating.
In other words, you are experiencing debilitating panic attacks.
Everyone with anxiety does NOT have panic attacks, but many do. At this point it is very important to seek professional help to work through this panic disorder.
You don’t want to live your whole life in fear of when your next panic attack is going to happen.
Related Article: 10 Things To Know If Your Partner Has Anxiety
6.) You Experience Flashbacks of Unhappy Memories More Often
As your brain fills your head with fear, you may start to relive some of the disturbing and traumatic events in your life.
This is called PTSD, a condition that does share many of the same symptoms as anxiety.
Your memory starts to flash back to traumatizing situations that happened in your life – recently or back in your childhood.
These memories can cause severe emotional distress if not properly taken care of.
7.) Your Self-Doubt Is Becoming Overwhelming
Constant second guessing your decisions and doubting yourself every step of the way are both very common features of anxiety.
Most people experience this symptom – although some cases are far more severe than others.
These feeling of self-doubt may lead you to doubt major life decisions like marriage, kids, work, religion, life, etc.
These doubting attacks may become obsessive and leave you feeling completely helpless and alone.
Related Article: 11 Little Things You Don’t Realize Are Causing Your Anxiety
8.) You are becoming more easily irritated
People are starting to get on your nerves like never before.
Things that never bothered you before are starting to make you mad!
The way someone talks, the questions your children are asking, the way your spouse eats their food, and even the way your coworker drinks their coffee.
It is driving you crazy! You want to stand up and yell, “STOP IT! You’re driving me insane!”
The problem is, the irritating feelings are not going way. Day after day, they persist and are even getting worse.
Related Article: 12 Successful Tips To Help You Manage Your Anxiety
9.) You are Having problems concentrating
You are finding it increasingly difficult to focus on one thing at a time.
Your mind has a million things going on and you feel like concentration is almost impossible!
As your anxiety gets worse, your ability to concentrate will go away more and more.
You start to feel like you have ADD (attention deficit disorder) because your anxiety is controlling your ability to focus.
Related Articles:
- 10 Things To Know If Your Partner Has Anxiety
- 9 Warning Signs That You Are Emotionally and Mentally Exhausted
- 12 Successful Tips To Help You Manage Your Anxiety
If you suffer from debilitating anxiety, you are not alone!
Did you know that 1 in every 4 people in the USA have anxiety? It is a very normal and treatable condition.
Do some research. Find ways to manage it and seek professional help if you know that you need additional resources.