For most people, anxiety is the body’s natural way of handling stressful situations. Although most people think of anxiety as a negative emotion, it can motivate someone to find positive solutions to problems. However, anxiety can get out of control. When left untreated, the symptoms of anxiety can paralyze a person emotionally and lead to a wide range of mental and physical health issues.
Symptoms of anxiety are not always easy to identify. A person may carry on for several months or years, as though everything is fine. As the condition worsens, the symptoms become more apparent. A common sign that someone is suffering from anxiety is an addiction to drugs or alcohol. As the anxiety gets worse, the dependency grows more severe.
Identifying the Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety symptoms vary from person to person. Some of the most common signs of anxiety include:
Psychological Symptoms
- Feeling nervous, tense or restless
- Sensing danger or panicking
- Difficulty staying focused or thinking clearly
- Changes in appetite or sleep pattern
- Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger the anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Physical Symptoms
- Increased heart rate or blood pressure
- Hyperventilation or rapid breathing
- Fluctuations in temperature – sweating or chills
- Trembling or twitching
- Wearing the body down through worry – fatigue or lethargy
- Digest problems, nausea, cramps, vomiting
Also, a person may demonstrate the same behaviors or emotions over and again. They develop a pattern as a result of reacting to certain situations that keep recurring.
What Causes Symptoms of Anxiety?
Anxiety occurs as a result of how someone responds to a situation, person, memory, or environment. This response can play out in various conditions, including:
Problems at Home
Family problems strike at the core of a person’s life with the people they love. While family problems are invariably unavoidable, some difficulties can trigger anxiety due to the family dynamic. Family problems can also progressively get worse, lasting for several years.
Stress at Work
There is nothing new about work-related stress. Everyone feels it from time to time. However, as the work piles up, so does the stress. Long hours, take-home projects, low pay, unhealthy environments, and conflict with coworkers can take their toll on the most resilient employees.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs as a result of unresolved issues that linger over time. PTSD isn’t always easy to recognize because the associated symptoms of anxiety may not surface until several years later. PTSD can occur as a result of experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
Health Issues
Health problems are a leading cause of stress. Terminal medical conditions can cause someone to worry about their health, life, finances, or their relationship with others. Furthermore, they may feel emotional pain if the medical condition is debilitating.
Anxiety and Addiction
Symptoms of anxiety can often lead to addiction to drugs or alcohol, as a person may self-medicate to cope with their condition. However, prolonged use of any substance only makes the anxiety worse. As a result, a person may have co-occurring disorders: both the addiction and anxiety.
Co-occurring disorders form a symbiotic relationship causing both to intensify and slowly worsen. Treatment for anxiety and addiction requires dual diagnosis. The treatment specialist focuses on treating the stress, not just the addiction. By focusing on the underlying causes of the addiction, a therapist can help guide a client toward lifelong recovery from both conditions.
Get Treatment for Anxiety at Atlantic Recovery Center
If you are suffering from symptoms of anxiety and addiction, help is available at Atlantic Recovery Center. We provide comprehensive detox, rehab, and aftercare to help you manage the symptoms of anxiety. To find out more, call us at 1-866-824-5193.