Some of us have heard and used the term anxiety in our lives. Whenever we feel stressed about the future then it is normal to feel anxious. However, this anxiety should more appropriately be called worry which is an unpleasant emotion that is perfectly normal to experience.
An anxiety disorder shouldn’t be confused with worry, since it is a mental illness. Therefore, if someone says that they suffer from an anxiety disorder it is important to take them seriously and offer the necessary help. The symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:
- Heart palpitations
- Feelings of extreme panic and fear of the future
- Difficulty breathing or choking
- Dry mouth
- Uneasiness, trembling and inability to sit still
- A feeling of impending doom as if the world is about to end and all is lost
Anxiety disorders are of various types but almost all of them have the aforementioned symptoms. Some brief examples are generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.
If you feel that you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms then learn more about managing mental illness, caring for sufferers or seek help.