The Emotional Impact of Anxiety Disorders
Many people suffer from the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety disorders every year. There are different types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and many others. However, these different classifications of anxiety disorder all exhibit common physical effects and emotional symptoms.
Anxiety disorders are primarily characterized by extreme irrational and unreasonable fear or worry. Nevertheless, there are other emotional symptoms that are associated with anxiety disorders. Below are the most common emotional effects experienced by anxiety disorder sufferers.
1. Anticipating the worst. People with anxiety disorder are always anticipating the worst. This can perpetuate a cycle of negative thinking, and may lead to depression, more anxiety and other problems.
2. Agitation or restlessness. A person with anxiety disorder often feels agitated and restless. Some may even find it hard to relax at home in extreme situations.
3. Feeling jumpy or tense on a regular basis. Sufferers of anxiety disorders are more than likely to feel tensed, stiffed or stressed. According to the United States National Mental Health Information Center at mentalhealth.samhsa.gov, anxiety disorders can cause people to become “trapped in a pattern of repeated thoughts and behaviors such as counting or hand washing” just so they can reduce their feelings of tension and anxiety.
4. Watching for threats and dangers. People who are always on the edge are usually looking for signs of danger, and may become preoccupied with risky situations or events. They would consciously be on the lookout for danger signs in everything they do.
5. Difficulty Focusing. Anxiety disorders drain much of a person’s ability to focus and concentrate. They may have difficulty sitting in one place for long periods of time to perform tasks at a job, complete schoolwork, or finish a project. Symptoms may be recognized as ADD or ADHD, but in many cases, the root cause is an anxiety disorder.
6. Irritable. People with anxiety disorders are irritable and easily annoyed because they usually lack rest and sleep. They may react negatively to everyday situations and may be overly sensitive to even a slight modification in their routine or schedule. Relaxation methods and taking enough rest will improve a sufferer’s condition, although these habits would need to be developed over time.
These emotional symptoms can negatively affect the quality of life of a sufferer. However, it is important to recognize these early on so that an effective treatment may be prescribed to the sufferer as soon as possible.