Anxiety can be a crippling mental health concern. Worrying about worrying can stand in the way of people’s personal and professional lives while impacting self-esteem. It’s often a lonely, downward spiral that will continue unabated until that person decides to do something about it. If you’re worried that a loved one may be struggling, keep an eye out for the following signs of anxiety and suggest that they attend a depression treatment center and anxiety treatment center. There is no reason to struggle alone.
Excessive Worrying & Irritability
If your friend or family member is constantly worrying about every little thing, no matter how insignificant, it may be a sign of the early stages of anxiety. This would be hard to gauge on its own, as most people have completely legitimate worries, fears, and concerns in their life.
However, if their reactions are disproportionate to the events that trigger it, and it occurs consistently over a long period of time, they may have a case of anxiety. Irritability is also a common trait amongst those with anxiety, studies show.
Difficulty Staying or Falling Asleep
Having trouble falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night is one of the strongest indicators of anxiety symptoms. If your loved one has had to deal with insomnia in the past, there is a high likelihood that they are more prone to anxiety. The following examples of psychoactive drugs affect people’s ability to fall and stay asleep:
- Caffeine
- Ritalin
- Vyvance
- Cocaine
- Alcohol
Stimulants like caffeine, Ritalin, and cocaine can increase both anxiety and insomnia. When people are unable to sleep, they may attempt to counter the effects of insomnia by taking a sedative. While this often provides a short-term solution, some doctors prescribe sedatives before recommending lifestyle changes, including exercise, improved nutrition, and limiting screen time. We recommend discussing with your doctor if you struggle with insomnia; sleep is essential for humans to function.
Opioids and Chronic Fatigue
If you have been prescribed drugs that cause fatigue, attempting to counteract them with stimulants can disrupt your ability to function.
However, things like excessive worrying and irritability, along with other symptoms on this list, may lead to chronic fatigue. Indicators of chronic fatigue include:
- Feeling extremely tired all the time
- Finding it very hard to do daily activities
- Remaining tired after resting or sleeping
- Requiring an excessively long recovery period after physical activity
- Problems falling asleep and staying asleep most nights
- Problems with thinking, memory, and concentration
A combination of tiredness and anxiety can cause problems in people’s work, home, school, and social lives. Not everyone who struggles with fatigue battles anxiety, but many people do. People who don’t get adequate sleep are often more anxious, irritable, and susceptible to illness.
Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can be a strong sign that your loved one is possibly struggling with anxiety. While most adults will experience a panic attack at some point in their life, if your loved one has recurring panic attacks, it may be a sign of an anxiety or panic disorder.
Will Therapy Help Me Manage Anxiety?
A few ways to rule out the above symptoms are incorporating positive lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, meditative exercise like yoga, and meditation. What’s happening in their careers can also be a tell-tale sign. Maybe they’re behind on a massive project at work, or they’re currently in a toxic work environment, and finishing those obligations and taking a well-deserved vacation may solve it completely. The following types of therapy can help people manage anxiety:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Group therapy and 12-step work
General anxiety is diagnosed if someone has been experiencing the above symptoms almost every day for a period of at least six months. However, if it interferes with their lifestyle in any way, your loved one should seek help.
Mental Health Awareness: Talking to a Loved One About Anxiety
If you’re concerned for your loved one, you may want to ask if they’ve looked into seeing a doctor or taken personal days off to rest and recharge. Whatever you suggest, do so from a place of caring and support. Tell them you love them, care about them, and are worried about them. Timing is critical, as you might not want to tell them they should seek help right after an episode, especially if they’re highly irritable.
Help People Help Themselves
Anxiety is a prison that many people need help escaping from. However, learning to manage anxiety is worth the effort. If you know a loved one struggling with anxiety despite all of their efforts to change their lifestyle, finding the right therapist or mental health treatment program can help them change their lives for the better. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our depression and anxiety treatment center or call 866.262.0531 to speak with an intake specialist.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
