Symptoms of anxiety you need to be aware of

While we all get stressed, excessive worry could be a sign there’s something more going on. These are the red flags to look out for.

Many Australians experience stress and worry at one point or another — it’s part of being human.

However, Beyond Blue clinical adviser Grant Blashki said there were “red flags that suggest you’re heading down the anxiety track”.

When the symptoms of anxiety become larger than the events that triggered them and begin to interfere with your life, they could signal an anxiety disorder.

“Sometimes the worry itself seems pretty inappropriate for something quite trivial,” Dr Blashki said.

“So it’s that excessiveness and the overreacting aspect of it that defines anxiety’s symptoms.”

These symptoms aren’t always obvious — often developing over time — and given we all experience some anxiety occasionally, it can be hard to know how much is too much.

News.com.au is this month raising awareness of good mental health as part of its campaign Let’s Make Some Noise. We are highlighting the issue of anxiety and its cost to employers, the community, families and sufferers in support of Beyond Blue.

HOW DOES ANXIETY MANIFEST?

“While people have their own unique anxiety signatures, which typically involves a constellation of symptoms, there are usually common manifestations of the condition,” Black Dog Institute clinical psychologist Aliza Werner-Seidler said.

“This includes repetitive worrisome thoughts, physical symptoms such as pounding heart and sweaty palms, and feeling anxious and on-edge.”

These are the most symptoms common in all anxiety disorders:

• Physical symptoms: panic attacks, hot and cold flushes, racing heart, tightening of the chest, quick breathing, restlessness or feeling tense, wound up and edgy

• Psychological symptoms: excessive fear, worry, catastrophising or obsessive thinking

• Behavioural symptoms: avoidance of anxiety-inducing situations that can impact on your study, work or social life. “Most people with anxiety tend to avoid situations in which their anxiety symptoms are exacerbated,” Dr Werner-Seidler said. “This often reinforces the fear that something bad will happen in these situations.”

WHAT DOES ANXIETY FEEL LIKE?

“I think for people who haven’t had anxiety, they tend to underestimate it,” Dr Blashki said.

“One of the problems is that in our language we use the word ‘anxiety’ in a colloquial way, you know, like ‘Oh, I’m a bit anxious that St Kilda’s not going to win the grand final.’

“But that’s very different from clinical anxiety.”

Those who suffer from anxiety are often consumed by feelings of excessive fear and worry, and it can be “absolutely disabling”.

“Anxiety turns people’s lives upside down,” Dr Blashki said.

“It affects their relationships, it affects their capacity to work, and it’s not a trivial matter at all.”

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Restlessness and having difficulty sleeping is a common symptom of an anxiety condition.

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL TRIGGERS?

The causes of anxiety and anxiety disorders can be complicated, as often a combination of factors — including genetics and environmental reasons — play a role.

Certain triggers — events, emotions or experiences — can bring on symptoms of anxiety or make them worse.

While these may differ for each individual or condition, many people share triggers, and it’s important to identify these in order to manage your anxiety disorder, according to Beyond Blue.

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Drinking too much coffee, or other caffeine products, can bring on anxiety.

Common triggers include:

• Family history of mental health conditions: “It tends to run in families,” Dr Blashki said. “It doesn’t mean you’ll definitely have it if someone in your family does, but it is more common if you have a family member with anxiety issues.”

• Personality factors: Research suggests that people with certain personality traits — for example, children who are perfectionists or lack self-esteem — are more likely to develop anxiety.

• Ongoing stressful events: Work stress, a change in living arrangements, pregnancy or giving birth, family or relationship problems, major emotional shock following a traumatic event, abuse or trauma, or the death or loss of a loved one are common events that can trigger or worsen anxiety.

• Physical health problems: Chronic physical illnesses such as diabetes, asthma or hypertension can contribute to anxiety or impact the treatment of either the physical illness or anxiety itself.

• Over-stimulation: “Some people tip themselves into anxiety by consuming too many stimulants,” Dr Blashki said. Too much coffee or the intake of other caffeine substances can overwork your mind and trigger anxiety symptoms.

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Abuse of substances such as alcohol, cigarettes and drugs can worsen anxiety.

• Other mental health conditions: While some people may experience anxiety on its own, others may experience multiple anxiety conditions or other mental health problems, such as depression.

• Substance use: “I’ve seen quite a few patients who used recreational drugs and they were fine, and then it tipped them into an anxiety state,” Dr Blashki said. Some people who are already experiencing anxiety may also use alcohol or drugs to help manage their condition, though this can lead to the development of a substance abuse problem. “For those people who are a bit vulnerable,” Dr Blashki said. “I really recommend that they look after their mind and don’t risk it.”

What’s important is that all anxiety conditions can be treated.

“It’s a real shame when people just put up with it,” he said.

“Or worse, they try to self-manage it with alcohol or unhelpful strategies, or just avoiding it altogether — when actually if they just seek some proper help, they can get better.”

If you’re struggling to manage your anxiety, make an appointment to see your GP to talk through your issues and explore treatment options.