What is Anxiety and What Are The Symptoms?

Anxiety is generally considered to be a feeling of worry or nervousness connected to a certain situation, upcoming event, or unknown outcome. Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations. Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, there are some people who have anxiety disorders, which means that they experience intense, excessive and constant worry and fear about everyday situations.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

If you are experiencing symptoms listed above, or have any other reason to believe you may have an anxiety disorder, it is important for you to meet with a reputable mental health professional who can perform an assessment, give you an accurate diagnosis, and discuss any treatment recommendations. You could schedule an appointment with a clinical social worker, clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist.

If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area. You can also contact your insurance company to get a list of in-network mental health providers or check with your school social worker or psychologist to get a list of referrals in your area.

For more information, you can also read the TeensHealth article, Anxiety Disorders.