• Skip to main content
anaheimlighthouse.com
Your Beacon of Hope!
Questions? Call Now(877) 959-5909
  • About Us
  • What We Treat
  • Treatment Options
  • Our Facility
  • Admissions
  • Learn About
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Awards & Recognitions
  • Yelp & Google Reviews
  • Client Testimonials
  • Accreditation & Licensing
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Press Releases
  • Alchohol Abuse
  • Drug Addiction
  • Dual Diagnosis
  • Trauma Victims
  • Veterans Program
  • Holistic Treatment
  • Specialties
  • Detox Alcohol & Drugs
  • Drug Rehab
  • Inpatient Rehab
  • Complete Residential Care
  • Partial Hospitalization
  • Intensive Outpatient
  • Intervention
  • Family Support
  • Verify Insurance
  • Financing Options
  • Coronavirus Safety Procedures
  • Alcoholism
  • Life in Recovery
  • Health and Wellness
  • Opioid Addiction
  • Love and Relationships
  • Family Resources
  • Relapse and Recovery
  • Behavioral Addictions
  • Co-Occuring Disorders
  • Opioid Drugs
  • Sleeping Pills
  • Stimulants
  • Society

What Does Anxiety Feel Like? Look For These Common Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Jun 5 2020
Categories:Life in Recovery
Tyler Collins

Anxiety Disorder

Am I suffering from anxiety? Do I have an anxiety problem? What are the signs of having an anxiety disorder? These are just some of the commonly asked questions when people start feeling distressed and worried. A lot of times, you might feel confused if it’s normal to feel these emotions or if you already need to seek professional help.

Anxiety is defined as having persistent or excessive fear and worry about everyday situations. Being anxious is a typical human experience and it is quite normal to feel anxious especially when you are facing an important event in your life like a job interview, an examination, or problems about your relationships. Once the event you’re being anxious about is over, the anxiety often passes as well.

Contact Us Today for a Confidential Assessment.
Call (877) 959-5909 Now to Speak with a Specialist

However, some people’s anxiety problems are so severe that it already interferes with their ability to function every day. When this occurs, it is often referred to as pathological anxiety. Anxiety can be very overwhelming and disabling for many people that they need professional attention. Many people who are struggling with substance addiction also suffer from anxiety disorders.

While the signs of being anxious differ from person to person, one way to check if you are undergoing anxiety is by evaluating how it affects you mentally, emotionally, physically, and behaviorally. When you are able to understand how it affects you in different ways, you can better gauge whether you need help for your anxiety.

How it affects your thoughts

Anxiety DisorderAnxiety is categorized as a mental disorder because it primarily affects the way you perceive things. For people suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, they often think or worry about everyday matters and they cannot shake off the thought that something bad will happen.

In terms of how it affects your thoughts, these are the common signs:

  • Irrational thoughts or thoughts detached from reality
  • Poor concentration
  • Being distracted
  • Having mental images of the worst case scenarios
  • Thinking you’re going crazy
  • Attention problems

How anxiety affects your emotions

When you’re anxious, this affects the way you feel overall. However, there are times when feeling anxious is not as simple as knowing when you’re feeling happy or sad or angry. Anxiety can at times be determined when you feel a combination of different emotions. Some of the more common feelings or emotions associated with anxiety are the following:

  • Fearful or terrified
  • Jittery
  • Edgy
  • Jumpy
  • Nervous
  • Wound up
  • Threatened
  • Depressed

How anxiety affects your body

Anxiety DisorderA lot of times, you can tell whether a person is anxious by the way it affects them physically. These physical symptoms can often be disturbing and if severe, it can hinder people from functioning normally in their normal lives. Many anxiety medications are used to treat these physical symptoms or provide short-term relief.

People who are suffering from anxiety disorders acknowledge that they often experience the following physical symptoms:

  • Rapid heart rate or palpitations
  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Light-headedness
  • Dizziness
  • Being unsteady
  • Hot flashes
  • Chills
  • Nausea
  • Choking sensation
  • Upset stomach / Diarrhea
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Numbness
  • Dry mouth
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Tensed muscles
  • Difficulty in speaking

How anxiety affects your behavior

Anxiety DisorderFor a lot of people, anxiety is reflected in the way they behave. These behavioral symptoms can affect not only you but also the people around you. When you’re anxious, some of the common behavioral effects are the following:

  • Frustrated
  • Impatient
  • Irritable
  • Restless
  • Agitated
  • Pacing
  • Being motionless
  • Escape / Flight
  • Avoidance of threatening situations

Should you seek medical help for your anxiety?

Again, it is important to note that just because you are anxious today does not mean you immediately need medical help. It is common for people to be anxious once in a while, especially when undergoing difficult circumstances. However, when this anxiety becomes irrational, persistent, and it is already stopping you from doing normal daily activities, then you might need to consult with a medical professional.

Before taking any anxiety medications, try some natural ways to relieve anxiety. Keep in mind that many anxiety medications such as Xanax and Klonopin should only be taken in very serious instances and only in short periods as these drugs could trigger dependence and even substance addiction.

If you are suffering from substance abuse, help is available.

Anaheim Lighthouse is a drug rehab in Orange County that specializes in dual diagnosis treatments for people struggling with substance abuse as well as anxiety and other mental disorders.

Contact Anaheim Lighthouse today for more information.

We Accept Insurance

Don’t see your provider? Contact us to confirm coverage.

BlueCrossAssociation
core-source
meritain-health
multiplan
aetna
valueoptions
beacon
ameri-health
Triwest-logo1

3 Easy Options to Get Started or Learn More

You Call Us

We are here to answer your questions. Learn about detox, treatment, costs, or anything else. Give us a call now.
(877) 959-5909

We Call You

Complete this secure form to receive a fast response from our support team
  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Verify Your Insurance

Quickly confirm your coverage using our fast & easy verification system. We accept most insurances (and financing).
Verify My Insurance
carf-international-logo-1-1 dhcs LOGO main_logo-1 tpas-1
Anaheim Lighthouse Logo
  • About Us
  • What We Treat
  • Treatment Options
  • Our Facility
  • Admissions
  • Learn About
  • Contact Us

Connect With Us

(877) 959-5909
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3iC5RfaDKJtxZ2ElpR_z6g https://www.facebook.com/anaheimlighthouse https://www.instagram.com/anaheimlighthouse https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=10137502278264528885&hl=en&_ga=2.115856006.1810716125.1602095673-2075768318.1587360385

1320 West Pearl Street, Anaheim, CA 92801

Licensed and Certified by the State Department of Health Care Services 300188GP Exp 5/31/2026
Certified by the State Department of Health Care Services 300188FP Exp 5/31/2025

Copyright © 2023 Anaheim Lighthouse. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | HIPAA Policy | Web Accessibility