There are more than 40 million Americans suffering from an anxiety disorder right now. That accounts for almost 20 percent of the total U.S. population and makes anxiety disorders the most common type of mental illness.
The good news is that, if you are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you can get help. There are so many different treatments for anxiety available at the moment, which means you can get the help you need if you want it.
If you have an anxiety disorder, you should take the right steps to get a handle on things. You should also monitor your condition to see if you feel your anxiety getting worse at any point. It could be a sign that you need to get additional help to treat your anxiety.
Here are 8 warning signs that will let you know your anxiety is, in fact, getting worse by the day.
1. You’re Having a Hard Time Falling Asleep at Night
Sleep disorders have become almost as common as anxiety disorders these days. There are about 40 million people across the U.S. who are dealing with one sleep disorder or another at the moment.
If you notice that you’re not sleeping well at night, you could potentially have a sleep disorder. But it could also be a sign that your anxiety is getting worse and giving you more problems than ever before.
Those with anxiety usually have trouble turning their brains off at night so that they can fall asleep. They also have trouble relaxing in the hours leading up to bedtime so they’re not prepared to get a good night’s rest.
If you struggle to sleep one or two nights, that might not mean that your anxiety is getting worse. But if you’re constantly having a hard time sleeping, it could be a surefire sign that your anxiety is getting the better of you.
2. You’re Extremely Worried Over the Smallest Things in Life
Studies have shown that most people worry way more than they actually should. There are some indications that people spend more than six years of their lives worrying about, well, everything.
Worrying about the bigger issues that you have in your life, like the new job you just got or the new baby that’s on the way, is perfectly normal. But it’s not normal to stress out and worry compulsively about every little thing that’s taking place in your life.
If it feels like you’re having trouble forgetting the worries you have about small things, you should take a step back and see if your anxiety is getting in your way. It could be causing you to overreact to situations and turn small things into bigger deals than they should be.
If you feel this way, it might be your anxiety getting worse. You should see what steps you can take to start worrying a little less as you move forward.
3. You’re Almost Always Irritated
Those battling anxiety are usually on edge a lot. They tend to develop tempers and can fly off the handle over the slightest thing in certain situations.
This is, unfortunately, something that’s going to happen from time to time when you have anxiety. But it’s not something that should take over your life and force you to lose your temper at the slightest of transgressions.
Have those around you noticed that you seem to be getting upset more and more over relatively small things? Have you caught yourself feeling irritated and upset over something that really isn’t worth all the attention you’re giving it?
It could be because your anxiety is getting worse. By treating your anxiety, you can bring your irritation levels down and learn how to manage anger better.
4. You’re Developing Different Eating Habits
Have your eating habits changed dramatically over the course of the last few weeks or months?
Those who have anxiety may experience changes in their diets when their anxiety gets worse. There are some people who will start eating a lot more and others who will start eating a lot less. Many people get addicted with sugar, and this makes things even worse. Sugar affects to the brain chemistry in a very negative way.
You should take stock of what you’re eating and how often you’re eating so that you can carefully consider how anxiety might be affecting your eating habits. You don’t want your anxiety to take a toll on your weight and cause you to gain or lose too many pounds at once. By being mindful of your diet, you can monitor it for any obvious changes.
5. You’re Feeling More Fatigued and Run Down Than Usual
Because anxiety is considered a mental illness, most people assume that it only attacks the brain and causes mental issues. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!
When you’re dealing with a heavy dose of anxiety, it can actually wear down your body and make you feel physically tired. You might find that you’re dragging through each and every day and having a hard time summoning the energy it takes to live a productive life.
Fatigue might not necessarily be a side effect of anxiety. It could also be an indication of a sleep disorder or another illness.
But if you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety in the past and fatigue is something you’re suddenly being forced to deal with on a daily basis, your anxiety could be to blame. It could be getting worse on you and making it hard for your body to generate the energy it needs.
6. You’re Having a Hard Time Focusing
Whether you’re still in school or go to work every day, it’s very important for you to be able to focus. If you can’t focus, you won’t be able to get good grades or finish the big project your boss has been hounding you about for weeks.
Most people don’t have a hard time buckling down and focusing when it’s time to get to work. But those with anxiety can find it extremely hard to focus on one task at a time, especially if their anxiety has gotten worse recently.
People with anxiety often have a million and one thoughts running through their minds. They aren’t always able to hone in on just one of them, and as a result, they’re unable to focus on the simple task at hand.
Do you feel like you’ve lost your focus? It could be a clear-cut sign that your anxiety is getting the better of you. The only way to regain your focus is to find a better way to treat the anxiety that is dragging you down.
7. You’re Restless and Can’t Seem to Sit Still
Although those with anxiety often struggle to focus, it’s not due to a lack of trying. If you have anxiety, you probably know first-hand just how jittery you can feel when trying to navigate through your life.
If you’re constantly bouncing from one task to the next and having a difficult time sitting still for more than a few minutes, it could be because of your anxiety. You’re likely always wound up and trying to get things down.
This restlessness can actually impede your ability to make progress with the tasks you’re trying to complete. It can also make you feel tired at the end of the day even though it won’t always feel like you accomplished much.
Ideally, you need to try and find a way to slow your body and mind down. By treating your anxiety, you can do this and start living a more fulfilling life.
8. You’re Just Not There Mentally
Everyone feels a little bit “out of it” every now and again. It’s totally normal for people to feel like their head is stuck in the clouds occasionally.
But those with anxiety will often feel like they’re stuck in this state of mind almost all the time. They just won’t be all the way there mentally and will struggle because of it.
If you fall into this category, you might have trouble holding conversations with others. You also might spend your time focused on one thing when you’re working on something completely different. It can be a very frustrating way to go about your business.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be like this forever. If you’ve noticed that you’re just not there mentally more often than not, it’s likely because your anxiety is getting worse.
By reevaluating your situation and finding ways to treat your anxiety more effectively, you can regain your mental capacity and start feeling like yourself again.
Is Your Anxiety Getting Worse? Take Steps to Change It Immediately
If you can feel your anxiety getting worse, you might be upset about it and think there’s nothing you can do to change it. But the truth is that there are lots of steps you can take to regain control of your life.
You shouldn’t allow your anxiety to make you feel overwhelmed, lonely, stressed out, tired, or depressed. If it’s limiting your ability to live the life you want to live, you should take action and bring your anxiety levels back down.
Read our blog to see some of the ways you can curb your anxiety once and for all.
