5 Critical Signs of Chronic Anxiety Disorder: Do You Have It?

We all experience anxiety from time to time. In fact, it’s a normal part of our physiological makeup and is intended to keep us safe. In today’s world, many people find that their anxiety levels are out of proportion. Someone who suffers from chronic anxiety disorder will produce excessive amounts of adrenaline and other chemicals in response to what they perceive as threats. Unfortunately, those perceived threats might include such everyday situations as social interaction or worry about money and finances. The chronic anxiety disorder impacts their day-to-day lives in a very negative way.

Are you concerned that you might suffer from chronic anxiety disorder? We’ve put together a list of signs that you may recognize.

1. The most recognizable signs of chronic anxiety disorder include those uncomfortable feelings that nag at you. People with chronic anxiety disorder most likely feel nearly-constant apprehension, which can be directed at a particular situation or may be vaguer than that. They may constantly worry about the future or their performance at work, school or in the family.

2. Chronic anxiety disorder can appear suddenly or manifest gradually over time. Many individuals who suffer from chronic anxiety disorder find that the onset of symptoms can be connected to a traumatic event. They may even experience flashbacks of traumatic events throughout their lives. Physical signs of this trauma can include a racing heart, sweating, and dizziness.

3. It is common for those with chronic anxiety disorder to suffer from other stress-related illnesses and conditions. For example, insomnia often occurs in conjunction with anxiety disorders. Other stress-related conditions that may be present are irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and fatigue. Many people learn they have chronic anxiety disorder because they seek treatment for some sort of physical ailment.

4. Because anxiety generally manifests itself in very uncomfortable ways, those suffering from chronic anxiety disorder may begin to avoid situations in which they fear the anxiety will return. This might include only using certain routes to drive to work or even becoming fearful of leaving the perceived safety of their own homes. (Continued)

While anxiety is an important part of our physiological makeup, a significant portion of the population suffers from chronic anxiety disorder. This disorder takes a natural part of how our bodies work and magnifies it to a level that can seriously impede our ability to function on a daily basis. Does chronic anxiety rule your life?

Let’s first look at the appropriate uses for anxiety. All vertebrate animals, humans included, are hardwired with a “fight-or-flight” response. When we are faced with a potentially dangerous situation, our bodies go through a nearly instantaneous process of deciding how to deal with it. When we have identified the situation as being a threat, the brain releases chemicals that cause the heart and respiration to speed up, a release of nutrients to the muscles, the eyes to dilate, and the capillaries to shrink. All of these physiological responses allow the body to be at its most efficient for surviving the danger. (The shrunken capillaries mean we would bleed less if wounded, the dilated pupils help us to see better, etc.)

This type of anxiety is considered healthy and useful in a variety of situations. It certainly helps smaller animals to escape predators by either running away or fighting back. It can also be helpful to humans facing life-or-death situations. In reality, however, we are rarely faced with such situations. The body still continues to evaluate the world around us as if we were being stalked by wild animals out on the desert plains. Loud noises or stressful circumstances can trigger the flight-or-fight response in the human body, even though it is not entirely appropriate.

Unfortunately, this process can become even further complicated for those suffering (Continued)