Page 18 - AreaNewsletters "June 2021" issue

How do I know if
my anxiety is not normal?
By Dawn Gabriel, MA, LPC, Founder, Owner of Authentic Connections Counseling Center
Behind closed doors of a therapist’s o ce, everyone usually has similar questions. Mostly they focus on wanting to feel like they are not “crazy” and what they are feeling is “normal”.
A common question is “Am I just stressed or is this diagnosable anxiety?”
While everyone has experienced anxiety and it is a normal response to life stressors, the real question is: When do you need to see a therapist? The answer: don’t wait until it is feeling out of control. Getting in to see a therapist sooner rather than later will keep you from some future hardships that untreated anxiety may cause. And please know - the nation has felt a major uptick in anxiety this past year. It is very common AND it is time to get real about it.
Let’s look at some signs that you may have more than your usual anxiety. Here are some questions to help you decide where you are at with your anxiety. Please be honest with yourself in the answers.
• Is my anxiety disrupting my daily functions?
• Am I nding it di cult to focus and concentrate?
• Do I have obsessive thoughts that are hard to control?
• Has my worry become larger than the original stressor?
• Has my anxiety occurred most days for the past 6 months?
• Does my body feel agitated?
(Racing heart, sweaty hands, jittery, heightened senses, shaky, dry mouth).
• Do I feel restless? - “on edge” or “uncomfortable urge to move” • Am I irritable?
• Do I notice my muscles are tense a lot?
• Do I have trouble falling or staying asleep?
• Am I avoiding social situations?
Continued...
June 2021 • Castle Rock “AreaNewsletters”
18
HEALTH • WELLNESS • LIFESTYLE