How to Distinguish Between Normal & Abnormal Anxiety

Everyone feels anxiety at some point in their lives. Whether it's a case of nerves over giving a speech or a panicky feelings before taking a test in college, anxiety is a normal emotion. Many people, however, suffer from an anxiety disorder which makes these feelings much more common in their lives. Abnormal anxiety interferes with daily living and may cause you to avoid certain situations because you are too upset or nervous about them. Learning the difference between normal and abnormal anxiety is the first step toward overcoming your fears.

Instructions

• 1

  Identify when you feel anxious and why. Keep a journal of all the times you feel nervous and whether or not an event triggered that anxiety. For example, you may only feel nervous when you have to talk to other people, while another person may feel constant nervousness but often does not know why.

• 2

  Try different lifestyle changes to see if they help with your anxiety. Eliminate any stress that is unnecessary in your life and take some time to relax and hang out with friends. Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. See whether or not this helps your anxiety. With normal anxiety, it may go away once a certain stressful event has passed or once you make these lifestyle changes. With abnormal anxiety, however, the anxiety remains and may occur for no particular reason.

• 3

  Rate how much the anxiety interferes in your life. Notice if you're avoiding certain situations, even ones you might enjoy, because you're too nervous. If the anxiety is keeping you away from situations or interfering with your day-to-day life, it may be abnormal anxiety.

• 4

  List in your journal any physical symptoms you notice that are not related to a known illness or physical problem. Constant muscle tension, stress, headaches and trouble sleeping are all symptoms of abnormal anxiety, according to FamilyDoctor.org.

• 5

  Take an online test for anxiety (see links in Resources). This test is not meant as a diagnoses, but can help you identify how many symptoms of an anxiety disorder you have and can give you an idea of whether or not you should talk to your doctor. If you are a college student, your campus counseling center may have fliers or brochures about the symptoms of anxiety disorders you can read.

• 6

  Visit your family doctor or a counselor if you think you are experiencing abnormal anxiety. If the level of anxiety or stress in your life is high enough that you're questioning whether or not you have an anxiety disorder, it means it's bothering you enough that you should seek relief. Even if you don't have an anxiety disorder, a doctor or counselor can help you deal with the cause of the current anxiety in your life.