How do I know
if I have anxiety?
People-pleasing often arises from trying to predict how others will perceive you, detracting from being present and making interactions feel calculated to avoid discomfort.
"What-if" questions are normal, but with anxiety, they become problematic. We can get stuck on these unresolved questions, fixating on events that haven't occurred.
If constant worry interferes with your ability to focus, complete tasks, or enjoy daily life, it may indicate problematic depression. Persistent worry can worsen depressive symptoms, making it difficult to function effectively.
If you are in danger, call 911 now.
Emergency services are available to provide the support and protection you need. Your well-being is paramount, and taking this step can save your life.
We provide tailored therapy to address anxiety and help you regain control over your life.
Instead of trying to stop your anxiety, it’s important to recognize that it serves a purpose. Anxiety acts as an alert system, keeping you safe by warning you of potential dangers. Since anxiety focuses on the future, it signals you about things that haven’t happened yet. Rather than being skeptical, try to be curious and introspective about what your anxiety is telling you. Ask yourself whether its warnings are meaningful or valuable in your life.
Problematic anxiety may manifest through various symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating or making decisions, feeling irritable, tense, or restless, experiencing nausea or abdominal distress, heart palpitations, sweating, trembling or shaking, trouble sleeping, and a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom. If these symptoms dominate your life daily, for the majority of the day, you may be dealing with problematic anxiety.
Your brain is constantly scanning your environment, prioritizing what it pays attention to based on what matters most to you. Think of anxiety like an airport security X-ray: as each suitcase passes through, the scanner only triggers when something important or meaningful is detected. Similarly, in your life, some events may go unnoticed while others grab your attention—sometimes leading to reactions that aren’t always helpful in the moment.
Anxiety is a fundamental part of your brain and body’s natural design. While it can be managed to prevent it from overwhelming you, it’s essential to appreciate that anxiety plays a crucial role. For example, your anxiety might be the only thing stopping you from jumping into shark-infested waters, serving as a critical warning of danger.
The common belief is that everything happening in your brain or body has a reason, even if you don’t know what it is. Anxiety can sometimes be triggered by underlying physiological issues, like cardiovascular problems, or it could be related to something you’re not consciously aware of. Instead of dismissing your anxiety, try to be curious about it. Accept that it’s there, and take the time to observe and listen to see if you can identify why it’s happening at that particular moment.
Anxiety can range from fleeting moments to lasting months or even years, while anxiety attacks typically peak within minutes and diminish with management techniques or when the perceived threat subsides. The duration of anxiety often correlates with its underlying cause.
