What is anxiety like

Since these symptoms can also be experienced by those with health conditions such as heart disease, thyroid problems, and breathing disorders, some people may not realize that their symptoms are actually caused by anxiety. Therefore, if you have experienced symptoms of a panic attack that cannot be attributed to another medical condition, you may be affected by an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are also commonly diagnosed in coordination with depression or bipolar disorder. This means that you may alternate between periods of anxiety and depression.

This can feel like being extremely worried and uneasy for a certain amount of time, followed by feeling extremely hopeless or disconnected until the cycle repeats.

Whether you are experiencing mild or severe symptoms or depressive symptoms, if the feeling of anxiety is changing how you live your life, you should speak with your doctor or a local therapist. Ultimately, there are a variety of ways that anxiety can feel because anxiety disorders can affect individuals differently. While the symptoms listed above represent some of the most common things that people feel with anxiety, it is not a comprehensive list.

Therefore, if you think you may have an anxiety disorder, it is recommended to speak with a licensed mental health provider for more information. Miller is trained in Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is also trained in Anesthesia and Pain Management. Because of her broad experience, Dr. Miller is uniquely qualified to treat psychological trauma, depression and anxiety that can occur as a result of injury or disability. Helene A. So when something is causing you to feel stressed or worried, it can impact your entire life — from personal to interpersonal to professional," says Dr.

Ali Sawal, primary care practitioner at Houston Methodist. And while anxiety may seem like some amorphous state-of-mind that you're either prone to experiencing or you're not, you may be surprised to find that anxiety is much more common than you think. When it comes to the variety of emotions we feel every day, we often use stress and anxiety interchangeably.

But, the two are actually distinct. It's what we feel when a deadline is looming or in anticipation of an important event or occasion," explains Dr. While the feeling of being stressed may be unpleasant, there are some short-term benefits to it. Stress comes with physiological changes that can help you overcome challenges and meet your goals — such as increased concentration and enhanced reaction time.

But, unlike stress, there are no advantages to anxiety. In fact, Dr. If your doctor suspects your anxiety may have a medical cause, he or she may order tests to look for signs of a problem.

Having an anxiety disorder does more than make you worry. It can also lead to, or worsen, other mental and physical conditions, such as:. There's no way to predict for certain what will cause someone to develop an anxiety disorder, but you can take steps to reduce the impact of symptoms if you're anxious:.

Anxiety disorders care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Anxiety disorders. Arlington, Va. Accessed Feb.

Anxiety disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. Brown A. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 5,