Signs That Your Anxiety Is Severe and You Need to Consult a Doctor

Suffering from anxiety can be mentally and physically challenging. Although everyone faces a feeling of anxiety at some point in life, not understanding when it is severe and when you need to consult a doctor is another challenging situation. 

When your anxiety starts interrupting your day-to-day activities, it is one of the prominent signs that you need to look for a doctor’s help. Symptoms of general anxiety disorder that you can notice are: 

1. Muscle tension. 
2. Pounding heart. 
3. Heavy breathing. 
4. Sweating. 
5. Trembling. 
6. Feeling tired or drained. 
7. Trouble in concentration, and more. 

While many people ignore the signs thinking anxiety is not severe, you must know that when anxiety is left untreated, it causes adverse effects on your overall health. You must talk to your San Pedro mental health expert (or psychologist) about your anxiety and let them diagnose you with the proper treatment. 

Signs That You Need to Talk to a Doctor About Your Anxiety: 

Your anxiety is affecting your day-to-day activities

Anxiety is accompanied by feeling worried or scared. People with an anxiety disorder may not perform their daily chores due to intense anxious feelings. For example, you may find yourself struggling to complete your work, perform household chores, and negatively affect your social life. When you notice that you are feeling “too tired” to perform the basic activities, reach out for help. 

Your anxiety is affecting your physical health

Anxiety disorder can cause physical health problems along with disturbing one’s mental health. A person is likely to experience a rapid heartbeat, sweating, or trouble sleeping. You may notice a few physical health problems such as: 

1. Diarrhea
2. Nausea
3. Stomach pain 
4. Muscle tension
5. Headache and fatigue

You are choosing unhealthy coping mechanisms 

Coping up with anxiety can be challenging. Many people switch to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol, nicotine, or prescription or illegal drugs to find an escape from the feeling. However, substance abuse may cause temporary relief but will only cause more harm to your physical health. On the other hand, a doctor can help you understand the underlying cause without harming your physical health. 

You are having suicidal thoughts 

Fighting anxiety is one of the most challenging battles. Generally, people suffering from anxiety also suffer from depression. People with depression and anxiety can often indulge in self-harming activities to “get relief” from the feeling. Even if a tiny thought of suicidal thoughts or any way of harming yourself crosses your mind, please reach out for help immediately. You can contact the suicide prevention lifeline or reach out to your friends, family, or doctor. 

Additional Signs That You Need to Talk to a Doctor: 

• Your symptoms stay longer than three to six months. 
• You are becoming anti-social. 
• Your relationships are getting affected. 
• Frequent panic attacks.