5 signs your anxiety may be crippling and how treatment may help

It’s normal to feel a little anxiety from time to time, where it comes and goes pretty quickly without making a big impact on your life. But when it persists and interferes with your daily life, it may be a sign of a more serious issue. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 359 million people worldwide experience an anxiety disorder. 

At Psychiatry Treatment Centers, we understand how crippling anxiety can feel, and we’re here to support you. Our compassionate team offers the latest treatments in mental health and personalized care to help alleviate your anxiety. We provide psychotherapy and medication management, so you can begin to feel better.

Keep reading to discover the signs that your anxiety may be crippling and how you can find relief. 

5 signs your anxiety may be crippling 

Intense anxiety can affect your daily life in many ways. From constant worry to sleep disruption, it may cause mental, emotional and physical consequences. If left untreated, it can turn into a form of depression that includes anxiety symptoms. Spotting the signs of crippling anxiety is the first step toward finding a solution to ease this feeling and improve your quality of life.

Here are five signs of intense, crippling anxiety:

1. Constant worry or racing thoughts

Again, it’s normal to worry about something from time to time, especially if you’re facing a challenging situation. But when you find yourself worrying a lot and struggling to control racing thoughts, crippling anxiety may be interfering with your daily life. Persistent worry can cause you to perceive danger when there isn’t any and imagine worst-case scenarios. If left untreated, it can significantly affect your overall well-being.

How treatment can help:

You can learn effective strategies to cope with anxiety when you see a mental health professional for treatment. A combination of psychotherapy and medication can help you manage your anxiety symptoms and ease your racing thoughts. 

2. Physical symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety doesn’t just affect your mind. By triggering your body’s “fight-or-flight” response, it can also lead to physical symptoms, including:

• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain or tightness
• Muscle aches 
• Shortness of breath
• Gastrointestinal issues (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain)

These symptoms may appear when there’s no immediate danger. Over time, constant stress can lead to chronic medical issues.

How treatment can help:

When you seek treatment for intense anxiety, you can find ways to ease the physical, mental and emotional symptoms. Addressing the root cause of your anxiety can reduce these symptoms over time, helping you improve your overall health and well-being. Your mental health provider may guide you through relaxation techniques to calm your body’s response to stress.

3. Difficulty concentrating or focusing

Many people with crippling anxiety find it difficult to focus on work, school or routine activities. If you have chronic stress, you may be forgetful or find yourself experiencing “brain fog.” As a result, it can be harder to focus and be productive.

How treatment can help:

Your provider can work with you to improve your mental clarity and concentration. 

4. Social withdrawal

Avoiding social situations is a common sign of crippling anxiety. You may feel overwhelmed in social settings and afraid of being judged by others. Anxiety can also make it more difficult to interact with others. Over time, social withdrawal may affect your relationships.

How treatment can help:

Your provider can ease your anxiety and teach you effective coping and social skills to help you engage in social activities. Depending on your needs, medication management may be used to ease your anxiety and also improve your mood, making social situations easier. 

5. Sleep disturbances

Having persistent worries can make it more difficult to fall and stay asleep. Not getting enough sleep can make intense anxiety worse, especially if it makes you feel more tired and irritable. Sleep disturbances can negatively affect your mood, health and well-being.

How treatment can help:

Fortunately, you can explore several treatment options that can address anxiety and sleep difficulties. Your provider can help you identify what’s keeping you up at night and recommend effective options to improve your sleep. Medication management can help regulate your mood while psychotherapy can teach you relaxation techniques. 

Get treatment for anxiety at Psychiatry Treatment Centers

Whether you’ve experienced one or multiple symptoms of intense, crippling anxiety, you can find treatments to help stop it from interfering with your life. Recognizing these signs is the first step to moving forward, and getting support from an expert can help you manage your anxiety more easily.

At Psychiatry Treatment Centers, our compassionate team is here to support you. With personalized treatment options, we can create a plan that addresses your unique needs to help you alleviate your anxiety. Let us help you ease racing thoughts, so you can improve your health and quality of life.

Reach out to our team by phone today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment. You can also book your initial appointment online now.