6 Signs You're Suffering From Anxiety And You Don't Even Know It
Inexplicable pain and inability to describe your emotions: let's talk about non-obvious signals that you should pay attention to.
 |
| 6 Signs You're Suffering From Anxiety And You Don't Even Know It. Cover: Lifehacker |
We always know we feel anxiety, don't we? It would be nice, but, unfortunately, the situation does not always work out that way.
Many people who suffer from anxiety do not understand what exactly they are facing. They realize that they feel bad, but they cannot describe their feelings.
US research showed 60-80% of complaints during visits to the doctor are related to stress .
At the same time, at the reception, people do not say: “For the last five years, my marriage has been bursting at the seams, and my head and stomach constantly hurt. Can you help me deal with relationships and stress? They come with another request: "Prescribe me something for chronic headaches and stomach problems."
Natural anxiety occurs when we lose control of a situation. For example, when we drive a car on an icy road and the car starts skidding.
However, anxiety can also occur in the absence of physical danger. Let's say when we imagine how we will deliver an important report at a large conference.
In addition, with high internal anxiety, some people manage to maintain external calmness and even productivity.
6 Signs You're Suffering From Anxiety And You Don't Even Know It
To understand that your problems are connected precisely with anxiety , there are several signs.
1. You can't name your emotions.
If you don't listen to your feelings throughout the day, don't understand the reasons for your reactions, often can't explain exactly what you're feeling, and rarely cares about the state of mind of others, you may have alexithymia.
This is the inability to differentiate and express in words not only one's own, but also other people's feelings and emotions.
2. You have chronic health problems
If you go back to the moment when your neck first started to hurt or the first symptoms of chronic fatigue appeared , you will most likely remember that this was a difficult period, which meant stress and changes in life.
Perhaps your child is in first grade, you have taken on a new job, or you have ended a long romantic relationship.
In transitional moments, we lose control and begin to feel anxiety, which gradually develops into chronic diseases.
3. You do not share experiences with others
People who freely talk about their lives to others also talk about emotions.
Those who interact with others primarily through activities such as work, sports, or political debate communicate superficially.
If you find it difficult to discuss your feelings , perhaps anxiety is holding you back.
4. You don't know your needs
When a person's basic needs for communication, professional competence, and autonomy are not met, they tend to experience negative emotions.
If you don't understand what you need, you probably don't understand how you feel when your needs go unanswered.
5. You choose unhealthy ways to deal with stress.
You can tell yourself that you are fine, and at the same time start drinking a lot more alcohol, go back to smoking, spend evenings in front of the TV, or take it out on loved ones. These are all attempts to reduce stress.
6. You are experiencing unexplained physical pain.
If you're constantly facing challenges in life, your needs aren't being met, and you can't express emotions, then you're more likely to develop chronic pain.
The stress we experience at work, the lack of happiness at home, and the pressures that life puts on us turn into emotions.
It is they who help us understand when something is going wrong, and we need attention. If doctors say that everything is fine with your health, then physical pain is an alternative way that your body tries to declare experiences.