Anxiety Attacks - How Can You Tell When Your Anxiety Has Crossed Over Into A Disorder?

By Author: Bertil Hjert
Total Articles: 114
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Anxiety disorders affect millions of Americans at one time in their lives. Some disorders are subtle, others are life altering and paralyzing. Luckily, as anxiety disorders have become more understood and accepted in our society, more study has been devoted to helping the millions of people suffering under this terrible burden.

Anxiety disorders are a treatable problem and there are a number of treatments that can help you manage your fears, panic attacks and general anxiety as you navigate through life.

The anxiety is normal, we all experience it and it is a reaction to the stress we experience in our lives. It helps us manage and cope with tense or difficult situations at the office, at home, or at school. It is generally a coping mechanism. However, it can become excessive, irrational and ultimately disabling.

When your anxiety starts to interfere with the functioning of your normal life, that is when it has crossed over from the coping mechanism so many of us rely on to a disorder that needs to be addressed so that you can resume your previous, everyday life.

How can you tell when your anxiety ...
... has crossed over into a disorder? The biggest key is the severity and frequency of the worries. You can also examine the situations in which you are experiencing them.

If you can no longer drive to work because you have to retrace your route continuously to ensure you haven´t hit someone, you probably have a disorder.

If you are anxious every time you meet your friends, you probably could use some relaxation treatments.

If you can´t get your hair or nails done because you are worried about having a panic attack in that cramped little chair you probably have some excessive problems.

If you experience anxiety in situations where most people wouldn´t, you experience it a large portion of the day or your feelings are severe and terrifying, causing physical manifestations such as shortness of breath, heart palpitations and the sweats than you may have an anxiety disorder.

It is important for people who have never consulted a doctor about their condition to meet with one. You want to make sure you don´t have physiological problem that requires treatment.

Once you have determined that it is indeed panic attacks, generalized anxiety or some other fear based disorders, there are tools to help you understand what is happening to you and how to fix it.

There are five principle types of disorders:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In addition, there are a number of other conditions and phobias such as agoraphobia that can cause major hurdles in people´s lives.

Different approaches to cope and manage anxieties will work for different people and some sufferers may find one approach particularly helpful, while others do not. It really comes down to what you feel comfortable with, are willing to implement in your life and what works for you and your condition.
Download your free eBook "Stop Panic Attacks and Deal with Your Anxious Thoughts" here:
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- From Bertil Hjert - The author of the Panic Goodbye Program. Read more about this brand new course at: the Panic Goodbye Program