11 Signs Your Anxiety Is Getting Out of Control

Do you ever wonder if the amount of stress you're feeling is normal? (Or if it's become more than that)? Read on to find out if your anxiety is getting out of control. 

Literally, every person on the planet experiences anxiety sometimes. A certain level of anxiety isn’t necessarily a terrible thing. Believe it or not, research even shows that healthy levels of anxiety are related to intelligence and success. But, excessive anxiety can hurt us more than it helps.

Sadly, people dealing with excessive anxiety often accept it as part of life or even their personality. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be! Anxiety is super treatable. There is no reason to just put up with it. Read on to find out if your level of anxiety is just a normal part of life, or if it has crossed over into excessive territory.

1.     YOU (OR PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU) THINK YOUR ANXIETY IS EXCESSIVE

This is a pretty simple and subjective sign, but sometimes it really is that straightforward. If you think you seem to be more anxious than other people, you could be right. Sometimes it’s hard to see our own problems clearly, so if people close to you tell you that what you’re experiencing isn’t normal, don’t brush it off. Especially if it’s a person you trust.

2.     YOU’RE ANXIOUS MORE OFTEN THAN YOU'RE NOT

If you’re anxious most of the day or most days of the week, that’s probably a sign that it has become unhealthy. There is a wide range of human emotions, so if you’re stuck on “anxious” most of the time, you’re missing out on some good stuff.

3.     YOU’VE BEEN FEELING ANXIOUS FOR A LONG TIME

If you’ve been dealing with anxiety for more than 6 months, it's time to do something about it. That’s a LONG time to feel such an exhausting emotion! And just being real, if the problem hasn’t resolved itself in 6 months, it’s doubtful that much will change in the next 6 months unless you take action.

4.     YOU WORRY ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS

It’s normal to worry during finals week, or if you have a parent dealing with health issues. But if you’re worried about failing a test, that your parents will get into an accident on their vacation, and that your best friend is mad at you all at the same time, you’re probably venturing into unhealthy territory. Especially if there aren’t specific reasons to worry about those things.

5.     YOU OFTEN FEEL RESTLESS OR TENSE

Anxiety stems from our body’s defensive systems. One result of this protective response is muscle tension. You might not even be aware that you're doing it at the moment, but over time, you'll notice the effects. If you often have neck, back, or jaw pain, it could actually be related to constant muscle tension from anxiety. Muscle tension can also cause feelings of restlessness which makes it hard to sit still or relax.