Do you always worry that something bad will happen?

Do you feel as if you have lost control of your life? 

Does your apprehension make it tricky to get on with regular life and enjoy each day?

These are some of the signs of anxiety. Anxiety can strike at any moment, usually without warning and at the worst possible time. Anxiety is a stress-induced worry that is accompanied by unrelenting intrusive thoughts, fears, and concerns which can often lead to panic and even feeling short of breath. Other symptoms of anxiety may include:

• Nervousness, restlessness or being tense
• Feelings of danger, panic or dread
• Rapid breathing or hyperventilation
• Increased or heavy sweating
• Trembling or muscle twitching
• Weakness or lethargy
• Difficulty focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than the thing you’re worried about
• Insomnia
• Obsessions about certain ideas, a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Anxiety surrounding a particular life event or experience that has occurred in the past, a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder

Anxiety can be persistent and often times not recognized because it can be accompanied by symptoms of depression. Anxiety disorders take on many forms and should be assessed and diagnosed by a professional.