Is it Worry or Anxiety | Do I Have Anxiety?
Did I remember to pay the car registration? I’m so bad at my finances. I need to do laundry. Ugh, I have nothing to wear. I hope my daughter's rash goes away, I should google it. I really need to go to the gym. I need to start eating better. I should go to the grocery store tonight. Why does dinner have to be such a struggle? Do my kids eat enough healthy food? Is my son talking enough for his age? I probably should plan more activities for him. I need to call my mom back. Why did I stay up so late last night, I’m so tired today. I’m always tired. Why can’ t just make better decisions for myself? Why can’t I just have my stuff together?
50,000+ Thoughts per Day
These are just a few of the thoughts we can have as we take a shower, or wait in line for that cup of coffee, or that drive to work. Our brains are on constant loop of thoughts ALL DAY LONG. Many times we aren’t even really aware of what our thoughts are.
A study looking at what we worry about found that 91% of our worries never even happen. The nine percent of worries that do happen, the outcome was better than imaged about one third of the time. Worrying is a part of daily life. So, how do we know if our worrying is too much or if it is something more, like anxiety?
Do you have an Anxiety Disorder?
The biggest thing to look at whether or not our worrying may be “too much” is looking at the impact it has on our lives. Ask yourself the following questions:
Do you find that you tend to worry throughout your day, for most of your day, about most things?
Does your worrying interfere with your ability to fall asleep or stay asleep?
Do you avoid certain situations due to your worrying?
Does your worrying ever interfere with your job, your relationships, your schooling, etc.?
Do you often feel that something horrible might happen?Do you often feel on edge and/or restless?
If you answer yes to any of those questions, then it is possible that your worrying may actually be a form of anxiety. Anxiety is really hard to deal with and it can seep in all areas of our life. The other thing about anxiety is that often the more anxious you feel, the more anxious you feel about feeling anxious. It can feel like a never-ending-cycle.
If you feel that you may be struggling with anxiety it may be helpful to seek out therapy. Therapy can help you sort through your thought process, identify triggers, and develop strategies to cope with your anxiety. Therapy can also be helpful if you want to learn how to manage your worries better so that they don’t start to interfere with your life.
Some worrying is a part of life but anxiety does not have to be.
If you are interested in learning how I can help you with your worry and/or anxiety, contact me. I offer free 15 minute consultations and we can figure out if my services are the right fit for you.
Disclaimer: This is in not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or mental health services. This is for educational purposes only and should be in used only in conjunction in working with a licensed mental health professional. If you are looking for a local professional in California, feel free to use the contact me to request an appointment or search Psychology Today for local therapists in your area.
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