In the age of a worldwide pandemic, it doesn’t take much to stir up anxious thoughts or feelings. From economic hardships, to social distancing, to rising cases and death tolls, there’s no shortage of reasons you may find yourself on edge these days.
But sometimes anxiety disguises itself and doesn’t quite look like what you’d typically expect. When this happens, people may miss the signs. And this can lead to missing the opportunity to get the help to overcome anxiety.
Here are 5 signs anxiety may have a grip on you:
1. You’re acting as if nothing happened.
Believe it or not, responding to a situation that would normally cause some anxiety in anyone by not acknowledging that things have changed can be tied to anxiety. When it feels like the ground has fallen from underneath us, one typical response is to try to keep as much normalcy in our lives as possible. Same routines, same behaviors, same everything. But things have changed. Not everyone is as affected. Some people have lost jobs. Some haven’t. Some people are working from home for the first time. Others have already been working from home. Regardless of your circumstances, it is likely you have been impacted in ways that may be difficult to describe or acknowledge.
2. You’re outraged by how other people are handling things.
It’s normal to have opinions about how people “should” handle all the things when there’s a public health crisis. We don’t have a play book for how to handle this. But when we express strong opinions, especially now, it’s typically coming from a place of fear. Fear of the virus spreading, fear of financial loss, fear of economic downturn, fear of being separated from and/or losing who and what we love, and ultimately…fear of the unknown. Fear and anxiety go hand in hand. So if you are experiencing any fear manifesting as outrage, that’s a sign of anxiety.
3. You OBSESS about the news.
At the onset of any major traumatic event, it’s normal to watch the news…a lot. However, if you continue to watch it obsessively (more than a couple broadcasts a day), ask yourself what you’re really getting out it. Are you feeling more settled or more unsettled after watching the news? More at ease or more stressed? Getting information is absolutely a positive thing, but too much information can harmful.
4. You AVOID the news.
While not watching a lot of news can be healthy, not wanting to watch it at all can be a sign you are on overload. People who are stressed to the max cannot handle ONE MORE THING. They shut down. There’s nothing wrong with this response as it is a normal response to trauma. Avoiding the news to take a break is one thing. But avoiding it all together can be a sign of anxiety.
If you are noticing that your anxiety is front and center, either based on typical signs or any of the ones listed above, you may consider getting the support of a trained mental health professional. I provide therapy to women throughout Arizona and offer phone consultations to see if I’m a good fit to help you. Click the BOOK FREE CONSULT button to schedule your consult.
