Lesser-Known Signs of Anxiety
Do you suspect your child has an anxiety disorder? Feelings of nervousness, panic, or dread, coupled with a high heart rate, may be signs of an anxiety disorder.
But these are not the only possible symptoms. Let’s take a look at some lesser-known, but equally as important, signs of anxiety.
Difficulty Concentrating
While difficulty concentrating does not necessarily signify an anxiety disorder, it can be a subtle symptom parents miss.
Adolescents and young adults may notice this symptom in different ways and at different times. Anxiety can turn their thoughts away from what they are doing and become overwhelmed with concern, worry, instead of what they want to concentrate on, such as schoolwork. Signs of difficulty concentrating due to anxiety may include:
Problems at school.
They may not be able to pay attention during a lecture. Do they struggle to complete assignments, read for long periods, or write a paper? Anxiety can make it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork. This can lead to missed and failed assignments.
Problems in their social life.
Lack of concentration does not only affect their school and social life; it can also impact their personal relationships. They may not be able to focus on a loved one, or they may drift off during extra-curriculars, or they may lack the ability to concentrate during conversations.
Anxiety is not the only possible cause of concentration problems. If teens or young adults do not have further symptoms of an anxiety disorder, they may need to explore other medical options, such as depression or a physical disorder.
Sleep Problems
Does your child lie awake at night worrying about their day, have trouble falling asleep, or wake up often?
Like lack of concentration, sleep problems can have several possible medical or mental health causes – including anxiety. Before you treat sleep disruptions or insomnia, consult a medical provider and mental health professional.
The Need to Control Everything
Adolescents and young adults with anxiety or panic disorders may feel out of control. This feeling can lead them to overcompensate in other areas.
Anxiety can also create a seemingly endless loop of obsessive thoughts. This can add to the need for excessive control. Anxiety may increase the need to control:
The people around them.
This could include family, friends, or romantic partners. They could get stuck in a cycle of micromanaging everyday tasks or obsessing over other people’s actions to ease some of their own anxiety.
Any trigger that makes them feel anxious.
Anxiety can also lead to over-planning and increased stress. Whether they feel anxious about an upcoming vacation, social event, or school exam, anxiety could push them into hyper-focusing and hyper-controlling each detail. Loss of control is an uncomfortable and scary feeling. If one can’t control their anxiety or thoughts, one may try to over-control other areas of their life. This can lead to additional mental health issue, such as an eating disorder.
By attempting to control everything and everyone around them, teens and young adults are trying to ease their anxiety. The control is a sign of stress, not the cause. and may temporarily ease some of their anxiety. Controlling behaviors can lead to other issues that one will also need to address. If you suspect your child may have an anxiety disorder, a therapist can help you learn more about anxiety and the right type of treatment.
Are you ready to get help for an anxiety disorder?
Contact the Anxiety Institute for more information.