DHAKA: Anxiety is a natural state of mental health wherein a person starts worrying and frequently becomes anxious about too many things. But when the frequency of worry and tension increases and lasts for a longer period of time, it has definitely taken a step further towards the generalized anxiety disorder, where you start worrying and fearing without any major reason to worry. Identify the symptoms before it’s too late, reports thehealthsite.com.

1. Restlessness: Anxiety usually stems from stress and the first thing that happens to someone who’s stressed is a feeling of restlessness. If you have had a few sleepless nights because of a personal issue that’s bothering you, you could be stressed. But if your sleep gets affected with every situation in your life, you have anxiety.

2. Irritability: Because of lack of proper sleep and constant worry, irritability or frustration throughout the day is natural. But if you can’t focus at all on anything else and keep thinking about your worries, then it’s a symptom of an anxiety disorder.

3. Increased heart rate: Usually, under stressful situations the heart may start pounding at a faster rate than normal. But in people with anxiety disorders, the palpitations are noticeably strong and irregular

4. Feeling of breathlessness: Shortness of breath or a feeling of breathlessness is coupled with increased heart rate.

5. Stiffness in the muscles: With so many changes occurring in the body, several hormones are released to combat the situation. These released hormones have an effect on every part of the body including the muscles. The muscles may become stiff and cause pricking pain.

6. Changes in bowel movement: Sometimes, anxiety can even affect the digestive health and cause diarrhea, grumbling feeling in the stomach and stomach pain.

7. Dizziness: Panic and fear can even cause nausea and dizziness.

Stress and anxiety affects every person in a different way. So, you may not have all the symptoms listed above. But in general, if you find that some issue has been bothering you, it’s better to seek help from a counselor.

BDST: 2204 HRS, JAN 08, 2015