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Home >>Anxiety >>Signs and Symptoms
Anxiety
Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of anxiety disorders may sometimes be ignored, as they often develop gradually over time. Given that we all experience some anxiety, it can sometimes be hard to know how much is too much.

Below are some simple checklists for common types of anxiety disorders. They are quick and easy and are designed to help you reflect on your situation or that of someone close to you. They will not provide a diagnosis - for that you need to see a doctor. However, they will tell you if you have symptoms in common with people who have an anxiety disorder.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

For SIX MONTHS or more on more days than not, have you
felt very worried
found it hard to stop worrying
found that your anxiety made it difficult for you to do everyday activities (e.g. work, study, seeing friends and family)?

If you answered 'YES' to ALL of these questions have you also experienced THREE or more of the following:
felt restless or on edge
felt easily tired
had difficulty concentrating
felt irritable
had muscle pain (e.g. sore jaw or back)
had trouble sleeping (e.g. difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless sleep)?

If you answered 'YES' it is important to see a doctor

Panic Disorder

Within a 10 MINUTE PERIOD have you felt FOUR OR MORE of the following:
sweaty
shaky
increased heart rate
short of breath
choked
nauseous or pain in the stomach
dizzy, lightheaded or faint
numb or tingly
derealisation (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (feeling detached from yourself or your surroundings)
hot or cold flushes
scared of going crazy
scared of dying?

If you answered 'YES' to ALL of these questions, have you also:
felt scared, for ONE MONTH OR MORE, of experiencing these feelings again?

If you answered 'YES' it is important to see a doctor.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Have you:
experienced or seen something that involved death, injury, torture or abuse and felt very scared or helpless
had upsetting memories or dreams of the event for at least ONE month
found it hard to go about your daily life (e.g. made it difficult for you to work/study or get along with family and friends)?

If you answered 'YES' to ALL of these questions, have you also experienced at least THREE of the following:
avoided activities that remind you of the event
had trouble remembering parts of the event
felt less interested in doing things you used to enjoy
had trouble feeling intensely positive emotions (e.g. love or excitement)
thought less about the future (e.g. about career or family goals)?

AND have you experienced at least TWO of the following:
had difficulties sleeping (e.g. had bad dreams, or found it hard to fall or stay asleep)
felt easily angry or irritated
had trouble concentrating 
felt on guard
been easily startled?

If you answered 'YES', it is important to see a doctor.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Have you:
had repetitive thoughts or concerns that are not simply about real life problems (e.g. thoughts that you or people close to you will be harmed)
Done the same activity repeatedly and in a very ordered, precise and similar way each time e.g.:
constantly washing your hands or clothes, showering or brushing your teeth
constantly cleaning, tidying or rearranging in a particular way things at home, at work or in the car 
constantly checking that doors and windows are locked and/or appliances are turned off
felt relieved in the short term by doing these things, but soon felt the need to repeat them
recognised that these feelings, thoughts and behaviours were unreasonable
found that these thoughts or behaviours take up more than 1 hour a day and/or interfered with your normal routine (e.g. working, studying or seeing friends and family)?

If you answered 'YES' it is important to see a doctor.

Phobia

Have you felt very nervous when faced with a specific object or situation e.g.: 
flying on an aeroplane
going near an animal
receiving an injection
going to a social event?
Have you avoided a situation that might cause you to face the phobia e.g.:
needed to change work patterns
not attending social events
not getting health check-ups
found it hard to go about your daily life (e.g. working, studying or seeing friends and family) because you are trying to avoid such situations?

If you answered 'YES' it is important to see a doctor.

Some people who have symptoms of anxiety disorder can also experience symptoms of other disorders too. For more information on other mental health problems see beyondblue depression checklists, signs and symptoms of postnatal depression and signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder.
If the symptoms of anxiety are left untreated, they can start to take over the person's life. Not only can it affect the person with the disorder, but it can also start to affect relationships with family and friends. For example, untreated anxiety disorders can lead to:

  • marriage problems 
  • family problems
  • financial problems
  • difficulty finding and holding down a job
  • drug and alcohol abuse
  • a person losing their temper too easily
  • suicide.

To read about the personal experiences of people with anxiety disorders and their families' and friends' experiences visit the personal experiences section of this website.

To read about research on the impact of anxiety disorders on family and friends click here .


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Last updated Monday, 23 February 2009Print this pageEmail this page343,916 page views from 07 May 2007 to 09 Feb 2010
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