Everybody in the world experiences anxiety. That’s just how life is. People worry about all kinds of things – their jobs, their health, money, or their families. That’s part of being alive. But sometimes, people find themselves worrying too much. They worry about things that they shouldn’t, or worry too much over normal things. These people often start to wonder, what is wrong with me? If you’re one of them, it may be time to get tested for an anxiety disorder.
Look For Symptoms
So you’re starting to suspect something’s wrong with you. Now it’s time to test for what anxiety disorder you may have. A doctor will ask you very specific questions. They’ll ask if you only feel anxious in certain situations. They’ll ask if you feel anxious all the time. (If you are, you may have generalized anxiety disorder.) They’ll ask if you’re afraid of certain places. (You may have agoraphobia). They’ll also ask if you suffer physical symptoms when you’re anxious. Doctors are testing for any anxiety symptoms that are specific and will help determine if you suffer from a severe anxiety disorder.
Doctors will also ask you about other things as well. They will ask for your family history – does anyone in your family suffer from an anxiety disorder? If so, which one? Do you have any preexisting medical conditions that could be causing the anxiety? Are you taking any medications? They’ll also look at your habits and lifestyle. Do you do drugs? Do you ingest a lot of caffeine or nicotine? All of these things can exacerbate – or even cause – an anxiety disorder. Once the physical symptoms are diagnosed, you will also have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, to make sure that nothing else can be causing your anxiety disorder. Make sure you go into deep detail, to help doctors determine that disorder you may have.
If you want to test for anxiety disorders at home before you approach a doctor, look for these symptoms: sweating or headaches; muscle spasms or muscle tension; heart palpitations, or even dizziness and light headedness. You may also have developed odd habits, like avoiding certain situations or obsessively cleaning your house. Remember though that it’s always best to see a doctor and have him test you for anxiety disorders.
Don’t Be Afraid
Having a doctor test you for anxiety disorders is simple and truly life-changing. Can you imagine being able to get into that car without sweating? Heading to that party without shaking? Getting tested for an anxiety disorder will open up all those doors that suddenly slammed closed when your symptoms started – and your life will improve in ways you can’t imagine.
About Jennifer Johnson
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