Help The People You Love.

Signs of Anxiety To Look For

Trembling and heavy breathing- When faced with a stressor, the body can kick into fight or flight mode, causing shortness of breath and heavy breathing as the body is preparing for danger. This is an uncontrollable reaction that can be extremely draining on the body and worsen anxiety.
Excessive sweating- The body’s natural reaction to stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol is to sweat. Excess amounts can be signs that someone is anxious and on edge about something.
Nausea- Anxiety can be a very sickening feeling, and noticing that a loved one is visibly uncomfortable or appearing ill can help acknowledge that they may be feeling anxious.

Always expecting the worst- If your loved one is always talking about how they’re expecting a bad outcome from a situation, this is a warning sign that they could be struggling from intense anxiety that is holding them back from taking on new challenges.
Avoidance- Anxious people commonly seek to avoid the situation causing stress rather than approach it with an open mind. If someone is overly nervous or stressed about a new event that makes them not want to go, then take this as a sign they are very anxious.
Consistent worrying- The cycle of anxiety is hard to break and anxiousness is a powerful, persistent force. Even if what your loved one is worried about might seem small, consistent stress about everything shows that their anxiety is taking over.
Typical stressors among young women- Societal pressures, social media comparison, sexual/gender identity, physical insecurities (body, face, etc.), and school environment.
- If you notice that any of these topics are prevalent in your loved one’s life, keep an eye out for any of the other signs that they could be dealing with anxiety.

When asking someone about the anxiety they are feeling, come from a point of understanding. Neither of you know everything, but together you can work to help these feelings.
Rather than immediately giving out advice, ask what you could do to help first. Sometimes your loved one doesn’t need advice, but rather support or somebody they know is there from them.
Never try to invalidate feelings because you could never understand why they are anxious about a particular thing. Approaching the situation kindly goes a long way and helps the person you care about feel supported and helped, even if you don’t grasp why something “little” could be so upsetting.

Although mental health professionals like psychologists and psychiatrists aren’t always available to people, they are some of the most reliable resources because of their extensive training in anxiety disorders.
Doctors can provide therapy, professional help, and even medication is necessary which in many cases can be the best option for someone with more severe anxiety.
If you are noticing patterns of anxiety that are preventing your loved one from experiencing daily social life, achieving goals and desires they once had, or other aspects of living a healthy life, this is a sign that medical intervention might be the best route.