12 Things Only Anxious People Understand

Do you consider yourself an anxious person? If so, it is very likely that you are going through situations that other people don’t seem to understand very well. “Try not to think about it” and “have a cup of tea” are common advice but, in practice, do little to help anxiety go away.

In everyday life, we call anxiety the feelings attributed to something that is going to happen, to social relationships and even to a specific way of acting. However, when these feelings are harmful and very constant, it is a sign that the person may suffer from anxiety – an emotional disorder.

“The anxiety that causes some disorder is the one that you suffer in advance, these are committed by the various problems experienced. Lack of a job, money, friends, a relationship that didn’t work out, worries, tensions, going through a continuous feeling that nothing will work out, excessive worries, lack of emotional control, among others. All negative experiences are defined on this scale and can result in anxiety disorder”, explains psychologist Letícia Guedes, from Vivencialle clinic.

Those who suffer from anxiety may have emotional symptoms that manifest themselves frequently, are influenced by everyday events and directly interfere with life, making common activities difficult or leaving psychological consequences.

“The person who is suffering from anxiety may be experiencing various disorders, such as distress, anguish, uncertainty, fear, among others that are diseases related to the functioning of the body and life experiences. The busy life, lack of time for leisure, family, friends and the various assignments related to lack of money and marital problems also help to worsen these disorders”, points out the psychologist.

Leticia recommends seeking psychological help for anyone who suffers from anxiety. “It is necessary to understand the disorders and especially how it acts. An early and accurate diagnosis of anxiety, combined with a long-term treatment are essential for better results and less damage”, she says.

In addition, the specialist says that changing habits and the help of friends and family are also indispensable allies in the fight against the disorder. Therefore, do not hesitate to seek help, whether it is a professional or those close to you.

12 Things Only Anxious People Understand

Anyone who experiences normal, everyday feelings of anxiety knows that some actions and situations are typical of someone who is anxious. Check out some of these occasions!

1. Analyze everything from all angles

Everything seems to have a secret meaning, and you need to find out what it is. This makes every thing that happens, no matter how small its effect on your life, be carefully analyzed in every possible way.

This causes endless lists of pros and cons to automatically form in your head at various times, or for you to mentally replay a conversation you had with someone else and try to figure out if you missed something. It’s the famous overthinking, which insists on not abandoning you.

2. Question every decision

It doesn’t matter if it was the choice of profession or the order at the restaurant: the anxious person will think and rethink every aspect of the decision and wonder what could have happened if they had made a different choice. Even analyzing the options carefully before choosing. And time doesn’t matter, the inconvenience caused by making a decision can persist for years.

3. Not being able to turn off

Anxiety causes your brain to be constantly active and it can be quite difficult to disconnect from it and let go of incessant thoughts and worries. This makes it so that, in your head, there is always a parallel universe where a lot of things are happening and it can be difficult to focus on other activities. The impossibility of “stop thinking” can also generate the dreaded sleepless nights.

4. Every commitment generates concern

Routine appointments with your doctor, appointment at the salon, job interview, a friend’s birthday party – regardless of the type of activity scheduled, worry arises and doubts start to appear in your head. Will everything go well with the exam? What if I don’t like the new haircut? Do I have a chance at this job vacancy? Am I going to have fun at this party?

This is the most present point in the life of those who are anxious: the feeling of wanting an event to arrive soon, the curiosity about how things will be, the desire to think and rethink each preparation.

5. Losing patience on long trips

It’s very natural to get excited about a trip and want to get there right away or, in the end, come home soon. But for the anxious, the path can be a great torture. The roads seem too long, the impression is that the plane will never land and the waits at bus stations and airports are endless! Not to mention all the preparations and the days before the trip, also marked by anxiety.

6. Hate unforeseen events

While any event scheduled in advance can make the anxious person agitated thinking about the possibilities until the date arrives, an unforeseen event is also not something easily faced. That’s because, when things come at the last minute and take us by surprise, it’s more natural to be nervous about events.

All the anxiety that would have been present in several previous days appears at once, and the anxious brain can still take advantage of the moment to remember decisions in the future, generating questions and analysis about how the person dealt with the unforeseen.

7. Always want immediate answers

Anxious people hate waiting of any kind, so the desire for immediate answers is frequent. After all, the faster you know the answer to something, the less you need to think about it, right? E-mails that take a long time to be answered, contest results and guests who don’t confirm their presence at the party are some of the enemies of an anxious person.

8. It’s hard to enjoy the moment

The past and the future are constantly trying to take your concentration away from the present. Everyone in your class was still playing house and you were already worrying about the course you would take in college, with the entrance exam, with the difficulties of getting your first job.

The anxious person is always thinking about what is yet to come or thinking about situations that have already happened, and this causes distraction from what is happening at the moment.

9. Relationships are more complicated

Anxiety can sometimes make it difficult for you to get along with other people—and not just romantic relationships, but friendships or work relationships as well. Feeling uncomfortable in social interactions, especially with people you don’t know, can be a reason. In addition, there is a chance that too much analysis and mental rehearsal of conversations end up being obstacles when it comes to interaction.

But, this is not a rule! Anxious people can be very good at socializing, dating, or casual conversations with strangers, although they tend to worry more.

10. Thinking that everyone is looking at you

By having this characteristic of worry and overthinking, the anxious person can walk into a room full of distracted people and still have the feeling that everyone is looking at him. And this has nothing to do with wanting to be the center of attention, but rather with questioning the reaction of others towards him.

11. Enjoy making lists

Want a better way to make sure you don’t forget anything? An anxious person makes a shopping list, a list of things they need to do in a day, a list of preparations for a party or trip, a list of Christmas gifts. In addition to helping each item to be thought and rethought, lists help to pass the waiting time.

12. Changes make you alert

Major life changes cause anxiety to flare up. It could be a change of city, a job, a marriage, a pregnancy. Anything that changes the routine is the trigger to make the anxious alert, curious, worried, full of thoughts.

If your anxiety is greater than what is considered common or is starting to interfere too much and in a negative way in your life, it is worth emphasizing the need to seek help and support, both from close people and from a professional.

“Those who suffer from anxiety do not always realize that they have the disorder, people around them can help initially, informing the person about the problem; therefore, assistance with a specialist is also necessary. Anxiety can lead to other disorders, directly affecting the individual’s mental and body health”, concludes Letícia Guedes.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.