How Much Anxiety Is Normal and When Is It Time to Seek Help?

Perhaps you’ve been dealing with a lingering sense of anxiety that you just can’t kick. Even when you try to calm down, nothing seems to reduce the feeling. But you still don’t know if you should seek therapy.

You question whether your anxiety is really severe enough. Maybe you’ve even told yourself that you should just get over it on your own. You might feel like your problems aren’t bad enough to justify therapy.

However, if your anxiety is holding you back in life, it’s time to think about seeing a therapist. Here are a few signs you may need support from a therapist to heal your anxiety.

Anxiety Gets in the Way of Daily Life

Do you wake up feeling anxious about work, school, or your other typical obligations? Maybe you even struggle to get your anxiety under control for activities that you used to get excited about.

Some days, the thought of simply staying home and avoiding your office or your classes becomes tempting. And maybe you have been skipping some duties because you just can’t calm yourself down.

If anxiety is inhibiting you from going about your daily life, a therapist can help you.

Your Anxiety is Persistent

Everyone gets a little anxious sometimes. That’s perfectly normal. You might get anxious before going on a long trip, meeting with your boss, going out on a date with someone you just met, or speaking in front of a large group of people.

But what if your whole life has started to feel like one long anxiety episode? You don’t want to feel this way every day, and working with a therapist can finally help you find relief.

Your Anxiety Doesn’t Respond to Stress Management

When you get anxious, you attempt to reduce your stress. You take slow, deep breaths, and you might even meditate. Perhaps you even have an affirmation that you turn to when you feel your heart beat faster.

But lately, you’ve found that nothing seems to lessen your anxiety. No matter what you do, your symptoms just don’t go away. A therapist can help you develop more effective coping mechanisms while addressing the roots of your anxiety, not just the symptoms.

Anxiety Interferes with Your Relationships

Maybe you used to be quite social. But ever since your anxiety has ramped up, you find it hard to keep in touch with anyone. Sometimes you want to open up to your friends about your mental health, but even the thought of picking up the phone makes your anxiety skyrocket.

When people invite you out, part of you wants to say yes. But most of the time, you end up either declining or simply canceling your plans last minute. When your anxiety is so severe that it interferes with your most valued relationships, you will need the help of a therapist to overcome it.

You’re Suffering from Physical Symptoms

Most nights, you have trouble sleeping. Your anxiety leaves you tossing and turning. Perhaps you wake up with a headache, and you go through the rest of your day feeling sluggish and irritated.

Maybe you feel like your appetite has changed, too. Sometimes, you feel too anxious to eat, and at other times, you indulge in comfort foods to calm down. Because of this, you deal with frequent stomachaches, and you never feel like you have enough energy.

A therapist can help you find freedom from these common physical symptoms of anxiety.

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Has your anxiety become more severe? Working with a therapist can help you heal. Reach out to me today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.

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