It is only natural to be worried about things from time to time. However, you should not be in this condition constantly. If you’re always worried, then you might have stepped over the line from frequent worrier to someone with diagnosable anxiety.
You can take an anxiety test, San Diego residents, if you live there and feel like you are approaching this condition. However, before you take such a test, you should know what the medical profession says about worry, anxiety, and the differences between them. We will talk about those right now.
What is Worry?
If you are concerned about something that is realistic and possible, that is usually considered to be the definition of worried. For instance, if you’re walking by a dog you don’t know, and it starts growling at you, it’s perfectly natural to be worried that it might bite you. You are simply having a reaction to a stimulus.
You might also be worried about something that is in the future. For instance, maybe you know you have to pay income taxes soon, and you don’t think you will have enough money to do that. If so, you would qualify as being worried about something. It’s just not something that is right in front of you, threatening you.
What About Anxiety?
As for anxiety, that is usually thought of as being worry that continues for an extended period of time. Also, if you’re worried about something, you can usually pinpoint what it is that’s causing your concern. If you are anxious, you may be in that condition without knowing exactly what it is that’s bothering you.
You may be experiencing some form of existential dread. This is being worried about something you can’t control or worrying about a general idea or concept. It might not necessarily be anything that you can easily articulate, though.
How Can You Tell the Difference Between Them?
Most doctors or therapists will say that you have anxiety if you are constantly worried. If you are only infrequently worried, then it is not as likely that you have clinically diagnosable anxiety disorder.
If you have a baseline of dread, then it’s probable you have anxiety, and if you see a doctor or therapist, they will likely tell you the same thing. You can take tests online to try and figure out if you have clinically diagnosable anxiety, but you will not be able to know for certain until you see a professional and get their opinion.
It can be very hard to live with anxiety. If you are worried about one thing or another all the time, that can have an adverse effect on both your mental and physical health. That’s why it is not unusual for someone with anxiety to develop nervous tics, to not be able to sleep very well, or to have trouble eating regular meals.
If you suspect that you might have anxiety, it is in your best interest to talk to a professional about it immediately.
