AM I FEELING ANXIOUS OR IS THIS ANXIETY DISORDER?

You can feel your heart pounding out of your chest, your forehead is damp with sweat, you have multiple thoughts racing. Whether you are going to give your presentation, walk into a party or say “I do” at your wedding these could be just because you are feeling anxious.  

All of us feel apprehensive before a stressful situation is about to happen- now this could even be a good situation and not necessarily a bad one. Some amount of anxiety is helpful and is necessary. It motivates you to prepare better for the stressful situation - your inherent survival mechanism. And when your autonomic nervous system is preparing you for the situation, you tend to observe the bodily reactions, I.e., sweating, racing heartbeat, etc.  

Now when do we say it is anxiety disorder?  

People who have an anxiety disorder tend to have intense feelings of worry regardless of the situation. They find it difficult to cope with everyday issues that most people can deal with. When your level of apprehension and your physical response to the same are in proportion, you are probably dealing with anxious feelings rather than an anxiety disorder. But, if your thoughts are rampant, your worry is outsized, you seem to look at the situation as a “threat”, you find yourself nauseating, you might be having an anxiety disorder. People who have anxiety disorder have a disconnect in the estimation of danger.  

The important thing to know is anxiety is often treatable. It is difficult sometimes to understand where you stand given the situation is stressful. Regardless of the fact that you are feeling anxious or you have anxiety disorder, speaking to a counselor would help you.