Understanding Cues for Anxiety or Panic Attacks
Anxiety attacks can catch you off guard at the most inopportune moments. You might become overcome with anxiety when you’re at a party with a friend, while you’re presenting a report at work, or while driving. In the past, activities like these might not have made you feel particularly anxious. But lately, any mildly stressful situation can send you spiraling, even if you know that you’re perfectly safe. If you’re tired of dealing with anxiety attacks, it’s worth investigating the potential root causes. Certain risk factors can make you more susceptible to anxiety attacks. Here are a few common causes of anxiety attacks that might be interfering with your quality of life.
Exhaustion
Have you been physically and mentally exhausted lately? If you’re not getting enough sleep, or you’re tossing and turning for hours and getting poor-quality sleep, you’re probably exhausted on a daily basis. Perhaps you’ve been working long hours and taking care of a long list of chores at home every evening, leaving you with very little time to relax. If you’ve been staying up late to tackle your to-do list, your mind is probably still racing when your head hits the pillow. A lack of sleep is a major risk factor for anxiety attacks. When you’re tired, your stress levels will naturally be higher. You’ll find it harder to stay calm while dealing with minor inconveniences. Small problems can easily spiral into bigger issues. Caring for your physical health, and prioritizing a consistent sleep schedule, is crucial when it comes to preventing anxiety attacks.
Stress and Burnout
Do you feel like your job is pushing you to the limit? Maybe you’re trying to complete a degree program while working part-time or full-time, or you’re simply putting in long hours at the office. Additionally, you might be juggling family responsibilities. When you clock out, you have to mentally prepare for your “second shift” at home. At any given moment, you’re thinking about the next ten things that you have to do. And when someone adds yet another task to your plate, you feel like you’re about to crumble under the weight of all that pressure. Sometimes, the anxiety becomes so intense that you snap at the people around you. Although you regret it later, you don’t know how you could have held back in the moment. You feel like no matter what you’re doing, someone always needs you. Because you’re trying to do so much, you worry that you’re doing everything poorly.
Social Anxiety
Lots of people experience anxiety attacks while socializing. Whether you are meeting someone new and hanging out one-on-one, or you’re going to a party and introducing yourself to a lot of people you’ve never met, it can be tough to keep your anxiety under wraps in these situations. If you feel overwhelmed in a social situation, an anxiety attack could follow. You might feel like you need to duck out of the room in order to calm down, or even leave the event.
Life Transitions
Finally, major life transitions can also be a catalyst for anxiety attacks. You may have recently moved, and now, you’re struggling with anxiety as you try to adjust to a new place. Maybe you started a new job. As you get used to your new responsibilities, you’re worried about whether or not you will really be able to handle the workload. Any life transition can be anxiety-inducing, especially if you’ve just made a big change.
Are you struggling with anxiety attacks? Working with a therapist at Newark Behavioral Health can help. Reach out to us to discuss your options for scheduling your first session. If you are ready to make an appointment, please call us at 302-319-5161. Or request an appointment by clicking the button below.