Anxiety disorder is a mental illness that affects the lives of millions of people worldwide. Although anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, anxiety disorder can cause overwhelming feelings of fear, worry, and panic that interfere with everyday life.

Here are the top ten signs of anxiety disorder:.

1. Excessive Worrying

Excessive worrying is a common sign of anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorder often worry about everyday things such as taking public transport, going to work, or meeting new people.

This worrying can be intrusive, persistent, and difficult to control.

2. Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort that can occur without warning. During a panic attack, a person may feel like they are having a heart attack, fainting, or losing control of their body.

Panic attacks can be debilitating and lead to avoidance of situations that trigger them.

3. Physical Symptoms

Anxiety disorder can cause physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can be distressing and make a person feel like they are having a medical emergency.

4. Avoidance Behaviors

People with anxiety disorder may avoid situations that trigger their anxiety. This can include social situations, public speaking, and travel. Avoidance behaviors can cause a person to miss out on important opportunities and limit their quality of life.

5. Difficulty Sleeping

Anxiety disorder can cause difficulty falling and staying asleep. Insomnia can exacerbate anxiety symptoms and lead to fatigue, irritability, and poor concentration.

6. Intense Self-Consciousness

Anxiety disorder can cause intense self-consciousness and self-doubt. People with anxiety disorder may be overly critical of themselves and have a low self-esteem.

7. Irrational Fears

Anxiety disorder can cause irrational fears that are out of proportion to the actual danger of a situation. Examples of irrational fears include a fear of flying, a fear of leaving the house, and a fear of spiders.

8. Muscle Tension

The physical symptoms of anxiety disorder can cause muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and jaw. This muscle tension can cause headaches, dizziness, and jaw pain.

9. Rigidity

Anxiety disorder can cause rigid thinking and behavior. People with anxiety disorder may have a difficult time adapting to changes in their environment and may prefer predictable routines.

10. Difficulty Concentrating

Anxiety disorder can interfere with concentration and make it difficult to focus on tasks. This can lead to poor performance at work or school and affect a person’s ability to complete daily activities.