Sometimes worry can be helpful. If you have an important deadline coming up, it can be adaptive for your brain to send you reminders about it. However, there are times when worry becomes more harmful than helpful. Here are some signs that you might need help with anxiety:
Rumination: If you’re having the same thought repeatedly and not reaching a solution, your mind is working overtime. Rumination is a sign that your worry is not helpful.
Paralysis: Sometimes, worry can be so overwhelming that it interferes with the ability to start or complete a task. Perfectionistic standards are often barriers to task completion because they’re impossible to reach.
Poor sleep and concentration: If you’re tossing and turning or noticing yourself blanking out when reading or talking with friends, that’s a sign that your anxiety is starting to interfere with your life.
If you notice these signs for yourself, it might be time to talk with a therapist to find ways to manage your anxiety.
Bethany Kriegel, LMHC, earned her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Boston College. She has experience working with adults in residential treatment settings, helping those struggling with eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder, among other issues.
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