1. Excessive Worry: Experiencing excessive worry about things such as work, relationships, health, or future events. The worry is difficult to control and may interfere with daily activities.

2. Restlessness or Irritability: Feeling restless, on edge, or irritable.

3. Physical Symptoms: Sometimes anxiety can present in physical symptoms such as muscle tension, trembling, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or shortness of breath.

4. Difficulty Concentrating: Including difficulty with memory, decision making, and racing thoughts.

5. Sleep Disturbances: Such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or not feeling rested.

6. Avoidance: Such as avoiding certain situations, places, or activities that trigger feelings of fear or discomfort.

7. Anxiety and/or Panic Attacks: Sometimes anxiety can lead to episodes of fear or panic, accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest pain, sweating, trembling, or feelings of impending doom.

1. Persistent Symptoms: If your symptoms last for several weeks or longer, and/or begin to disrupt your daily functioning

2. Self Isolation: Withdrawing from social activities, hobbies, or interests you once enjoyed is a common symptom of anxiety.

3. Impact on Relationships: Anxiety can strain relationships with family, friends, or colleagues, causing conflict, or leading to social withdrawal or isolation.

4. Harmful Coping Mechanisms: Using coping mechanisms such as substance abuse, self-harm, or disordered eating to alleviate symptoms of anxiety indicates the need for professional support.

5. Decline in Functioning: A noticeable decline in academic, occupational, or social functioning may indicate the need for therapy.

1. Difficult Thoughts and Emotions: Anxiety can exacerbate negative self-image, low self-esteem, and feelings of worthlessness. There may also be increased feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety related to food, body image, and weight.

2. Increased Isolation and Withdrawal: Anxiety can contribute to social withdrawal, isolation, and avoidance of social situations, further perpetuating feelings of loneliness and disconnection.

3. Cognitive Distortions: Anxiety can distort perception, leading individuals to perceive themselves, their bodies, and their behaviors in exaggerated or distorted ways. This can fuel disordered eating patterns and exacerbate feelings of inadequacy or self-criticism.

4. Coping Mechanisms: Individuals may use disordered eating behaviors as maladaptive coping mechanisms to manage overwhelming emotions, alleviate distress, or regain a sense of control in the face of anxiety.

5. Physical Health Complications: The combination of eating disorders with anxiety can increase the risk of physical health complications, such as nutritional deficiencies, electrolyte imbalances, cardiovascular problems, and gastrointestinal issues.

While obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is classified as an anxiety disorder, anxiety and OCD have distinct differences.

Anxiety is broad and includes more general worries. And, while symptoms may include repetitive thoughts and focus on possible negative outcomes, these thoughts are distinctly different from obsessions.

OCD involves obsessions , which are persistent and repetitive thoughts or doubts typically centered on specific topics, and compulsions, repetitive physical or mental acts aimed at reducing the discomfort created by the obsession.

While anxiety and OCD can co-occur, it’s important to identify the root of the issue in order to receive the appropriate treatment and support.