How To Cope With Anxiety- Part 3: Complications Caused By Anxiety

Last time, I wrote a rather technical note on the five most prevalent types of anxiety recognized in the psychological community.  This time, I want to focus on the complication and barriers faced by people who have any form of anxiety.  The truth of the matter is that when left untreated, anxiety disorders can ruin lives.  Moreover, anxiety has ramifications that stretch far beyond the physical symptoms.  Emotionally, it can make a person sad, weary, and nervous.  Mentally, it can cause you to think in circles, worry excessively, and make you question your sanity and your abilities.  

1.  Loss of Control

Often times, a person with anxiety will feel an utter lack of control of their lives, becoming servant to their worries and fears.  Furthermore, unwanted restlessness can be a direct result of anxiety.  

2. Sleep deprivation

Because insomnia is a common symptom of anxiety, individuals suffering from anxiety will feel extremely tired, but be unable to actually fall asleep.  Over Christmas break last year, I sat in bed until the wee hours of the morning, sometimes not falling asleep at all.

3. Difficulty Concentrating

The vast majority of jobs require attentiveness and ability to comprehend information.  If you cannot do these two basic cognitive tasks, your career might be in jeopardy.  The same applies to school.  Anxiety has caused A students to struggle academically because they simply cannot concentrate on the material.

4. Loss of friends and social life

Because anxiety has the potential to be so debilitating, it can turn an individual into someone who is difficult to be around.  For instance, when a person is suffering from anxiety, they are more likely to lose their cool and snap, which will in turn result in bad feelings and resentment.  

5. General Functional Difficulties

Many people with anxiety are able to carry on their daily jobs and participate in social events, but when the anxiety becomes severe enough, it can interfere with basic tasks at home, work, or school.  The constant worrying can have an effect on the normal thinking that an individual does.  Brain fog can also be a side effect of anxiety.  Brain fog can absolutely destroy a perfectly wonderful life, causing a horrible short term memory, disorientation, loss of mental acuity, and an inability to think clearly.

6. Gateway into more mental disorders

Severe anxiety can lead to or reinforce depression.  The relationship between anxiety and depression can be a viscous cycle.  The anxiety can create depression.  The depression can create anxiety and so on and so forth.  

7. Questioning Yourself and Your Abilities

When you are anxious, you might feel like you don't have any control over yourself or the world.  Listening to that negative voice of self-judgement in your head can lead to low self-esteem and a feeling or worthlessness.