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Mental Health HomepageConditions LibraryConditions CategoryConditions CategoryAre You Hiding Anxiety Behind These Behaviors?
Table of Contents:OverviewToo Much AlcoholEndless CriticismIncreased CodependencyCup After Cup of CoffeeOverdramatic OutburstsAngerNeed Help Controlling Your Anxiety?
Anxiety DisorderRead Time: 5 Minutes
Published On: May 25, 2018
Updated On: November 3, 2023
OverviewAnxiety can be a nebulous emotion. Sometimes it’s obvious you’re worrying — even Doctor Obvious could diagnose you if you’re spending four sleepless hours each night fretting over your big move. But sufferers of generalized anxiety might not be able to identify obvious triggers or realize some of their worst habits stem from the stress. You may recognize your odd, changing behavior, but you can’t identify why — and the uncertainty only createsmorestress.Here are six behaviors that signal that your anxiety needs more attention, or even the help of a professional therapist.
Overview
Anxiety can be a nebulous emotion. Sometimes it’s obvious you’re worrying — even Doctor Obvious could diagnose you if you’re spending four sleepless hours each night fretting over your big move. But sufferers of generalized anxiety might not be able to identify obvious triggers or realize some of their worst habits stem from the stress. You may recognize your odd, changing behavior, but you can’t identify why — and the uncertainty only createsmorestress.
Here are six behaviors that signal that your anxiety needs more attention, or even the help of a professional therapist.
Too Much Alcohol
Anxiety and alcohol abuse often come hand in hand: research suggests that20 percentof those affected with social anxiety disorder abuse alcohol. The correlation makes sense when you consider that social anxietylowers 4% for every drink. People suffering from anxiety disorders often feel alcohol lowers their inhibitions and decreases their stress. So, bottoms up — right?
Endless Criticism
To understand this, think about how an anxious person’s brain operates. Excessive worrying can literallychange the way you experience reality. Everything is frightening. Everything is more difficult. And everything you’re doing iswrong. This overdose of scary emotions transform into criticism. The mind posits, “Well, if things weredifferent, we wouldn’t have to worry so much.”
Soon, these thoughts manifest externally. For many anxiety sufferers, self-criticism provides a balm to the thoughts whirling inside their head: beating themselves up for their perceived (but not actual!) flaws helps temper their scary emotions in the moment. And becoming hypercritical of your surroundings — and your friends and family — provides an illusion of control.
But ultimately, hypercriticism will only prove to further your anxiety. People don’t typically like to be criticized, so they may distance themselves. Looking at the world through narrowed eyes makes it a more stressful place to live.
Increased Codependency
Do you love your best friends — or do youneedyour best friends? A strong support system is a must for people suffering from anxiety. But if you notice yourself clinging to your pals or partner, consider taking a step back: your behaviors might be stemming from stress.
Not only could codependent behavior ruin your most precious relationships, it also feeds your anxiety. Working through your troubles with aqualified therapistcan help you decrease your stress and save your friendships.
Cup After Cup of CoffeeWhile anxious people may not chug coffee to fend off a worried mind the same way they do booze, too much caffeine consumption may increase your symptoms. Caffeine-induced anxiety is aclinically diagnosable condition, and a cup of joe cancause stress reactionsin your cardiovascular and neuroendocrine systems.But some anxious peopledouse coffee to cover up their stress: the sleep deprived. There’s nothing wrong with chugging down some caffeine to wake up in the morning, but if you’re drinking too much too often, consider why. If worries keep you tossing and turning all night, powering through the day on caffeine alone can mask your weary eyes. Desperately need that warm brew every morning? It might be time to start working through the root cause of your insomnia with an in-person oronline therapistso you can skip the multiple a.m. shots of caffeine.
Cup After Cup of Coffee
While anxious people may not chug coffee to fend off a worried mind the same way they do booze, too much caffeine consumption may increase your symptoms. Caffeine-induced anxiety is aclinically diagnosable condition, and a cup of joe cancause stress reactionsin your cardiovascular and neuroendocrine systems.
But some anxious peopledouse coffee to cover up their stress: the sleep deprived. There’s nothing wrong with chugging down some caffeine to wake up in the morning, but if you’re drinking too much too often, consider why. If worries keep you tossing and turning all night, powering through the day on caffeine alone can mask your weary eyes. Desperately need that warm brew every morning? It might be time to start working through the root cause of your insomnia with an in-person oronline therapistso you can skip the multiple a.m. shots of caffeine.
Overdramatic OutburstsLet’s be clear: just because anxiety can manifest as “overdramatic” blow-upsdoesn’t mean you’re actuallybeingdramatic. Your “over-the-top” responses may feel entirely rational — to you. But if multiple people have claimed your reactions are disproportionate to the problem, consider that there might be an underlying issue.Anxiety can cause a brimming worry that manifests in your body, kicks your brain into overdrive, and makes every minor issue feel like a really,reallybig deal. Losing the keys to your car feels like the end of the world. A few minutes late for dinner reservations can be a tragedy. And you react according to that heightened state.As reasonable as your responses may feel, if you find you’re regularly exploding with stress over tiny little things, look to your anxiety as a root cause. Your mental health is manageable — and when you address it, you may find that life is more manageable too.
Overdramatic Outbursts
Let’s be clear: just because anxiety can manifest as “overdramatic” blow-upsdoesn’t mean you’re actuallybeingdramatic. Your “over-the-top” responses may feel entirely rational — to you. But if multiple people have claimed your reactions are disproportionate to the problem, consider that there might be an underlying issue.
Anxiety can cause a brimming worry that manifests in your body, kicks your brain into overdrive, and makes every minor issue feel like a really,reallybig deal. Losing the keys to your car feels like the end of the world. A few minutes late for dinner reservations can be a tragedy. And you react according to that heightened state.
As reasonable as your responses may feel, if you find you’re regularly exploding with stress over tiny little things, look to your anxiety as a root cause. Your mental health is manageable — and when you address it, you may find that life is more manageable too.
AngerSometimes, those anxiety-derived dramatic outbursts can take a concerning direction. Many sufferers of anxiety — butparticularly men— react to triggers with anger. After all, at its root, anxiety is fear. Fear is terrifying and can feel like a threat. Anger may be a natural response to a threat, but anxiety turns tiny things into big threats — making anger feel omnipresent. For many men, anger feels like a more acceptable emotion that stress and worry.If you’re lashing out at the smallest things, consider the source of your fury. There’s rarely good reason to be angry so frequently — and chances are excellent your outbursts obscure a raft of other concerns. Checking in with your emotions may uncover the true stressors behind your sudden anger.
Anger
Sometimes, those anxiety-derived dramatic outbursts can take a concerning direction. Many sufferers of anxiety — butparticularly men— react to triggers with anger. After all, at its root, anxiety is fear. Fear is terrifying and can feel like a threat. Anger may be a natural response to a threat, but anxiety turns tiny things into big threats — making anger feel omnipresent. For many men, anger feels like a more acceptable emotion that stress and worry.
If you’re lashing out at the smallest things, consider the source of your fury. There’s rarely good reason to be angry so frequently — and chances are excellent your outbursts obscure a raft of other concerns. Checking in with your emotions may uncover the true stressors behind your sudden anger.
Need Help Controlling Your Anxiety?Pay attention to these six behavioral cues, which might indicate underlying anxiety. When you’re drinking too much coffee, chugging too much beer or just reacting strongly to things youknowaren’t that big of a deal, consider reaching out to a mental health professional.Getting treatment for your anxietycould change your life.
Need Help Controlling Your Anxiety?
Pay attention to these six behavioral cues, which might indicate underlying anxiety. When you’re drinking too much coffee, chugging too much beer or just reacting strongly to things youknowaren’t that big of a deal, consider reaching out to a mental health professional.Getting treatment for your anxietycould change your life.
Jamie WiebeJamie Wiebe is a freelance writer based in Denver, Colorado. She writes about mental health, real estate, interior design, and sociology.
Jamie Wiebe is a freelance writer based in Denver, Colorado. She writes about mental health, real estate, interior design, and sociology.
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