Today, I am hammering out a question that I get at least once a day: how to tell when it’s more than just anxiety. In this day and age, with social media, it seems like everything is a diagnosis, and everything is a problem. I was on TikTok the other day, and I saw a post that claimed if you sleep with your arms curled or your hands curled under your neck and by your chest, it means you have in-depth childhood trauma or are on the spectrum. It was quite the leap to make from how you sleep to such serious issues.

Here’s a little preview of what we’ll cover:

• 5 signs what you’re experiencing is more than “just” anxiety
• How to know if anxiety is taking over your life
• What to do if you are experiencing more than just anxiety

It’s a common question to wonder how to tell when it’s more than just anxiety. So today, we’re going to talk about stress, impairment, and when it might be more than typical everyday worrying or anxiety. I’ll give you examples of when it could be more problematic and interfering with your life.

Join my 7-Day Breakthrough Challenge

Before we jump in, I want to talk to you about a cool resource that is affordable and accessible. Starting on July 29th, we will begin accepting signups for my Seven Day Breakthrough Challenge. This challenge is a seven-day email, video, and homework challenge that I designed for people who want quick, practical strategies. Starting August 19th, you’ll receive daily emails from me with video explanations, education, inspiration, and homework assignments. This isn’t just about learning; it’s about applying these strategies to your life and sharing your experiences with a supportive community.

The challenge kicks off on August 14th with a live Q&A call to address any questions and boost your motivation. If you can’t join live, don’t worry—you’ll get a replay. The challenge officially starts on August 19th. It’s a great resource if you’re unsure if you have anxiety or something more serious because it helps you regardless of where you are on that spectrum. Sign up starting July 29th on my website, jennaoverbaughlpc.com/breakthrough.

Anxiety vs. Something More

First things first, anxiety is a normal part of life. It’s our brain’s way of protecting us from perceived danger and forecasting potential catastrophic events to help us avoid them. But sometimes, anxiety goes beyond typical worrying and becomes more severe.

Stress and Impairment

Anxiety becomes problematic when it starts to interfere with your day-to-day life. It’s not just feeling nervous before a big presentation or having butterflies before a date. We’re talking about anxiety that disrupts your ability to function and live the life you want.

Sign 1: Persistent and Excessive Worry

One major red flag is persistent and excessive worry. Everyone worries, but when you worry most days for at least six months about various issues, it might be more than typical anxiety. This kind of worry takes over your mind and makes it hard to concentrate. For example, if you’re constantly worried about your health and every minor symptom feels like a severe illness, this can affect your work and relationships.

Sign 2: Avoidance Behavior

Another sign is avoidance behavior. This happens when you start to avoid situations, events, or experiences that trigger your anxiety, even if they are part of your values and daily life. While avoidance might provide temporary relief, it makes things worse in the long run. I teach my students and clients to face their fears gradually without engaging in avoidance or compulsive behaviors. Over time, you learn that you can handle anxiety and that feared outcomes are less likely than you imagined.

Sign 3: Physical Symptoms

Anxiety can manifest physically, with symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, fatigue, and muscle tension. These physical symptoms can make you feel more anxious and create a vicious cycle. Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are useful here. Mindfulness helps you stay present and observe your experiences without judgment, while ACT teaches you to accept your feelings and commit to actions that align with your values.

Sign 4: Impairment in Daily Life

When anxiety impairs your day-to-day living, it’s a clear sign it’s more than typical worry. This could mean difficulty holding down a job, maintaining relationships, or carrying out basic tasks like brushing your teeth or grocery shopping. Self-compassion is crucial here. Treating yourself with kindness and understanding can make a big difference in your journey, preventing temporary lapses from turning into full relapses.

Sign 5: Rumination

Rumination is when you can’t stop thinking about the same distressing thoughts over and over. It feels like your mind is stuck on repeat, which is exhausting. Breaking this cycle involves addressing the underlying assumptions and justifications fueling the overthinking. When you identify and challenge these justifications, you reduce the power of rumination.

Taking Action

Recognizing that your anxiety is more than typical worry is the first step. Implementing evidence-based strategies like Exposure and Response Prevention, ACT, mindfulness, and self-compassion can help you manage and overcome these challenges.

If any of these signs resonate with you, it’s time to take action. Join my Seven Day Challenge for structured support and practical strategies to manage anxiety. Signups begin on July 29th, with a live Q&A kickoff call on August 14th, and the challenge starts on August 19th. Sign up here.

Thank you for joining me today. Stay bold, stay empowered, and keep pushing through. You’ve got this.

Keep doing all the hard things. Bye for now.

👏 Unlock your free 40-minute video on “5 Must-Know Strategies for Handling Anxiety and Intrusive Thoughts”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com/strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🧠 Start your transformation today with the Mental Compulsion Mini Course referenced in this episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com/mental-compulsions⁠

💪 Ready to conquer OCD/anxiety? Explore The OCD and Anxiety Recovery Blueprint – with or without a therapist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com/blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER: Please keep in mind that Jenna is not your therapist. She does not provide you with individualized recommendations or advice. The information provided is intended as educational information only. Jenna cannot tell you what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, or give recommendations based on your unique situations or circumstances. Nothing on this page or Site should be construed as therapeutic recommendation or personalized advice. If you are in need of such services, please consult with a physician or other medical provider right away to determine the best course of action for you. We are not responsible for your use of this page, this website, or the contents within. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU READ OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEBSITE AND CONTENT. For more information, please read the Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer. Your continued use of this platform, this page, and the contents within constitutes as your agreement with this agreement.

© 2024 Jenna Overbaugh, LLC, All Rights Reserved

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jennaoverbaughlpc.com/terms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jennaoverbaughlpc.com/privacy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jennaoverbaughlpc.com/disclaimer⁠⁠