People who live in fear usually try to hide what is happening to them. They do not want others to see their weakness and fear that they will not be understood. So it can be difficult to tell when someone is suffering from anxiety. Here are seven subtle signs of fear that can help you help them.
1. You don't see them often
Fear can make people feel like they want to escape or run away. People with anxiety find it difficult to do things they normally did. This allows them to avoid contact with others in many subtle ways, such as avoiding public transportation or other social occasions.
2. Change of eating habits
People who live with anxiety can start eating more or much less. The important thing is the change. Some people who are anxious eat less because they are not hungry, feel too sick to eat, or find it difficult to keep food down. Other people may use food as a distraction from their worries.
3. Physical complaints Although we tend to think that anxiety is primarily mental, it actually has many physical symptoms. These can be very diverse in nature. For example, someone may complain of a headache or stomachache.
Some people experience a dry mouth and throat, others feel nauseous or have the urge to urinate constantly.
4. Difficulty concentrating
If people are constantly worried, they have a hard time concentrating. Anxious thoughts are easily distracting and working or even doing ordinary household chores can be a much more challenging.
5. Poor sleep Worry can keep people up at night because they are tired. With all that stimulation revolving around mind and body, it's hard to fall asleep. Even when they wake up in the night, the same fears probably come to the fore.
6. Change in appearance
Like weight, people's appearance in fear can go both ways. Some may begin to lose interest in maintaining their physical appearance. Their hair can look unkempt and personal hygiene can suffer. Alternatively, anxious people may be even more obsessed with their appearance.
7. Need for excessive reassurance
Anxiety is often linked to difficulty making decisions or avoiding decisions. Someone who is unusually anxious may ask for a lot of reassurance or help with their decisions.
