What is the theory behind this Identify anxiety worksheet?
Anxiety is an emotion that is associated with multiple adverse psychological, physical and behavioural symptoms. An individual with worries excessively about an impending danger or catastrophe and takes necessary actions in preparation of experiencing this supposed event in the future. While a normal level of anxiety is necessary for our survival, excessive anxiety can be debilitating to one’s overall health and the ability to perform daily activities.
Some key physical characteristics of anxiety include tense muscles and a rapid increase in breathing and heart rate. It can range from mild controllable symptoms to extremely debilitating and life changing for some. Identifying the signs of anxiety is an important step towards determining its real cause and addressing it before it impedes one’s cognitive functioning.
How will the worksheet help?
This worksheet will provide some common signs and symptoms that are associated with anxiety and anxiety related disorders. It can help both as a self-check measure and to keep a check on other people around you that may require your help.
How to use the worksheet?
This worksheet provides a checklist of common signs and symptoms of anxiety related disorders that can be used in mental health awareness campaigns in schools, colleges and workplaces. It can also be provided to clients and caretakers/family members of clients that are at risk of developing an anxiety disorder.
Identify anxiety worksheet
Following are some common signs and symptoms of anxiety and anxiety related disorders. If any of these symptoms become persistent or debilitating you or your loved one must seek professional help.
| Feeling restless most of the time or ‘on the edge’ | |
| Excessive worrying about the future/events in the future | |
| Repeated, intrusive thoughts about your worry | |
| Difficulty falling and staying asleep | |
| An increase in irritable behaviour | |
| Easily startled (more than usual) | |
| Difficulty concentrating | |
| Panic attacks – brief episodes of intense feelings of anxiety accompanied by physical symptoms such as feeling dizzy or nauseated and having breathing difficulties | |
| Irrational fear of a particular object of situation | |
| Going to great lengths to avoid this object or situation | |
| Excessive fear of situations where it may be difficult to escape or help may not be readily available | |
| Going to great lengths to avoid such situations – e.g social isolation, being homebound, actively avoiding elevators or public transport etc | |
| Excessive, irrational fear of being negatively judged by others or being embarrassed by others in a social situation | |
| Going to great lengths to avoid public events/places or refusing human contact | |
| ‘Selective Mutism – specially in children – unable to speak in certain situations despite having good verbal skills at home. | |
| Physical symptoms during panic attack or following anxious thoughts | |
| Rapid breathing | |
| Rapid heartbeat | |
| Increased blood pressure | |
| Sweating | |
| Pain in the chest | |
| Feelings of choking/not getting enough air to breathe |
References
You can download this worksheet here.