It's not uncommon to worry about things. It's a natural habit, especially if we have people depending on us. Let's say you're a club leader or student body president or an older sibling. All those roles come with responsibilities and the undying sense of worrying about someone else.
Whether we asked for it or not is irrelevant, but we all tend to suffer from the same thing: an overbearing amount of anxiety. Don't think this is you? That may be, but let's explore the possible signs, shall we?
1. Lack of sleep.
Tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable, being too hot or too cold, and your mind constantly wandering about the galaxy for answers to questions that don't even matter. It's all normal because we all experience it, but when your brain latches onto something relevant in your life, you can start growing anxious about the future events that you can't even control. What is supposed to happen will happen, and we shouldn't lose sleep over it.
2. Over-eating or skipping meals.
These are dangerous. Not that not sleeping is a walk in the park, both are hell to go through. But when you're worried about something your body reacts differently to food. You'll either feel so sick to your stomach from worrying about something that any food will automatically cause a gag reflex. Or you'll eat anything and everything you can get your hands on to try and distract yourself from all the stress worrying is causing you.
3. Feelings of guilt or regret.
If you ask your boss for a well-deserved raise, you automatically start thinking you shouldn't have bothered your boss and he/she will be more inclined to fire you instead because how dare you ask for a raise at a job you poured your soul into after two ruthless years. Or you have continuous second thoughts about a decision you made after spending three-four weeks pondering on and exclusively debating each possible outcome. Either sound familiar?
4. Inability to relax.
You don't understand how people manage to relax so easily and throw all their problems and worries out the window. Kicking off your shoes and putting your feet up at the end of a long day is not your forte. You stop worrying about things at the office (well, sometimes) but that doesn't mean you stop worrying altogether. With your mind on overdrive, there's never been a moment when you can close your eyes, breathe deeply for a few minutes, and let the stress wash away.
5. Nightmares.
This doesn't happen too often but when it does, it's not cute. You're overwhelmed with stress and worrying about so many things (most of which are out of your control, BTW) that you either can't fall asleep or can't stay asleep. Nightmares become more spontaneous as you get older and they have many triggers from eating too late to being too stressed. Hence, the more you worry, the more likely you are to have a bad dream.
6. Over-analyzing events or conversations.
The point that over-analyzing kicks in is when you pick apart each and every detail and start to endlessly wonder what could have happened or what could you have said instead. The only thing this does is stress you out even more over things you can't control.
7. Feeling like an inconvenience.
Knowing someone is willing to help you out or do you a favor isn't enough; you need confirmation up until the last second, and then a few more times during. You can't help it though. Your mind continues to ask whether or not you should have even asked and will this person now despise you because you did.
8. Constantly checking your phone.
This one seems silly, but Lord, is it true. In any uncomfortable situation, you're drawn to check your phone for something to do, even if you keep scrolling through the home pages. It proves you aren't idly waiting by for something or someone. Although you may not understand why you do it, one theory is that you are worried about what people will think if you just stand there staring at nothing while you wait.
9. Recurring health issues.
You always end up getting sick when you have a huge deadline or meeting or presentation or exam. Let's face it; you were so worried about it that you most likely didn't take proper care of your heath (skipping meals, missing sleep, forgetting umbrella when it was pouring rain). And after it's over, so is your cold. Funny how that works, ain't it?
10. Asking the impending question "What If?" over and over.
Do yourself a favor and find ways to relieve some of that stress you carry around on your shoulders. It's heavy, isn't it? Why wouldn't you want to put it down?
