Feeling anxious occasionally is normal, but an anxiety disorder is deeper and often harder to explain. It can creep in quietly or crash over you all at once. One moment you’re folding laundry or sending an email. The next, your chest is tight, your thoughts are racing, and everything feels like too much. An anxiety disorder can leave you avoiding the grocery store, skipping social events, or lying awake at night with a knot in your stomach that won’t loosen no matter how tired you are.
At Eagle View Behavioral Health, we understand how real and life-disrupting anxiety disorders can be. We’re here to let you know that help is available—and that you deserve the chance to live each day to the fullest.
What an Anxiety Disorder Feels Like
Anxiety disorders go far beyond the everyday stress of a tight schedule or a looming deadline. They are persistent, intrusive, and often overpowering. Rather than feeling anxious for a few minutes before a big meeting, you may find yourself consumed by worry from the moment you wake up to the moment you try to fall asleep—only to discover that sleep won’t come.
How can you tell if it’s time to consider a mental health evaluation? Looking at how often your symptoms occur and how much they interfere with your daily life can be a good place to begin. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can vary from person to person, but here are some key symptoms to watch for:
- Excessive worrying. Are your thoughts constantly circling around “what if” scenarios? Do you struggle to turn off your brain—even when there’s no immediate threat? If your worries feel out of proportion or stick around for six months or more, it may be a sign of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
- Panic attacks. Do you ever feel like fear hits you out of nowhere—accompanied by a racing heart, tight chest, shortness of breath, nausea, or dizziness? These intense physical episodes can feel like a heart attack and often come with a fear of losing control or dying. Recurrent panic attacks are a hallmark of Panic Disorder.
- Restlessness. Does it feel like you’re constantly waiting for something bad to happen, even if you don’t know what that something is? When anxiety settles into your nervous system, your body and mind often stay in fight-or-flight mode, which makes it hard to concentrate, sit still, or feel safe.
- Irritability. Do you find yourself snapping over small things or feeling overwhelmed by minor setbacks? When your nervous system is overloaded, even everyday frustrations can feel unbearable.
- Fatigue. Do you feel physically drained, even if you haven’t done anything strenuous? Chronic anxiety depletes your mental and emotional resources, which can lead to deep exhaustion.
- Sleep disruptions. Are you having trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night with racing thoughts, or waking up feeling like you never rested? Anxiety disorders commonly interfere with both the quantity and quality of your sleep.
- Muscle tension and headaches. Do you clench your jaw, grind your teeth, or carry tension in your neck and shoulders? Anxiety doesn’t just live in your mind—it affects your entire body. Frequent headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and tight muscles are all signs your body is struggling under chronic stress.
- Avoidance. Are you skipping events, turning down invitations, or avoiding places you once enjoyed because of fear or discomfort? Whether it’s avoiding crowds, social settings, driving, or even answering the phone, avoidance can quietly shrink your world and increase your distress over time.
- Perfectionism or over-control. Do you feel like things have to be “just right” or else something bad will happen? Trying to control every detail of your environment may be a way of coping with deeper anxiety. This behavior is very common in people with high-functioning anxiety.
- Self-medicating. Do you find yourself drinking or using addictive substances to cope with your symptoms? This can lead to a dual diagnosis, which means that you meet the diagnostic criteria for both an anxiety disorder and a substance use disorder.
When to Seek Help
If your anxiety is making it hard to function—whether that means struggling to go to work, care for your family, or simply get out of bed—it’s time to reach out. Early intervention leads to better outcomes. And at Eagle View Behavioral Health, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
We offer inpatient and outpatient treatment options to meet you where you are in your healing journey. Our programs combine clinical expertise with compassionate care, using a blend of strategies that work together to support your mental wellness:
- Individual and group therapy. Evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help reframe anxious thoughts and build emotional regulation skills.
- Medication management. When appropriate, medications such as SSRIs or beta-blockers can be prescribed and monitored by our medical team to reduce physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety.
- Mindfulness. Techniques like guided breathing, meditation, and grounding exercises can calm the nervous system and build resilience.
- Peer support. Connection with others facing similar struggles through group sessions can reduce isolation and foster a sense of community.
You Deserve to Feel Better
Is anxiety making each day feel like a battle you can’t win? Reach out to Eagle View Behavioral Health today for a free, confidential assessment or to learn more about the programs available at our Bettendorf, Iowa facility. You are not broken. You are not alone. And with help, healing is possible.
