The daily life of an anxiety disorder sufferer is filled with fear, worry and discomfort. They worry about the world in general and are afraid of being in certain situations or circumstances. Some sufferers may also experience panic attacks or sudden and brief episodes of overwhelming fear.

The root cause of anxiety disorders varies from every individual and finding out the exact cause of the disorder may take time. Still, anxiety disorders share common symptoms that can be used to identify the presence of a disorder and lead to its eventual treatment. Look for these signs to indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder in yourself or in your loved-ones:

1. Nonstop thinking of unreasonable fears. Everyone experiences fear; it’s just that those who suffer from anxiety disorders tend to have fears that have no real basis. They are usually afraid of situations that are not normally considered as dangerous.

2. Insecure about the environment. Sufferers may feel insecure or fearful of their surroundings even if they are in a familiar environment or relatively safe place. Sufferers may also feel constant tension and may find it hard to relax even at home.

3. Avoiding social functions or gatherings. Those afflicted with anxiety disorders hate being in the public’s eye. This is because of their fear of being shamed and judged by others. If left untreated, the sufferer may find it hard to maintain existing relationships and form new ones.

4. Belief that something bad will happen if a ritual or routine is broken. Many people with anxiety disorders are superstitious, or develop behaviors that lead to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). According to HelpGuide.org, people with anxiety disorder often hold a “belief that something bad will happen if certain things aren’t done a certain way… [they] may also suffer from compulsions such as washing hands over and over.”

5. Feelings of loss of control that trigger an anxiety attack. Many people who suffer from panic attacks and anxiety attacks have an intense fear of losing control of the situation. This can trigger a condition known as agoraphobia, where the person is afraid that they will have an anxiety attack in a public setting, and may be judged or ridiculed as a result. This cycle can continue to perpetuate itself, leaving the sufferer homebound or socially withdrawn over time.

6. Sudden, unexpected feelings of panic and overwhelm. Some of the characteristics of a panic attack are short, frequent episodes of overwhelm, intense fear and an elevated heart rate. Many people suffering from anxiety disorders experience panic or anxiety attacks on a regular basis, and these can also interfere with daily life.

Detecting these indicators at an early stage will greatly benefit anxiety disorder sufferers. It is important to diagnose an anxiety disorder early on so that an effective treatment can be prescribed for it as soon as possible.