People suffering from anxiety may experience some or all of the following symptoms: anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance). It may feel difficult to control the worry, and the anxiety and worry may be associated with feelings of restlessness, being easily fatigued, having difficulty concentrating, Irritability, muscle tension, and/ or sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep). Anxiety disorders can be categorized as generalized anxiety, phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorder, separation anxiety, or social anxiety.
In some cases, anxiety may precede an eating disorder. In struggling with anxiety, for instance, being able to control aspects of one’s life, such as food, weight, and exercise, may indirectly give a person a false sense of control, which can temporarily relieve symptoms experienced due to anxiety. However, with time, the disordered eating and focus on food and weight begin to exacerbate and worsen anxiety.
