Worried you’re about to lose the plot? Expert shares warning key signs

It’s hard not to feel completely overwhelmed by life at times, but a psychotherapist has shared the one of the critical warning signs that you’ve gone from worrying about things at a normal level to developing full blown anxiety.   

Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress and uncertainty, and can be triggered from anything between making presentation at work to proposing to the love of your life. 

But while the feeling of ‘nerves’ usually subside after the completion of the stressful event, sometimes the anxiety lingers, and for some people, it becomes louder and louder until performing basic tasks becomes an exhausting—and sometimes scary—uphill struggle. 

Therapist Clare Patterson, who is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), describes anxiety as when ‘the body’s alarm system [is] stuck in the ‘on’ position—without a clear, present danger.’ 

But how do you know that your normal worrying levels have got out of control? Ms Patterson shared eight warning signs that you might be heading towards developing a serious mental illness. 

Speaking to The Sun, she said one of the biggest red flags is catastrophising, when you focus on what could go wrong, or you’re obsessing about future events which are totally out of your control. 

‘You might be trying to focus at work but your mind is pinging from, “I forgot to book the dentist” to “Do I have cancer?” to “I should drink more water”, all in 30 seconds.’ 

She added: ‘You might lie awake at 2am thinking, “What if I lose my job? What if I can’t pay the mortgage? What if I end up homeless?”, even when nothing has changed at work. 

‘You may also catastrophise, always assuming the worst-case scenario. For example, your partner doesn’t reply to a message for a few hours and your brain jumps to, “They’re in a crash” or “They’re leaving me”.

‘You may also be in a meeting and notice every change in someone’s tone, face or body language, and be convinced it means something bad about you.’

Catastrophising can leave someone feeling permanently overwhelmed, and cause them to withdraw from their loved ones and routines, which are both other symptoms the mental health expert pinpointed. 

‘For people with an anxiety disorder, the excessive stress hormones can feel overwhelming…It is not “all in their heads”. It is a very real, physiological response.

‘A low-level fear with no clear object, like waking up with a pit in your stomach for no reason, just a vague feeling something is going to go wrong today, is also common. 

‘Some people also find their anxiety is internalised and they keep thinking, “What is wrong with me?” 

‘You might cancel plans because you’re feeling overwhelmed, then spend hours criticising yourself for being “flaky” or “too sensitive”.’ 

Ms Patterson added that feelings of indecisiveness and perfectionism can also be warning signs that your worrying is getting unhealthy. 

She said: ‘This often leads a person to second guess even small decisions, like what to wear or what to say in a text. 

‘Anxiety can lead to perfectionism and procrastination, putting off work because it’s never quite good enough.’

Other signs manifest physically; tension in the body, and restlessness.  

Ms Patterson said that people who lack ‘coping mechanisms’— are at risk of their anxiety becoming out of control. 

She defines a coping mechanism as steps someone can take to ‘feel safe’, which might include positive self-talk, seeking out a familiar face at a party or event, or focusing on their breathing. 

But people who are very anxious can find themselves falling into a panic attack. 

She said: ‘The rational part of their brain may be overwhelmed by the anxiety and so they exist in a fight/flight/freeze state where there is a lack of trust in themselves to cope and manage. 

‘This can trigger even more anxiety, sending them into a spiral, and even lead to physical symptoms including panic attacks, headaches and dizziness.’ 

It’s estimated that 8 million Britons are living with anxiety, and NHS trusts across the UK are struggling to provide suitable support. 

In February, after analysing NHS stats, Rethink Mental Illness found that the longest waits for mental health care are over two years (658 days), more than twice as long as the ones for people needing elective physical health treatment (299 days).

The delays in treatment have seen people turning to online therapy providers, mindfulness self-help books, and in the case of Gen Z, crafting. 

Findings from The Power of Making report, commissioned by Hobbycraft and in partnership with mental health charity Mind, surveyed nearly 6,000 people nationwide and found that younger people are turning to crochet and pottery kits to try and calm their anxious minds.