We all experience some anxiety from time to time. However, some people deal with an uncontrollable amount of anxiety that it interferes with their daily lives. Rating your level of anxiety can help you determine how much anxiety you are dealing with, and whether you would benefit from professional help. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale is commonly used to rate anxiety: using a scale from one to four (one being the least and four being the greatest) on the amount of interference each symptom has in your life can determine how severe your anxiety is.
Anxious Mood
Rate your anxious mood. An anxious mood is the emotional condition of being uncertain about the future. Feelings associated with an anxious mood include worry, insecurity, irritability, apprehension and dread. Severe anxious mood interferes with your daily life.
Tension
Rate your level of tension. During the week, how much time do you spend being unable to relax or nervous? Tension also includes trembling, restless fatigue and tension throughout the body. Severe tension can disrupt your normal activity.
Fears
Rate your fears. Do you have a specific fear, such as going out into large crowds, being alone or being around strangers? Over time, have these fears gotten worse, or has more phobic anxiety appeared recently? Do these fears prevent you from participating in daily activities?
Sleep Patterns
Rate the amount your sleep and the quality of sleep over the past three days. During the past three days, have you been able to sleep normally, or have you been waking up frequently? If you do wake up periodically during the night, is it due to fright or something on your mind? Does this result in you getting no real sleep during the night or dozing off during the day?
Concentration and Memory
Rate your concentration and memory. Over the past few days, have you had more trouble concentrating on tasks, or do you find your mind wandering off to think of other things that bother you? Do you find it more difficult to remember things than usual? Has this impacted your ability to make decisions?
Depressive Mood
Rate your depressive mood. Many people who suffer from anxiety also displace signs of depression. The depressive mood can be identified through the verbal and non-verbal communication of sadness, helplessness, despondency and hopelessness.
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Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch received her bachelor’s of science degree in neuroscience from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in May 2009. She is the Hartford Women's Health Examiner and she writes about abuse on Suite 101.