Everyone has felt anxious now and again. Maybe it was about a big test in school or you were waiting to hear from a friend whose plane was running late. Anxiety in general is a fact of life, but it can get out of control. When you’re a family caregiver, anxiety can keep you from being the best caregiver that you can be.

Often caregivers are reluctant to admit that they’re dealing with anxiety. They may try to describe it as something else because there is a stigma associated with anxiety. It’s also not something that a caregiver wants to have out there in the open because they’re the person who is supposed to be taking care of others. The problem is, if the caregiver doesn’t take care of herself, she can’t truly take care of anyone else.

Some of the symptoms of anxiety are the same for most people, such as a racing heart, having trouble concentrating, or just feeling restless. Other symptoms aren’t as obvious and can vary from one person to another. Once you can admit that what you’re dealing with is indeed anxiety, start to track your individual symptoms so that you can understand your anxiety better. Keep a journal where you log your symptoms and how often they’re showing up.

Once you understand what your own anxiety feels like, start to look at what’s causing the anxiety for you. Is it simply general anxiety around life issues or is it more specialized, such as worrying about your elderly loved one when you can’t be right there with her? Once you have a handle on the triggers for your anxiety, you can work toward getting your anxiety under control.

You don’t have to deal with anxiety all on your own, either. You can find a therapist or counselor that you trust or you can find a support group to help you work through your feelings. The bottom line is that you can find help to find a solution for you. Don’t forget to talk to your doctor to help narrow down whether there’s a physical cause for your anxious feelings.

Although anxiety can be a regular part of life you don’t have to let it run yours.