Just as some people feel depressed because of the weather, some feel anxious. Approximately 40 million adults in the United States have some type of anxiety disorder, and many more might not realize it. Deciphering how your thoughts, feelings and fears compare to the average person can be difficult. What signs of anxiety disorders might you have without realizing it? Click through to find out. (Thinkstock)

Just as some people feel depressed in the winter, some feel anxious.

But how do you know whether your anxiety is a part of life or a serious mental health condition?

“Anxiety is a normal emotion that almost everyone feels,” Lawrence D. Needleman, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical psychiatry at the Ohio State University Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, told weather.com. “But if it is persistent, and it’s interfering with important aspects of their lives, then people should seek attention for it.”

Although common physical conditions might be easy to diagnose with a number of tests, mental health disorders tend to be more complicated. In fact, doctors who meet the criteria for psychological disorders, according to the World Health Organization. Medical professionals often underdiagnose because they haven’t had sufficient training with mental illness, Dr. Needleman said.

But patients also need to seek out help.

“People who are suffering might not bring their problem to someone’s attention because of shame or embarrassment,” added Dr. Needleman. “(Patients) might also not recognize what their problem is — they might not realize it’s an underlying anxiety disorder.”

Approximately 40 million adults in the United States have some type of anxiety disorder, and many more might not realize it. Deciphering how your thoughts, feelings and fears compare to the average person can be difficult.

What signs of anxiety disorders might you have without realizing it? Click through to the slideshow above find out.

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