5 Symptoms of Anxiety
Like most things, anxiety runs on a continuum from feeling a bit nervous meeting up with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time… to wanting to make a good "first impression” at a job interview… to fear about losing a dying family member.
For someone with an anxiety disorder, the experience is more intense, more persistent and often includes uncontrollable worry. These worries can intensify further into overwhelming moments of panic.
Symptoms of anxiety interfere with a person’s ability to engage meaningfully in the present moment, take appropriate risks and maintain fulfilling relationships.
What does anxiety feel like?
Anxiety looks a little different for everyone, so you may relate to none, some or all of these symptoms.
Five symptoms of anxiety:
WORRY
Excessive worry that is difficult or impossible to control. These thoughts range from everyday concerns to panic about things you know are not within the realm of possible. I often call this “rabbit holing” → one small automatic thought pops into our mind and before we know it we’re deep into a maze of rabbit tunnels.
FEELING KEYED UP
Experiencing physical restlessness. Feeling wound up, nervous and on edge. This keyed up sensation often leads to foot tapping, pacing and picking at our fingernails.
IRRITABILITY
Being easily annoyed or angered. Feeling more impatient with yourself and those around you for even the smallest of things.
SLEEP DISTURBANCES
Difficulty falling or staying asleep. For example, it’s bedtime and you are exhausted from the day, but as soon as you lay down, the “committee” in your mind wakes up and decides now is the time to solve all the world’s problems.
PHYSICAL PAIN
Unexplained pains, stomach aches, headaches, muscle aches. Over simplified, anxiety is an over-firing of the nervous system. This chronic revved up state takes a physical toll on our bodies.
DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING
Struggling to focus or paying attention; decreased ability to remember important things. For example, you sit down to watch a show or read a book and your mind won’t let you focus. Thoughts are difficult to grab ahold of because they jump around quickly.
Other symptoms of anxiety include…
Short, shallow breathing
Over thinking and ruminating
Poor memory
Ruminated about the past
Your brain is like 95 browser tabs open at the same time
Being easily tired or frequently feeling worn out
Tightness in the chest
Planning/rehearsing conversations
Sweating
It’s hard to take in a full breath
Feeling out of control
Repeating a song over and over again in your mind
Fear that something bad is going to happen
Inability to stay in the present moment
Feeling flushed or hot in the face
Pounding heart
Figuring out plan A, B, C, D, E
Feeling self-conscious
repetitive counting
Fear of experiencing a panic attack again
Externally focused on what others are thinking about you
