If you have or think that you might have anxiety, this is something you should definitely know well.
But first of all, if you’re feeling anxious and uneasy right now, please know that I’m writing this in the middle of an anxiety flare-up. You are certainly not alone and I know how it feels. We’re together in this.
Dealing with anxiety usually involves rounds of getting better and relapsing once in a while. Yet, that is OK. It doesn’t mean that anxiety can’t be controlled or improved… It just shows how important it is to be informed about anxiety so you can deal and cope with it successfully any time it happens.
This is why it’s so important to notice anxiety symptoms and know what triggers them in you – knowing your weaknesses is the first step to overcoming them.
Now, anxiety can manifest in many different ways for different people, but it almost always involves physical feelings in your body and trouble controlling your mind.
People who don’t have anxiety may think that being anxious is the same as being worried, but in reality – it’s much more than that. It’s not only worrying but also – the inability to control your running thoughts, inability to stop your oversensitized imagination, trouble sleeping or falling asleep, and of course – that extra burst of anxiety the moment you wake up and remember your trigger.
Anxiety is a full spectrum of unpleasant feelings and you can find more info on how I deal with them right here, but in this article, let’s just talk about the anxiety symptoms you may feel whenever you’re anxious about something. This will help you to identify anxiety easier and, once you know what you’re feeling are just symptoms of stress hormones rushing through your body, it will be easier for you to concentrate on easing them (instead of thinking about them all the time).
P.S. You can get this list as a printable at the bottom of this article.
The Must-Have List Of Anxiety Symptoms
When you feel anxious, your body is going into a high-alert mode. As a consequence, your brain is entering a fight or flight mode, which activates or shuts down some of your body functions in order to protect you (you can read more about the fear response in this article).
These are some of the main symptoms people may feel when they have anxiety (source):
- Nervousness, irritation;
- Feeling restless, unable to calm down;
- Tension in your body;
- Rapid breathing, hyperventilation;
- Difficulty to focus or think clearly;
- Feelings of derealization (as if everything around you is not real or foggy);
- Weakness, lethargy, or sudden loss of energy;
- Rapid heart rate;
- Feelings of danger, panic, or impending doom;
- Digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, frequent need to urinate or use the bathroom;
- Insomnia, sleep problems;
- Strong need to run away from your trigger or escape the situation that is making you anxious;
- OCD behaviors;
- Trembling, muscle twitches.
All of these symptoms can be felt when you’re anxious. However, everyone is different.
For some people, only one or two symptoms may be present and for others, a whole spectrum can feel true.
For me, anxiety manifests in an unpleasant feeling in my whole body (especially my arms). It becomes hard for me to control my thoughts and imagination. It also makes me feel very cold, I can’t even look at food and I have to pee every 5 minutes (I’m sorry if this is TMI). And after the initial anxiety passes, I’m left with severe tiredness – so much that it’s sometimes hard for me to speak my thoughts out clearly and… I just want to sleep! Of course, I can’t.
Some of the symptoms on this list can also be felt with other conditions, just as with any other physical symptom. If you feel any of these symptoms often and you haven’t been diagnosed with anxiety in the past, it never hurts to talk to your doctor.
You don’t need to think that you have some unexplained diseases, but – speaking purely from my experience – having a doctor confirm that you are physically okay works wonders for your ability to deal with anxiety (especially if you’re prone to health anxiety). And sometimes, even a simple thing like having a vitamin deficiency can result in some of the anxiety symptoms. A doctor can help you with all of this and you should never be afraid to ask for help.
As promised, you can get this list of anxiety symptoms as a printable.
Other helpful reads:
How To Stop Worrying About The Future + Helpful Resources
How To Stop Overthinking In Three Easy Steps
How To Deal With a Panic Attack & Intense Fear
3 Powerful Mind Shifts That Heal Anxiety For Life
I hope this article helped you to understand your anxiety symptoms better. Do you have any specific anxiety symptoms? Share in a comment at the bottom of this page.
Stay well.
Hi! I am author + writer on personal development, beauty, relationships and self-care, sharing insights through this blog since 2018. After years of practicing personal growth, emotional wellness and feminine lifestyle (plus 19 years in a thriving relationship), I share effective and tested advice to help you foster beauty, self-improvement and order in your life. Some articles are written by a small team of beautiful writers I trust.
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