Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can present itself in a variety of ways and it’s important to know what that may look like. Anxiety manifests itself in physical and cognitive ways. Here is what that might look like:

-Panic attacks…this is a brief and intense onset of symptoms including shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate, feeling light headed, and having an overall sense of doom or impending danger.

-Racing thoughts…this is when your thoughts start in one place and quickly snowball into something much bigger. An example might be that your boss asks to see you and your thoughts go to the belief that you’re going to be fired but there is no evidence for this.

-Intrusive thoughts…these are often unwelcome and disturbing thoughts, images, or ideas that are really difficult to remove from your brain

-Frequent and uncontrollable worry

-Phobias

-Obsessions or compulsions

-Irritability

-Picking your skin or tapping your feet excessively

-Feeling restless or on edge

-Difficulty concentrating or your mind going blank

-Muscle tension…usually in your neck, shoulders, or back

-Sleep disturbance…usually difficulty falling or staying asleep because you’re worrying

-Feeling easily fatigued

-Somatic complaints…this could be unexplained headaches, stomachaches, or bowel issues that aren’t otherwise explained by a medical issue

A qualified mental health professional can help you determine if what you’re experiencing aligns with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder. Check out Psychology Today to look for therapists in your area.

Be well.