Anxiety Symptoms

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of constant worry that can affect both the mind and body. While you may feel anxious occasionally in some situations, symptoms can sometimes become persistent and difficult to manage.

Not everyone goes through anxiety in a similar way. Some people may notice physical symptoms while others may have to deal with emotional and behavioural changes. The intensity of these symptoms can also differ from person to person.

Physical Symptoms

When somebody has anxiety, their body enters a heightened state of alertness, called as the “fight or flight” response. Physical symptoms of anxiety may present as:

• Very fast heartbeat or palpitations
• Excessive sweating
• Feeling lightheaded
• Trembling or shakiness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Muscle stiffness
• Shortness of breath
• A feeling of tightness in the chest
• Nausea or stomach discomfort
• Headache and fatigue

In some instances, these symptoms can feel very severe and may even resemble other health conditions. For example, during episodes of severe anxiety, tightness of the chest or shortness of breath can mimic a heart or breathing problem.

Emotional Symptoms

Anxiety also plays a role in deranging the emotions, thoughts, and concentration. A person may have a feeling of constant stress, or may feel irritated, overwhelmed, tense, or is unable to relax.

When stress is there for long periods of time and anxiety starts affecting sleep or daily life, some people may feel emotionally drained.

It may also create a constant feeling of something is wrong, even where these is no such concern.

Behavioural Symptoms

Anxiety can also affect your behaviour and how you respond to situations. Behavioural signs of anxiety may present as:

• Avoiding social activities
• Asking for reassurance frequently
• Finding it difficult to making decisions
• Getting easily frustrated
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Challenges in managing daily tasks
• Increased dependence on alcohol, caffeine, or other substances

People who show behavioural changes, avoidance is the most commonly seen pattern. Although avoiding certain triggering situations may provide temporary relief, but in the long term it may reduce confidence.

For instance, a person dealing with anxiety may start to avoid social gatherings due to the fear of being judged or embarrassed. But with time this may make social events even more stressful.

Severe Symptoms of Anxiety

For some people, anxiety can be severe enough to affect their sleep, work, concentration, relationships, and daily activities. It can even make you feel constantly worried even in safe situations.

Panic is the form of anxiety that involves sudden episodes of intense fear that develop very quickly. It may make you avoid certain situations or places because you may fear that they will trigger another attack. A person having a panic attack may have a racing heartbeat, breathlessness, fear of losing control, or may tremble, and feel lightheaded.

Panic attacks can feel extremely frightening, even though they are not usually dangerous. A person suffering from severe anxiety may also experience:

• Constant overthinking
• Difficulty leaving the house
• Ongoing sleep problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Emotional exhaustion
• Feeling unable to switch off or relax

Over time, ongoing anxiety can also affect physical health and may contribute to headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, digestive discomfort, and poor sleep.

When Symptoms Become an Anxiety Disorder

A person can v=feel anxious during stressful situations and it is absolutely normal. For example, before exams, interviews, taking any important decisions, etc.

However, the problem arises when these symptoms become persistent and start affecting normal life. Some clear signs of serious anxiety are:

• Prolonged symptoms for weeks or months
• A constant fear that feels uncontrollable
• Anxiety without a clear trigger
• Problems with sleep
• Poor concentration

Different anxiety disorders can present different ways. For example:

• Generalised anxiety disorder: Linked with excessive tension about multiple areas of life
• Panic disorder has repeated panic attacks
• Social anxiety disorder mainly restraints a person to be social and creates fear of judgement

It is not mandatory that only one feature will be there at a time, some people may experience symptoms of more than one anxiety disorder at the same time.

How severe your anxiety is can depend on your stress levels, poor sleep, illnesses, or major life changes.

It is important to identify the warning sign early. It will enable you to seek medical support before things get difficult to manage.

When to Seek Help

If it has become difficult for you to manage anxiety or it has started affecting your daily life, it may be important to speak to a healthcare professional.

A person may consider asking for help if:

• There are persistent symptoms or they are becoming more severe
• Your daily activities are getting affected
• You have started avoiding social situations or responsibilities
• Your sleep, focus, or productivity are hampered

Some people may delay seeking support thinking that their anxiety will improve on its own. However, this is not the truth. Anxiety that continues for a long time can start affecting confidence, work, relationships, and even your general wellbeing.

Getting support early may help you understand the treatment options better and manage your symptoms more effectively.