What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?

Anxiety manifests itself in a variety of ways, including feelings, behaviors, thoughts, and physical sensations. However, keep in mind that anxiety is a highly subjective experience. Not everyone will have the same symptoms, nor will they have the same intensity. It is nevertheless important to give instances of common somatic, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral anxiety symptoms.

The Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety Manifests Physically

Anxiety's physical symptoms refer to how we feel it in our bodies. Among the many examples are:

• Restlessness, feeling "keyed up," or "on-edge"
• Shortness of breath or choking sensation; Sweaty palms
• A pounding heartbeat
• ache or discomfort in the chest;
• Muscle tension, tremors, and a shaky feeling
• Nausea and/or diarrhea; stomach "butterflies"
• dizziness or fainting spells
• Numbness or tingling sensations; hot flashes, chills
• Exaggerated startle reaction
• Sleep problems and exhaustion

These symptoms are caused by physiological effects on the body that occur during a fight-or-flight response. Our bodies, however, cannot distinguish between a genuine and current environmental hazard (fear) and a future fictional or projected threat (anxiety).

The following symptoms are all too familiar for those who suffer from panic attacks. However, as previously noted, a person does not need to acquire a full-fledged anxiety condition to connect to any of the above symptoms. To be deemed a "disorder," these symptoms must reach a particular degree of intensity, length, and frequency, causing considerable discomfort and interfering with someone's functioning.

Anxiety-Related Behavioral Symptoms

Anxiety's behavioral manifestations pertain to what people do (or do not do) when they feel nervous. Behavioral reactions are manifestations of attempts to cope with the unpleasant features of worry.

• Avoidance of activities that create anxiety (e.g. avoiding social circumstances) or locations that are frequent triggers of anxiety (e.g., using the stairs instead of an elevator).
• Getting away from a stressful circumstance (like a crowded lecture hall).
• Engaging in harmful, hazardous, or self-destructive conduct (such as excessive drinking or drug use to deal with the anxiety).
• Feeling driven to limit the number and breadth of one's daily activities in order to minimize overall anxiety (e.g., staying at home).
• Attachment to a safety item or person that is excessive (e.g., refusing to go out, away from home, to school, or to work in order to avoid separation).

Surprisingly, these coping methods frequently aggravate and sustain an anxiety condition. This is covered in further depth in the section under "Maintenance of Anxiety Disorders: Adaptive coping methods that aren't working

Anxiety's Emotional Manifestations

As previously said, anxiety is an emotion in its most basic form. This emotion, however, generates a collection of sensations. Anxiety is commonly described using the following words:

• anxiety
• anguish
• dread
• feeling overwhelmed
• panic
• unease
• concern
• fear, or terror
• jumpiness, or edginess

Some people, especially youngsters, may be unable to express their emotions and may simply respond, "I don't know what I feel." Surprisingly, many people find the emotional component of worry the most painful. However, the other symptoms of anxiety, such as thoughts, actions, and bodily responses, cause the most disruption in their everyday functioning.

Anxiety-related Cognitive Symptoms

Finally, there are anxiety's cognitive manifestations. When we are nervous, whether we know it or not, we frequently have ideas going through our heads. Every day, even when we are not nervous, we have hundreds of thoughts! Worry refers to the thoughts that individuals have while they feel nervous (Bourne, 2000). Although the substance of the thoughts varies based on the individual and environment, the following are frequent themes:

• "What if occurs?"
• "I require assurance."
• "The thought of not knowing is unbearable to me."
• "What are these bodily signs implying?"
• "People will mock me."
• "I'm not going to be able to get away."
• "I'm going insane."
• "Oh my God, what is going on with me?"

Worrying thoughts may differ depending on the nature of the individual anxiety condition and a person's own unique anxiety history.

Anxiety can cause the Following Psychological Symptoms

• Concentration issues or trouble remaining on task Memory issues
• Depressive symptoms such as despair, tiredness, and a loss of appetite

Regardless, an incorrect cognitive assessment of a circumstance is frequently discovered at the heart of pathological worry. This typically entails overestimating the amount of threat in a given situation while underestimating one's ability to deal with these threats. These ideas are covered in further depth in the section on Psychological Explanations of Anxiety Disorders.

Why am I Experiencing these Symptoms of Anxiety?

Doctors do not fully comprehend what causes anxiety disorders. Certain traumatic situations are thought to cause anxiety in those who are predisposed to it. Anxiety may also be influenced by genetics. Anxiety may be triggered by an underlying health condition in some circumstances, and may be the earliest indications of a physical, rather than a mental, ailment.

An individual may suffer from one or more anxiety disorders at the same time. It may also be present in conjunction with other mental health disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. This is especially true for generalized anxiety disorder, which is frequently associated with another anxiety or mental illness.

If you are Suffering Symptoms of Anxiety, Follow these Simple Measures to Treat Anxiety Condition.

Examine Yourself Objectively

Investigate increasing degrees of self-awareness.

Recognize and Accept the Necessity for Change

Identify and accept a habit, characteristic, or behavior that is impeding your progress.

Make a Prayer to God

Seek out what is most required for good transformation.

Begin a New Chapter in your Life

Abstain from the old way of life and explore the new. Choose it, live it in the presence of God, and keep moving ahead.