How anxiety feels?

Anxiety can look and feel differently for each person, depending on the type of anxiety you may be experiencing. Some common feelings associated with anxiety are nervousness, tension, a sense of impending doom, and restlessness. There are also physical symptoms that anxiety can cause, like nausea, sweating, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath. Below is a look at some common features of anxiety.

Excessive worry is a hallmark of anxiety. Worry that is disproportionate to events that seem to be underlying it or that occur as a response to normal situations may indicate problematic anxiety. Worry that is severe and interferes with concentrating or completing regular tasks may indicate a diagnosable condition.

Feeling agitated is also common with anxiety. Part of anxiety is the perception of danger due to something going on in the environment. The body responds with the fight-flight response, which increases heart rate, interrupts digestion, causes muscle tension and other physical symptoms. Irritability is a feature of anxiety. Feeling on edge and agitated may contribute to feelings of irritation that occur with anxiety.

Trouble focusing may occur in people with anxiety. Anxiety may interrupt memory processes in the brain and make it harder for the brain to store and access short-term information. During periods of anxiety, you may notice that your ability to concentrate or recall information is affected.

Insomnia or difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep is frequently found in people who have anxiety. Anxious thoughts may prevent you from falling asleep or wake you at night and make it difficult to return to sleep. This particular issue may contribute to feelings of fatigue associated with anxiety.

Becoming tired easily is another potential feature of anxiety. Anxiety may often be associated with agitation or arousal, but fatigue can come after an intense period of anxiety or a panic attack for some people. Insomnia is a symptom of anxiety, and it’s thought that difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep in people with anxiety may result in being tired. Muscle tension caused by the fight-fight response associated with anxiety may also result in tiredness or aches and pains.

Restlessness is commonly reported by people with anxiety and is the feeling of being on edge. It may not happen as often as the first two symptoms mentioned, but it can help determine if anxiety is present.

Perhaps the most important feature of anxiety is the avoidance of potentially triggering situations, which interferes with your ability to enjoy things or alters the ways that you engage with the world around you or in your relationships. This is an indication that anxiety is starting to encroach on your decisions.

If you believe that you’re experiencing anxiety, talk with your doctor or a licensed mental health counselor for help understanding what you’re experiencing and formulate a plan for managing and healing anxiety.