The symptoms of chronic anxiety can be quite obvious, like panic episodes, shaking, and having difficulty with stressful situations. There are many other symptoms that are much more subtle, that can oftentimes be missed because most people don’t recognize them as anxiety.
However, anxiety isn’t always as obvious as you would think. On the contrary, most people that are given a diagnosis associated with an anxiety disorder display a number of symptoms that they often don’t realize are caused by anxiety.
1. Muscle Tension
While muscle tension and soreness are usually associated with physical issues, most people that experience anxiety also experiences muscle tension.
2. Constant Fatigue
When you are constantly overwhelmed with anxiety, your mind becomes overworked. In turn, you may lack the necessary sleep to become fully rested. Because of this, if you have anxiety it is likely that you will also feel tired.
3. Irritability and Mood Swings
Usually, when people are abnormally angry or experience mood swings, we immediately assume that they have a mood disorder. However, according to psychologists, this can be a symptom of anxiety.
4. Lightheadedness
Many people that are chronically anxious experience symptoms of lightheadedness, or feel as though they may faint. Unfortunately, because lightheadedness can be associated with a number of medical issues, it is important to speak with a doctor if you experience feeling lightheaded.
5. Nausea and Stomach Pain
Being anxious can also cause us to have an upset stomach. Feelings of nausea and sharp abdominal pains are oftentimes caused by anxiety, rather than being associated with physical sickness.
6. Headaches
Due to high levels of stress, those who have anxiety problems also suffer from constant, painful headaches.
7. Frequent Urination
Because of stress hormones, if you are chronically anxious, you may also find that you constantly have the urge to pee.
8. Craving Sweets
When we eat sweets, our body receives a sensation of happiness or pleasure. Due to this, people with anxiety may be more tempted to eat sweets to combat their negative feelings.
9. Inability to Focus
If we are experiencing chronic anxiety, our mind may seem to be everywhere. Unfortunately, this can make it quite difficult to focus on our daily tasks making us feel overwhelmed.