30 Signs You Might Have Anxiety

1. Constant feeling of nervousness

Image source/Reddit

A very good sign that you're suffering from anxiety is if you constantly have an overwhelming feeling of being nervous. Whether this is being out in public, or while scrolling through social media, being in a constant state or nervousness is not only very unhealthy, but it is a strong sign that you may have anxiety.

2. Excessive and unnecessary sweating

Image source/Reddit

Do you find yourself breaking out into random, but excessive burst of sweat? If you do, it may be a strong sign you're suffering from anxiety. Typically you're body sweats when under pressure, but if you're not under pressure, and you're just taking part in your normal everyday life you shouldn't be bursting out into sweats. However, just because you may be warm, it doesn't mean you definitely have anxiety!

3. You're having trouble sleeping

Image source/Reddit

It is very common for a person with anxiety to have severe trouble getting off to sleep, as well as staying asleep. Having something constantly running through your mind causing you to lose sleep is a serious sign that you're suffering with anxiety. The resultant sleep deprivation will only continue to make your situation worse, so make sure you seek help as soon as possible.

4. A relentless feeling of impending danger

Image source/Daily Mail

A nasty, but unfortunately common sign of having anxiety is a constant fear of being in danger. People with anxiety typically can't feel safe in public, and it's usually down to an uncontrollable, irrational fear that somebody or something is after them. It's hard to pin down to one thing, but being in a constant state of worry about your safety is a good sign you have anxiety.

5. You have panic attacks

Image source/First Aid For Life 

Probably one of the most recognisable physical signs you're suffering from anxiety is having panic attacks. Panic attacks produce an overwhelming and highly intense sensation of fear which can be extremely debilitating. If they are occurring frequently for you then you must get checked out!

6. Hyperventilating

Image source/Reddit

Excessive amounts of stress and anxiety commonly leads to hyperventilating. The overwhelming feeling of fear and lack of safety can cause a shortness of breath, which very easily escalates to hyperventilation. Suffering with frequent hyperventilation can be a very clear sign you have anxiety.

7. Fatigue

Image source/Reddit

Apart from potentially suffering from lack of sleep, those that sleep well and have an adequate amount of sleep can still suffer from anxiety. If you're sleeping well but are still constantly fatigued throughout the day, you could be suffering from anxiety. Anxiety can be emotionally exhausting, and can easily drain you of your energy.

8. You're easily irritable

Image source/Reddit

It is no shock to hear now that anxiety causes you to be on edge - a lot. So if yourself or a close friend is becoming very snappy and is easily irritated, it's worth considering whether they or yourself is suffering from anxiety. This symptom can be extremely detrimental to whoever's social life, and is much better to be solved immediately.

9. Trembling and shaking

Image source/Reddit 

The stress typically caused by anxiety can make your limbs shake uncontrollably, especially your hands. These types of tremors are different to the ones which people suffering from Parkinson's typically have. Tremors from anxiety are generally due to a constant state of panic, which increases adrenaline and the fight-or-flight response.

10. You're concentration is poor

Image source/Reddit 

Find yourself struggling to concentrate a lot? We're not saying you have anxiety but there's every reason you could. Anxiety can cause you serious worry and occupy your mind very easily, which as a result makes you very prone to distractions. Anxious thoughts can make procrastination easy as well.

11. Agoraphobia

Image source/Very Well Mind

Agoraphobia is just a technical way of saying afraid of public places and interacting with others. If the thought of being a crowded place, or even just leaving the house causes you immense distress, there's a very high chance that you're suffering from Anxiety.

12. Muscle aches

Image source/RedditMuscle and joint pain can be caused by tension. Anxiety will cause your muscles to tense up, which as a result will lead to pain and stiffness across your body. In addition, constant stress and worry can increase inflammation in your body, which can lead to a range of complications including joint pain.

13. You dislike your appearance

Image source/RedditIf you find yourself constantly criticising the way you look, whether it's how thick your waist is or how skinny your arms are, there's a good chance you're suffering from anxiety. People with anxiety often feel like everyone is staring at them, this is often due to an insecurity in their appearance.

14. You're a perfectionist

Image source/Aubtu

Anxiety disorder and being a perfectionist often go hand in hand with each other. If you find yourself constantly critiquing yourself or always nervous about things not being perfect, then this is a good sign you may have anxiety. No matter how small it may seem, if something not being perfect makes you extremely uncomfortable then you likely have anxiety.

15. You anticipate the worst

Image source/WIRED

Most people are either described as a "glass half full" or a "glass half empty" kind of person. If you're a "glass half empty" person, who struggles to see the positives in things, there's a good chance you're showing signs of anxiety. Those suffering with anxiety typically expect the worse from situations and will plan for the wort possible outcome.

16. Feelings of derealization

Image source/Reddit

Do you ever just feel that the world around you is just lifeless, that it is somewhat unreal? If you do, this feeling is known as derealization and is a common sign of anxiety. Anxiety can cause you to feel extremely empty, which consequently makes the world around you feel very meaningless.

17. Digestive discomfort

Image source/Reddit

Several digestive problems, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), all have been shown to have a strong link to chronic stress and anxiety. Anxiety has also shown some correlation to an increase in symptoms of food intolerances and sensitivities in some people.

18. Flashbacks

Image source/YouMeMindBodyMost people associate having flashbacks to people who've experienced previous severe trauma, however, flashbacks can also occur due to anxiety. If somebody finds a certain task very stressful and uneasy, for example public speaking, they may continue to have repeated flashbacks of a time they really struggled with it.

19. You start cancelling plans

Image source/Reddit

If a close friend is frequently cancelling plans, you may want to look out for them, as they could be suffering from anxiety. Suffering from anxiety can completely put you off social events, whether it's a fear of being judged by others or a fear of spending money. Either way, it is extremely damaging and harmful.

20. Your memory can worsen

Image source/The DIY Lighthouse

Anxiety can cause your mind to become foggy and your thinking becomes unclear. As a result this can significantly worsen your memory due to your brain being in a constant state of stress. Your mind is so occupied on what's making you anxious that it doesn't have to capacity to remember certain things.

21. You over consume alcohol

Image source/Reddit

Suffering from anxiety is not only devastating, but it can be difficult to come to terms with. A sign that you're struggling with the disorder is excessive consumption of alcohol. This for some is the only way to cope with the stress and can be a good sign that somebody is struggling with not only anxiety, but any form of mental health.

22. You have specific phobias

Image source/Reddit

Not everyone suffering from anxiety has a generalised form of it. If you find yourself with an intense phobia around a certain situation, then you have anxiety! This can range vastly from flying on a plane to going to the dentist, either way these phobias can be controlling and extremely detrimental.

23. You bite your nails

Image source/Wikipedia

Biting your nails can be a very obvious sign that you're suffering from anxiety. For many of you it may just be a guilty habit you do when nervous, but biting your nails over a prolonged period of time can be a clear sign you're suffering from anxiety.

24. You start losing weight

Image source/Reddit

If you start to notice a sudden drop in your weight, you could potentially be suffering with anxiety. Due to the severe stress caused by anxiety, it can easily take over your mind and prevent you from feeling hungry. As a result, you will begin to notice a significant weight drop.

25. You feel you have to please people

Image source/Reddit

When suffering with anxiety, you constantly feel that you need to please people. This is likely due to lack of self esteem, and feeling that people will judge you if you're not constantly trying to please them. So if you find your self constantly looking for others approval, you could be showing signs of suffering with anxiety.

26. You have a history of trauma

Image source/RedditHaving suffered from previous traumas, you are instantly at a much greater risk of developing anxiety - if you haven't already! It's pretty clear from research that experiencing a traumatic event will significantly increase the likelihood of developing chronic stress and eventually anxiety.

27. Your mouth can go dry

Image source/The MirrorIf you're suffering from anxiety, your nervous system can go into overdrive. As a result of this, one side effect is a dry mouth. This symptom occurs as the brain believes you're in danger and is preparing for a threat, so your blood moves to your muscles which consequently makes your mouth dry.

28. You over apologize

Image source/Reddit

It's easy when suffering with anxiety to avoid any situation of discomfort. This however can often lead to you becoming over apologetic just to try and eliminate any kind of distress. A lot of the time, people with anxiety are typically apologising for insignificant things.

29. You crave junk food

Image source/Reddit

When suffering with anxiety, it's easy to find comfort in things like junk food. The high sugar and fatty foods can give you short bursts of energy which your body is depleted of when you're suffering from severe stress. For some people anxiety stops them from eating, in this case it works the opposite.

30. You have a hard time feeling good

Image source/Twitter

Everyone does things that make them feel good, whether thats playing their favourite sport and driving a fast car. If all of a sudden doing what you love doesn't seem to please you, you may be suffering with anxiety. Anxiety messes with your brain's pleasure centers and makes it difficult to feel enjoyment.

31. You get headaches a lot

image source: reddit.com

Anxiety and worrying can easily lead to stress - it often goes hand in hand - and a lot of stress can lead to headaches. If you suffer from a lot of headaches without any other cause for them, it could be a sign that anxiety is leaving you with an aching head along with everything else!

32. You find yourself clenching your jaw

image source: reddit.com

There are lots of things your body can do compulsively or without you realizing when you're suffering from anxiety and stress, and usually these are things that are tight or strained, like clenching your fists, having your muscles tighten up, or - in a lot of cases - clenching your jaw!

33. You might stammer a lot

image source: reddit.com

When you have anxiety, you can have a whirl of neverending thoughts in your head that can all want to rush out at once when you speak. This might result in you tripping over your words if you're worried about what you're saying, or what you're thinking - or both!

34. Do you find your hands trembling from time to time?

image source: reddit.com

While you can have trembling and shaking anywhere in your body when you have anxiety, it's common to get it in your hands. You might find your hands are shaking in general, or they might shake more noticeably in a particularly stressful situation, or when you're trying to hold something!

35. You blush a lot

image source: reddit.com

Flushed skin and heavy blushing can be associated with anxiety, because you might suddenly feel like you're in the spotlight if someone asks you something, or if you have to go anywhere with others that you're worried about. With a quickened heartbeat might come more flushed skin.

36. And you might feel hot

image source: reddit.com

You can get flushed and blush all the time without actually feeling hot, but with anxiety, you're likely to feel very hot and uncomfortable, too. When you're in situations that make you feel anxious, you're likely to want to start taking off the layers because you feel a bit trapped.

37. You get ill all the time

image source: reddit.com

Do you find that you're constantly falling sick, getting ill or catching whatever is going round at the moment? When you're anxious and stressed, it can weaken your immune system - especially if you're not sleeping right or eating healthily - so it's more likely you'll get ill.

38. You might also suffer from itchy skin

image source: reddit.com

This could be a by-product of being flushed and really warm, but it could also be a symptom in itself. You might have itchy skin and rashes because you're feeling on edge, and could even be scratching yourself without realise because of a nervous tick.

39. You battle with heartburn and indigestion a lot

image source: reddit.com

It's easy to get heartburn when you're anxious and stressed because it can play havoc with your digestion. Not only will you be more likely to be eating junk food when anxious - which can be heavy and bloating - but you might be wolfing down your food in an anxious way, resulting in indigestion.

40. You need to pee all the time

image source: reddit.com

If you need to pee a lot during moments when you're feeling worked up - and granted you don't have any other urinary problem! - this can be a sign of anxiety. This is because when you're anxious, it can cause your muscles to tense - which can put pressure on your bladder.

41. Your day-to-day is really disrupted

image source: reddit.com

A good way to see if you might have chronic anxiety is to pay attention to how it's affecting daily life. If you're simply anxious about one thing, you'll feel anxious only until it's passed. But if you have general anxiety, it's going to affect every little thing you do, day in and day out.

42. You feel like you've reached breaking point

image source: reddit.com

When you're feeling worried about one particular thing, you know that it's only temporary once you've got that thing out of the way. But people with anxiety know that there's no finishing line - it's difficult to see a way out because you feel like you're stuck with anxiety forever.

43. You actually feel better when you push yourself to do something

image source: reddit.com

The annoying thing about anxiety is that you get worked up over nothing, even when you know you shouldn't. Do you feel anxious about nipping to the store, push yourself to do it only to get home and think, 'What was I even worry about? I'm glad I went to the store now!'. If you feel good when you do things, it can be a sign anxiety is stopping you.

44. Other people have mentioned it

image source: reddit.com

If you're having anxiety, it can be very noticeable with those who are closest to you. Friends, family members or partners might suddenly notice that you seem more anxious, worried, withdrawn or acting out of your normal routine - so it's important to pay attention to people saying that you're acting anxious.

45. Your sex life has been affected

image source: reddit.com

Anxiety can very much affect your sex life, because it's likely you'll be less in the mood when you're suffering from anxiety. You may find you have zero libido, and it can even put strains on relationships if you haven't been in the mood for physical intimacy. But it's important to remember it's not your fault - and you've done nothing wrong!

46. Made up ideas snowball in your head

image source: reddit.com

Have you ever done one of those fake interviews with yourself in the shower for fun? Well it's kind of like that, except you suddenly makeup stressful situations in your head, like fake arguments or what someone might say to you at the party you're going to, and then it escalates to a whole situation which by the end you're convinced that's what's going to happen - and then you feel even worse.

47. You get very angry, very quickly

image source: reddit.com

It's very likely that you're going to have a short fuse when you have anxiety, and that's because you're so on edge. It's sort of a flight or fight, except when you can't avoid a situation, you fight - in the form of getting angry and defensive. Something someone says might spark something anxious in you and you might snap back.

48. You have frequent nightmares

image source: reddit.com

While anxiety can severely affect your sleep in terms of you not getting any at all, it can also negatively impact the sleep you do get if you eventually do drift off. This can manifest as nightmares if your subconscious is constantly worrying about things and feeling anxious.

49. You have trouble learning new things

image source: reddit.com

When you're riddled with anxiety, you're going to find it very hard to concentrate or focus - and this means taking in new information is very difficult for you. You'll likely forget things straight away if you don't make notes, and you just can't motivate yourself to learn something easily when you're so on edge.

50. And you're constantly overwhelmed

image source: reddit.com

And all of this comes crashing down in an overwhelming wave of stress and uncertainty. You might constantly feel like you're ready to burst and just completely burdened by this feeling of dread, of which you may or may not know the cause! And, of course, the overwhelming feeling just makes you feel more anxious!