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What Is Anxiety? Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Writer's picture: Samantha FotiSamantha Foti

Updated: Feb 8

Anxiety is often thought of as constant worry, racing thoughts, or feeling panicked—but it can manifest in other ways you might not expect. Understanding how anxiety shows up in your life can help you recognize when it’s happening and take steps to manage it effectively.


The Many Faces of Anxiety

Anxiety isn’t just about feeling nervous or fearful. It can show up in ways that might not immediately seem connected, such as:

  • Irritability and Anger: Anxiety often masks itself as frustration, snappiness, or even rage. If you find yourself having frequent outbursts or feeling on edge for no clear reason, underlying anxiety may be at play.

  • Feeling Disconnected from Your Thoughts: Some people with anxiety describe feeling like their mind goes blank or they can’t even pinpoint what’s bothering them—it’s just a constant state of unease.

  • Perfectionism and Over-Control: Anxiety can drive a need to control everything around you, making you hyper-focused on details or feeling paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake.

  • Physical Discomfort Without a Clear Cause: Digestive issues, muscle tension, headaches, and fatigue are common physical symptoms of anxiety, often overlooked or misattributed to other causes.


    A woman with closed eyes presses her temples, appearing stressed. She wears a scarf and ring, with a blurred dark background.

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety affects the body just as much as it affects the mind. Some of the most common physical symptoms include:

  • Muscle tension (especially in the shoulders, jaw, or stomach)

  • Racing heart or palpitations

  • Digestive issues, like nausea, bloating, or IBS-like symptoms

  • Fatigue despite getting enough sleep

  • Restlessness or feeling unable to relax

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

These symptoms can be confusing, especially when they appear without an obvious stressor. Many people go to doctors searching for a medical explanation, only to realize later that anxiety is the root cause.

Woman in white top and yellow shorts sitting on bed, bent over in pain. Background shows a table with a plant, book, and glass of water.


Emotional and Cognitive Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety isn’t just about worrying too much—it affects emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in subtle ways:

  • Persistent sense of dread or feeling like something bad is going to happen

  • Racing or looping thoughts that you can’t turn off

  • Difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally scattered

  • Overanalyzing past conversations or interactions

  • Feeling detached from your surroundings or your own thoughts (sometimes called depersonalization or derealization)

  • Avoidance behaviors, like procrastinating or withdrawing from social interactions

    Young person in a white shirt holds their head with one hand, eyes closed, appearing thoughtful or stressed. Soft, neutral background.

How Anxiety Impacts Daily Life

When anxiety goes unrecognized or unmanaged, it can shape your daily life in profound ways. You might:

  • Feel exhausted from constantly being in “fight or flight” mode

  • Snap at loved ones or feel frustrated over small things

  • Struggle with decision-making because of fear of making the “wrong” choice

  • Find yourself unable to enjoy the present moment because your mind is always racing ahead

  • Feel like you have to keep moving or stay busy to avoid sitting with anxious thoughts

Recognizing Anxiety in Yourself

If any of these symptoms resonate with you, it may be helpful to reflect on how anxiety is showing up in your life. Ask yourself:

  • Do I feel constantly tense or on edge, even when nothing is “wrong”?

  • Am I reacting to stress with anger, withdrawal, or over-control?

  • Do I struggle with physical symptoms that don’t seem to have a clear medical cause?

Anxiety is highly treatable, and recognizing it is the first step toward managing it. Therapy, mindfulness, lifestyle changes, and sometimes medication can all be effective tools in reducing anxiety’s impact on your life.

If anxiety is interfering with your daily life, consider reaching out for support—you don’t have to manage it alone.



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