Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

Signs and symptoms, such as excessive worrying and reassurance seeking, are how to tell if someone has anxiety. Everyone has anxiety, or feelings of fear, from time to time. Anxiety can sometimes be so frequent and overwhelming that it affects your daily life. Persistent anxious feelings could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.¹

Chand SP, Marwaha R. Anxiety. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.

There are different types of anxiety disorders, but all share the main symptom of excessive fear or worry.¹ Experiencing chronic (long-term) stress or triggers can cause anxiety. Symptoms aren’t only psychological. The symptoms can also be physical or cause changes in your behavior or mood.¹

Knowing the symptoms of anxiety can help you get the support you may need. Read on to learn how you can tell people have anxiety and what it looks like on a person.

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How To Tell if Someone Has Anxiety

About 31% of adults in the United States will experience an anxiety disorder sometime in their life.² One of the most common anxiety disorders is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD causes excessive worry about everyday issues, such as health, money, and relationships.¹

Other types of anxiety disorders include agoraphobia, panic disorder, and phobias. Some people might also have a health condition, such as thyroid problems, that causes anxiety.³ 

Everyone may experience anxiety differently. Anxiety generally includes some of the following signs and symptoms.

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Excessive Worrying

The primary characteristic of anxiety is worry. Most people worry from time to time. You might worry if you have a big event like a wedding coming up or are expecting the results of a health test. People with anxiety struggle with excessive worrying, which may occur as difficult-to-control intrusive thoughts about worst-case scenarios.⁴

Your worry will be exaggerated and out of proportion to the situation if you have an anxiety disorder.⁵ You may worry about losing your job even when there’s no reason to think it’s in jeopardy. Maybe you worry about your significant other breaking up with you even though things have been going well.

Each anxiety disorder has its own set of diagnostic criteria when it comes to worry. Excessive worrying needs to occur for at least six months to be diagnosed with GAD.⁶

Anxious thoughts and worrying can make it hard to settle yourself down and relax. People with an anxiety disorder may feel:¹

• Fearful 
• Fidgety
• Frustrated
• Impatient
• Nervous
• On edge
• Restless
• Tense 

Cognitive Symptoms

Cognition has to do with thinking, reasoning, or remembering. Anxiety can start to take a toll on these aspects of your cognitive function. People with anxiety might have trouble concentrating or might get easily distracted. This can start to affect your performance at work, school, or home.¹

Other anxiety symptoms related to cognition include:¹

• A fear of losing control
• A lost sense of reality 
• Confusion
• Difficulty speaking
• Narrowed attention, focusing only on what it is you are anxious about
• Poor memory
• Scary thoughts, mental images, or memories

Physical Symptoms

Anxiety isn’t only a mental or emotional experience. Anxious thoughts or feelings kick your “fight-or-flight” response into high gear, which can result in physical symptoms.³

You may experience physical symptoms like:⁶¹

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness or lightheadedness 
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle tension or pain
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Stomachache 

Someone with social anxiety disorder might also experience sweating, trembling, and a racing heartbeat. They can also blush, hold a more rigid body posture, and speak in an extra soft tone.³

Behavioral Symptoms

Anxiety can also cause changes in behavior. One of the most common behavioral changes is avoidance, or avoiding activities you normally do because they trigger anxiety.⁷ You may, for example, avoid riding in cars if you’re worried about getting into an accident.

You might also try to seek reassurance to quell your anxiety. The anxiety and its effect on your life might also make you restless or agitated.¹

Some people may try to keep anxiety at bay by using substances like alcohol, cannabis, or illicit drugs. These substances may result in an initial feeling of calm. Substance use has actually been linked to worsening anxiety and mental health in the long term.⁸

You may also struggle to fall or stay asleep at night. Sleep problems can reduce the quantity or quality of sleep you need, leaving you tired the next day. Lack of sleep due to anxiety can cause a vicious cycle, triggering more anxiety or inciting stress and depression.⁹¹⁰

Agoraphobia Symptoms

Agoraphobia is a fear of places that do not feel safe. You may have anxiety going to crowded areas or being outside by yourself.¹¹

Agoraphobia symptoms generally include:¹¹

• Agitation or temper 
• Being afraid to spend time alone, go places where you cannot escape, or lose control in public
• Depending on others
• Feeling like the environment isn’t real
• Feelings of detachment from your body or separation from others
• Helplessness
• Physical symptoms, such as chest pain, choking, nausea, or sweating
• Staying in the house 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Symptoms

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have obsessions, such as intrusive ideas, feelings, and thoughts. These obsessions cause anxiety, which can drive them to practice certain behaviors, or compulsions.¹²

There are different types of obsessions and compulsions. You might have a severe fear of germs, for example. This obsession can then cause you to repeatedly wash your hands, which is a compulsion.

Not everyone who has OCD has the same symptoms, but these typically include:

• Getting anxiety relief from performing compulsions but generally finding these behaviors consuming and tiresome 
• Having problems functioning due to these thoughts and behaviors
• Having uncontrollable thoughts or behaviors, which they may acknowledge as excessive
• Spending at least one hour per day thinking about obsessions or practicing compulsions

Some people with OCD may have tics. Tics can include clearing the throat, eye blinking, or head jerking.

Panic Disorder Symptoms

Panic disorder causes panic attacks, or periods of intense fear. A panic attack can begin out of nowhere and last one hour or longer. Symptoms peak around 10 to 20 minutes. Some symptoms are so intense that you may mistake them for a heart attack.¹³

Panic attack symptoms can include:¹³

• A pounding heart or chest pain
• Chills, hot flashes, or sweating
• Fear of dying or losing control 
• Feeling detached from reality
• Feeling dizzy or faint
• Feeling like you’re choking
• Nausea
• Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or face
• Shortness of breath 
• Trembling

Phobias Symptoms

A phobia is a fear of something that’s otherwise harmless. There are several types of phobia, such as a fear of heights (acrophobia). You’ll likely try to avoid what you’re afraid of as much as possible.¹⁴

People with phobias may have symptoms like:¹⁴

• A strong desire to get away if they’re near something they fear
• Rapid heartbeat
• Severe fear or panic
• Shortness of breath
• Trembling

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after you’ve experienced a traumatic event. PTSD generally causes different types of symptoms:¹⁵

• Avoidance: This typically involves feelings of detachment, emotional numbness, and a lack of interest in your hobbies. You may avoid certain people or places that remind you of the event.
• Hyperarousal: This includes hypervigilance, or constantly being aware of your surroundings. You may be easily startled, have outbursts of anger, or have trouble sleeping.
• Negative thoughts or feelings: PTSD may cause guilt or an inability to remember parts of the event.
• Reliving the traumatic event: You might have flashbacks or nightmares about the event. Some people have regular memories of the event, which can be triggered by certain situations.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

Anxiety that interferes with your everyday functioning and overall well-being can be distressing. It can impact your social, emotional, and physical health and affect your work and relationships. 

Consider visiting a healthcare provider if you have anxiety signs and symptoms. You may also consider seeking help if you have any complications that are associated with the disorder. Complications include digestive issues, insomnia, depression, thoughts of suicide, or alcohol abuse.⁶

A healthcare provider provider will review your health history and symptoms. They may also take blood tests or order other exams to rule out causes of anxiety, such as thyroid disorders and other mental health disorders.⁶

There are a number of treatment options available to help manage your symptoms, including medication, therapy, or a combination of both. A healthcare provider will likely encourage lifestyle changes, such as prioritizing sleep, nutrition, exercise, and relaxation. They might also suggest avoiding things that can worsen symptoms, such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and stress.⁶ 

Questions To Ask Your Provider

Consider asking a healthcare provider the following questions if you seek further care:

• Do I need medication to treat my symptoms?
• What are some relaxation techniques I can use when I’m feeling anxious?
• What type of therapy can alleviate my symptoms? Should I see a mental health specialist, such as a psychologist or a psychiatrist?
• What’s causing my anxiety?

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A Quick Review

Anxiety can be a normal response to a stressful situation or decision, lasting long enough to help you push past the stress. Worry or fear is a mainstay of life with anxiety disorders. Anxiety can be overwhelming and often affects daily life.⁷

Anxiety can cause debilitating mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. These symptoms can include worry; changes in your mood, behavior, cognition, or physical health; and sleep problems.

Linking your symptoms to anxiety is the first step in relieving them and improving your quality of life. Make an appointment to talk with a healthcare provider if you think you may have an anxiety disorder. It can be difficult to ask for help, but it’s possible to improve your anxiety symptoms with the right treatment.