Physical Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their lives. Whether it’s an upcoming presentation, an important medical procedure, financial concerns, or a loved one’s illness, anxiety can occur anytime a stressful or upsetting life event occurs. Many people experience emotional symptoms, such as worrying, restlessness, and trouble concentrating. But, physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, rapid heart rate, and sweating are also common.¹

It’s worth noting that there are several types of anxiety—ranging from separation anxiety to generalized anxiety disorder. Symptoms of each condition can vary, so knowing the signs can help you identify which type of anxiety you may be experiencing.²³

Physical Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

As one of the most common anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affects up to 20% of adults. GAD can cause a variety of emotional symptoms like feeling consumed by fear and worry, being overwhelmed, and having persistent fears about everyday things.⁴ But this condition may also produce the following physical symptoms:⁴⁵

• Inability to relax
• Getting startled easily
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Muscle pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fatigue
• Twitching or trembling
• Excessive sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Diarrhea

Physical Symptoms of Social Anxiety

If you have social anxiety, you might experience anxious thoughts in social situations—especially if you think you will be judged, humiliated, rejected, or evaluated in some way. Anxiety might occur when you meet new people, attend a job interview, answer questions in class, or even talk to someone at a store.⁶

Many people with social anxiety may avoid doing things that put them in these social situations. But some of the emotional consequences of this avoidance can sometimes include isolation and loneliness. Additionally, physical symptoms can also occur if you experience social anxiety, including:⁶⁵

• Blushing
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Rigid body posture
• Rapid heart rate
• Not making eye contact with others
• Nausea or vomiting

Physical Symptoms of Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that causes sudden waves of fear and feelings of panic. With this condition, you may feel like you are losing control of your thoughts and body, even if you are not in immediate danger. Aside from overwhelming thoughts of fear and worry, many people with panic disorder or those who experience panic attacks experience physical symptoms. Oftentimes, these symptoms resemble a heart attack.⁷

Panic attacks can be particularly debilitating because they can occur at any time. This causes people with panic disorder to worry about the possibility of having another panic attack and may lead them to alter their lives or avoid anything that they think could cause them to have a panic attack. There’s also no predicting how often a panic attack will occur. Some people have them several times a day while others only have one or two a year.⁵

If you experience panic disorder or have panic attacks, it’s possible to experience the following physical symptoms:⁷⁵

• Racing heart
• Sweating
• Chills
• Trembling
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Hand numbness
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain

Physical Symptoms of Separation Anxiety

Although most people assume that separation anxiety only occurs in children, it also can affect adults. Adults who have separation anxiety are afraid to be away from their loved ones.⁸ With separation anxiety, you might worry that something might happen to your loved ones while you are separated. This condition may also influence you to avoid spending time alone or traveling without loved ones.⁸

If you have separation anxiety, you may also experience a few physical symptoms, such as:⁵

• Nightmares
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), people develop an anxiety disorder when they experience symptoms for longer than six months.⁹ But, you shouldn’t wait that long before seeing a healthcare provider—especially if your symptoms are interfering with your daily life.

Keep in mind: the physical signs of anxiety can mimic those of other medical conditions. So it’s important to see your provider soon if you notice changes to your physical health so they can evaluate whether your symptoms are due to a different underlying condition. Experts also recommend seeing a provider as soon as you can if you develop heart palpitations, trouble breathing, and sleep problems.⁸¹⁰

Questions to Ask a Healthcare Provider

If you decide to go in for an evaluation for your anxiety, it can help to come prepared with some questions to ask your provider. Consider the following:

• What’s the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder?
• How do you tell the difference between a panic attack and a heart attack?
• What tests are available to diagnose anxiety?
• Are there things I can do at home to reduce my physical symptoms?
• Which treatments are available if self-care and at-home remedies don’t help?

A Quick Review

Everyone experiences anxiety at one point in their life. While many people with anxiety experience emotional symptoms like feeling fear, thoughts of worrying, and trouble concentrating, physical symptoms often occur alongside. Your exact physical symptoms will depend on the type of anxiety you’re experiencing—whether that’s GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, or separation anxiety. In many cases, physical symptoms may include trouble sleeping, nausea, headaches, and muscle pain.