Anxiety can appear in many forms, affecting your physical health, mental state, and behavior. It can be challenging to identify when anxiety is behind the changes in how you feel or act.
Physical Symptoms
- Faster, irregular, or more noticeable heartbeat
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Headaches
- Chest pain
- Loss of appetite
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling overheated
- Shaking
Mental Symptoms
- Feeling tense or uneasy
- Trouble relaxing
- Worrying about the past or future
- Feeling on the verge of tears
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble concentrating
- Fear of something bad happening
- Intrusive or disturbing memories
- Persistent, obsessive thoughts
Behavioral Changes
- Difficulty enjoying hobbies or leisure activities
- Struggling to take care of yourself
- Problems forming or keeping relationships
- Fear of trying new experiences
- Avoiding places or situations that trigger anxiety
- Engaging in compulsive behaviors, like excessive checking
Symptoms of a Panic Attack
If you experience sudden and overwhelming anxiety or fear, you may be having a panic attack.
Other symptoms may include:
- Racing heart
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Feeling out of control
- Sweating, shaking, or trembling
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- Tingling sensations in your fingers or lips
- Nausea
Panic attacks usually last between 5 and 30 minutes. Although they can be very distressing, they are not dangerous and won’t cause lasting harm.
