Anxiety Symptoms & Signs
Anxiety can present in a variety of ways, and you can experience anxiety intermittently or all the time. Sometimes triggers like a stressful job, a toxic relationship, or chaotic environments can make your anxiety worse. You may sometimes wonder if it’s fear or anxiety, and be searching “how to know if you have anxiety” (or the quick text version “how to know if u have anxiety”).
Below are some physical signs and symptoms that could mean you’re experiencing anxiety.
Physical signs of anxiety
Be on the lookout for these five common physical signs of anxiety.
- Rapid heartbeat: A faster, more noticeable, and possibly irregular heartbeat
- Breathing difficulties: Having a hard time breathing or breathing rapidly
- Excessive sweating: Sweating more than usual, even when it’s not warm out
- Dizziness: Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Heaviness or smothering sensations: Chest pain or feelings of smothering and heaviness
- Restlessness: Feeling like you can’t sit still and are agitated can be a sign of anxiety
- Muscle tension: Stiff and tense muscles, especially in your upper back, shoulders, and neck area
- Fatigue: Even when sleeping a good 8 hours, you feel drained or tired
- Stomach problems: Anxiety can cause gastrointestinal issues, including nausea, diarrhea, and even irritable bowel syndrome
If you notice them happening more often, it’s probably time to explore some options for anxiety treatment, especially if natural remedies or soothing self-care activities aren’t enough anymore.
How to know whether you have anxiety
Identifying the physical signs above is a good place to start if you’re trying to determine if you have anxiety or not. Anxiety is a complex condition, and often recognizing it involves identifying physical and emotional symptoms.
Some emotional and cognitive symptoms of anxiety to also keep in mind:
- Excessive worrying
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Difficulty focusing on tasks, making decisions, or concentrating in general
- Feeling on edge or restless
- Easily frustrated, impatient, or angry
- Having a panic attack
- Avoiding activities, situations, settings, or people that trigger anxiety symptoms (even if they’re important, like a job)
- Feeling detached or disconnected from others, your surroundings, and even your own body
If these symptoms interfere with your daily life, seeking guidance from a doctor or mental health professional is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment. For some people, anxiety can be persistent and severe, while others may only have mild anxiety or anxiety when specific conditions are present. This is why talking with a mental health professional about your anxiety treatment options – like Alpha-Stim® – is a good first step.
Options for treating anxiety quickly
There are a variety of options for treating anxiety. Therapy is common, and medication has become less popular as people become more aware of the side effects. Alpha-Stim is another option. This small, handheld device is FDA-cleared for treating anxiety (and insomnia – because let’s face it, if you’re anxious, your sleep is likely awful, and if you’re not sleeping, your anxiety is probably getting worse).
Why consider Alpha-Stim® over anxiety medication?
Besides the fact that it costs less than medication long-term, Alpha-Stim also doesn’t have the lasting side effects that medications for anxiety and insomnia do. Plus, if you’re sensitive to medication or already on other medications and worried about interference, Alpha-Stim is a much better option. You can also use Alpha-Stim alongside other anxiety treatments.
> Get some quick information about Alpha-Stim and how to get your own here!
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