When people hear the term “anxiety”, many will associate this with nervousness, an inability to sit still, sweating, or even rapid breathing or heartbeats. While these are certainly some of the more well known symptoms associated with anxiety, they are not the only symptoms. In fact, some people can experience anxiety in different ways and may rarely or never experience the more common anxiety symptoms.
Yet, just because one doesn’t experience anxiety in the “traditional” sense, doesn’t mean that it won’t still take a toll on their mental health. For this reason, it is important to recognize some of the lesser known symptoms of anxiety so you can seek the necessary treatment and take control of your anxiety. Here are 7 lesser known symptoms of anxiety:
Fatigue
Being tired all the time is one symptom of anxiety that people don’t often associate with anxiety. Contrary to popular belief, people with anxiety are not always wired. In fact, the constant worrying about things can be exhausting and make it hard to stay awake and alert during the daytime.
Perfectionism
There is a fine line between striving for self-improvement and being obsessed with perfection. Extreme perfectionism that takes over everything else in your life is an indication of anxiety. Oftentimes, people with anxiety strive for perfection because they fear the consequences of being less than perfect or not good enough.
Stomach Aches
If you are regularly experiencing stomach aches with no apparent medical cause, they could actually be a sign of anxiety. This is because anxiety triggers the fight or flight response that interrupts proper digestion. The result is nausea, stomach aches, and diarrhea. To determine if anxiety is the cause, you will want to visit your doctor to rule out any digestive disorders.
Being Indecisive
Struggling to make decisions or believing that one small decision can drastically change things are signs of anxiety. People who are indecisive often feel overwhelmed by the choices and may even procrastinate on picking one or the other for fear of choosing the wrong one.
Avoidance
A person with anxiety may start to avoid certain situations that cause their anxiety levels to increase. However, they often don’t even realize they are avoiding these situations or why they are avoiding them. Eventually avoidance can become a habit used to cope with situations that cause anxiety.
Hard Time Dealing with Stress
Stress is tough for most people to deal with, however it can be especially difficult for someone with anxiety. This is partially because people with anxiety don’t respond well to situations that are out of their control. Oftentimes, the simplest inconveniences can be seen by someone with anxiety as a life-altering tragedy. This is usually exhibited as emotional outbursts, random crying, and feeling frustrated for seemingly no reason.
Cold Hands and Feet
As mentioned before, anxiety can trigger your body’s fight or flight response. When this happens, your body will direct blood flow away from the extremities and towards vital organs. As a result, your hands and feet will feel icy cold, even when there is no reason they should be. If you frequently have cold hands and feet, this can be a sign of anxiety.
Dr. Miller is trained in Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is also trained in Anesthesia and Pain Management. Because of her broad experience, Dr. Miller is uniquely qualified to treat psychological trauma, depression and anxiety that can occur as a result of injury or disability. For more information, schedule a consultation at NJ Family Psychiatry & Therapy.
