Nail picking and biting, leaving gasps of breath, crying without a warning, feeling a pit in your stomach are all signs and manifestations of anxiety. We understand that we are anxious when such physical signs show up, however, we sometimes do not realise that our body is trying to tell us that we are anxious, as we fail to link some of these signs to an issue that is psychological in nature.
To learn different lesser-known signs of anxiety and ways to overcome it, we at OnlyMyHealth got in touch with Dr. Arti Anand, Senior Consultant, Psychiatry, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.
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What Is Anxiety Disorder?
According to Mayo Clinic, individuals suffering from anxiety disorders often experience overwhelming, excessive, and persistent worry and fear regarding commonplace situations. These disorders frequently lead to recurrent instances of sudden, intense anxiety, fear, or panic that peak within minutes.
Such feelings of anxiety and panic can disrupt daily life, are challenging to manage, feel disproportionate to the actual threat, and may persist for an extended period. To avoid these feelings, you might steer clear of certain places or situations. Symptoms can begin during childhood or adolescence and may carry on into adulthood.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), additional symptoms of anxiety disorders may involve:
- Difficulty concentrating or making choices
- Feeling irritable, tense, or restless
- Experiencing nausea or gastrointestinal distress
- Having heart palpitations
- Sweating, trembling, or shaking
- Having trouble sleeping
- Feeling a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom.
Lesser Known Manifestations of Anxiety
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According to Dr Anand, anxiety manifests in these seven lesser-known ways.
1. Chronic Fatigue That Doesn’t Improve with Rest
One lesser-known sign or symptom of anxiety can be fatigue and exhaustion, particularly persistent fatigue that doesn’t get better with rest. Long-term anxiety and stress are linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, which leaves individuals feeling tired regardless of how much rest they receive.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel symptoms are often seen as being triggered or maintained by anxiety. When facing prolonged stress, the body struggles to return to a balanced state, affecting functions like digestion. Additionally, signals from the gut may reach the brain, indicating that something is amiss.
According to a PubMed Central research, this communication might influence mood, which in turn can impact digestion. The gut microbiome (the microorganisms within) plays a crucial role as well.
Another review indicates that intestinal bacteria in the gut communicate with both the brain and the digestive system. When these messages get disrupted, it can negatively affect emotions, sensations, and digestive functions.
3. Muscle Tension
Muscle pain in the body can indicate psychological distress, psychological anxiety, or stress-related anxiety. This protective reaction explains why the stress response is often termed the fight or flight response, the emergency response, or the fight, flight, or freeze response. One physiological change that occurs during the stress response is the tightening of body muscles, making the body more resistant to threats in dangerous situations.
4. Memory Issues and Absent-Mindedness
Severe and intense anxiety can lead to difficulties with memory and increased forgetfulness. Chronic stress exposure negatively impacts both your brain and body. Studies have shown that long-term stress and anxiety can,
- Damage your memory
- Influence your judgment
5. Mood Disorders and Irritability
It's been observed that mood disorders and issues with anger can stem from anxiety disorders. Any form of anxiety can result in irritability, frustration, and problems with anger. Studies have shown that long-term stress and anxiety can result in mood disorders.
6. Restlessness
Anxiety can also result in restlessness. Cognitive research indicates that fidgeting is linked to our levels of stimulation. This suggests that fidgeting may serve as a self-regulation mechanism, helping us either to enhance or decrease our attention levels based on the requirements, whether it’s to calm or energise us.
7. Sleep Disruptions
Anxiety may prevent you from getting quality sleep, either due to difficulty falling asleep initially or being awakened by worries during the night. As a result, you might feel especially fatigued during the day. The connection between sleep and anxiety is intricate.
Anxiety can interfere with your sleep, while lack of restful sleep can lead to increased anxiety. A study found that individuals with insomnia were 9.8 times more likely to experience anxiety compared to those without insomnia.
How Can You Overcome Anxiety?
Dr Anand says, “We can overcome this anxiety or these symptoms by doing regular breathing exercises. Additionally, mindfulness and relaxation techniques too can be learned. Regular physical exercise can release pent up negative energies which will lead to a positive state of mind.”
Dr Anand lastly emphasises that journaling of negative thoughts can also reduce anxiety. Most importantly, following a consistent sleep hygiene routine helps to reduce anxiety and it can also prevent anxiety symptoms. In severe cases, take help of a psychologist.