This Is the #1 Sign of Anxiety That People Often Miss—Does It Sound Familiar?

Emily Laurence
·4 min read
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Sometimes, it’s pretty obvious that someone is anxious. Maybe they have a nervous tic, like biting their nails or fidgeting. Someone with social anxiety may rely on alcohol to feel more comfortable at a party or networking event. Sometimes, anxiety is so overwhelming that someone may experience an all-out panic attack.

But other times, signs of anxiety aren’t so obvious. In fact, therapists say that sometimes, people don’t even realize the signs of anxiety in their own lives. When this happens, it prevents someone from taking steps to treat their anxiety and then it can get worse over time. Here, therapists reveal the biggest signs of anxiety that people often miss.

Related: Feeling Anxious? We Could 7 Tried and True Strategies to Help You Deal

The Biggest Sign of Anxiety People Often Miss

Stephanie Carlyle, LCPC, is the regional clinic director of Thriveworks and a licensed clinical professional counselor who specializes in stress, anxiety, relationships and coping skills. She says that one of the biggest signs of anxiety that people often miss is mischaracterizing anxiety as everyday stress. In other words, they think that how they’re feeling is normal and just the way things are.

Carlyle explains that while everyone experiences stress from time to time, someone with a diagnosable generalized anxiety disorder experiences persistent and overwhelming worry, even when there is no specific stressor. “People often do not make the connection [between high feelings of persistent stress and anxiety] because they assume that everyone feels this way,” Carlyle says. “It can be difficult for us to be objective about our own experiences and we may not recognize just how much anxiety is negatively impacting our lives and that there are things that we can do to manage it.”

In actuality, it isn’t normal to feel on edge or stressed out all the time. If you do feel this way, consider it a wake-up call that you’re experiencing anxiety and should take steps to minimize it. Ways to do this can include seeing a therapist, prioritizing self-care, exercising regularly and meditating.

Related: This Is the #1 Worst Habit for Anxiety

Other Signs of Anxiety People Often Miss

Besides assuming that feeling persistent stress is normal, there are other signs of anxiety that often fly under the radar. Carlyle and Shawn Singh, JD, the CEO of mental health company Vistagen, both say that often, people miss the physical ways anxiety can show up in the body. “Anxiety can manifest in various ways, some of which may be less obvious than others,” Singh says.

Carlyle explains that some physical ways that anxiety shows up in the body can include headaches, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, rapid breathing and digestive issues. “People may attribute these signs to a physical condition when, in reality, they are a direct result of the anxiety and not due to another medical condition,” she says.

Related: 101 Anxiety Quotes To Help You Get Through and Lift Your Spirits 

Singh says that people who are anxious may be irritable, have trouble sleeping or experience difficulty concentrating—all other symptoms that many don’t realize are signs of anxiety. “While there are specific symptoms of anxiety, the way in which people exhibit these may look different depending on the person,” he says. “It’s important that we check in on each other and create an open environment within our communities. That way, if there is someone struggling with anxiety but able to hide it from others or are not demonstrating ‘typical’ symptoms, they feel comfortable in speaking up about it and asking for help.”

If you’re reading this and you’re starting to realize that the signs highlighted here—whether it’s experiencing high levels of worry or stress that you assumed were “normal” or the physical symptoms listed—could be due to anxiety, both experts say that it’s important to seek help. “First and foremost, it’s important to see your primary care provider to rule out any underlying medical conditions,” Carlyle says. Secondly, she says talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can be helpful in finding ways to manage anxiety. “Finally, for some people, medications such as SSRIs can be helpful, so scheduling an appointment with a prescriber to explore options is recommended,” she says.

Even though anxiety is common, no one is meant to function in an anxious state. There are proven ways to manage anxiety, if you seek out help. The first step is recognizing the signs—and now you know the biggest ones that are often overlooked.

Next up, find out what the number one best habit for anxiety is, according to mental health experts.

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