10 Subtle Signs You’re Suffering From Anxiety Part 1
Today I’d like to talk about a topic close to my heart. How to recognise the subtle signs you’re suffering from anxiety. We all get anxious sometimes; it’s a natural response to uncertainty or potentially threatening situations. However, for some of us, the anxiety switch that should only be flicked on in certain conditions gets jammed, and we’re anxious to some degree constantly.
Sometimes, it’s very clear we’re anxious and need to calm down. However, when you’re continually anxious, it can show itself in subtle ways that you may not recognise. So let’s look at the subtle signs you’re suffering from anxiety.
1) Restlessness
Do you find it hard to settle? Or if you sit down for a length of time, you feel the need to get up and pace? Many people see it as simply liking to keep busy, but it is a telltale sign of anxiety. Your body needs rest, and you shouldn’t feel the urge to be on the move all the time. Consider why you can’t allow yourself time to relax, especially if this is new behaviour for you.
2) Insomnia
Do you find it hard to switch off your brain when you’re trying to get to sleep? You may not think you’re anxious because your thoughts aren’t inherently anxious ones. However, if you find your brain going a million miles an hour as soon as you lie down to sleep, it is one of the subtle signs you’re suffering from anxiety.
This can also show itself as you not being able to stay asleep and finding it hard to drift back off once you’re awake. A lack of quality sleep damages your body and mind, so it’s crucial you recognise that it’s a problem.
3) Hypervigilance
This is a huge problem for me! Hypervigilance is when you are continually in fight or flight mode. Your body is constantly on alert, looking for any threat from others or your environment. This is a natural response to a dangerous situation, but the vast majority of the time, you’re not in a dangerous situation, so this response is wrong. Constantly being hyper-aware is exhausting for your body.
The main symptoms are:
- sweating
- finding your breathing is fast and shallow
- a racing heart
- Being very jumpy or easily startled
- feelings of worry or even panic
In my case, I am incredibly easily startled. I jump at everything. When I was able to drive, a car appearing suddenly at a junction would make me visibly jump, and my heart would be pounding for a while after. Cars appearing at junctions is a normal part of driving, so it made life difficult. I often felt sure they were going to pull out and hit me.
Similarly, if someone suddenly moves their hand, I often flinch. It’s an unnecessary reaction to an everyday event. Eventually, I got so frustrated I looked up my reactions online. That’s when I discovered it’s one of the subtle signs you’re suffering from anxiety.
4) Excessive Planning
If you have to have every situation meticulously planned out it’s a sign of anxiety. If you’re going on a trip or even meeting friends, it’s natural to have a plan. For example, what time will you meet, where, if you need to bring anything, how will you get there, etc. If you’re spending a large amount of time overplanning, it’s a sign of anxiety.
So, if you’re driving, you may plan your route. You might also look at an alternative route in case of traffic jams. This is normal. If you find yourself planning multiple routes and trying to factor in every single contingency, that’s a sign of anxiety.
Another possibility is you think of every topic of conversation that might arise and plan what your answer will be. You may even take it further and consider what your friends might say next and how you’ll respond to that. Conversations are generally meant to be spontaneous, so worrying that you’ll say something wrong or feeling like you need a plan is a definite red flag.
5) Constantly Apologising
If you’re terrified you’re going to say the wrong thing, upset someone else, or look stupid, you may find yourself apologising all the time. It can be for things that aren’t your fault and for situations that don’t require an apology. If you do this, it can be one of the subtle signs you’re suffering from anxiety.
Stay Tuned
Those are the first five subtle signs you’re suffering from anxiety but stay tuned for part 2 when I’ll discuss five more. Feel free to pop me a comment if these things affect you or with any questions.
I’d like to end with an apology. I’m sorry my last post on Thursday was missing, but after 2+ years, it’s finally happened, and I’ve caught covid. I don’t feel too bad today and hopefully will be fighting fit soon. Take care of yourselves 😃
