What Are Anxiety Symptoms? A Guide To Truly Understanding…

Anxiety symptoms can be so very overwhelming. Many people have trouble differentiating true physical symptoms and anxiety. The truth is that anxiety can double or triple the amount of physical pain one is feeling even when the physical pain is legit and not solely anxiety. That feeling of tightness in your chest that makes you want to hit the wall or run but you don’t know where to go. Your head is spinning in 1,000 directions and it feels like a ping pong ball bouncing with no end. Your palms are sweating and you can’t stop moving or fidgeting. Or maybe you are in complete shock that you just feel blankness and withdraw. 

I know that it can become mentally and physically exhausting to live life with anxiety. Having a solid understanding of what anxiety symptoms look and feel like can help you better solve and tackle the anxiety itself. Let’s dive in deeper to truly understand what are anxiety symptoms. 

Man lays his head against his knees sitting on the floor with his eyes shut

Anxiety symptoms include: 

  • Feeling nervous, restless or tense
  • Having difficulty controlling worry
  • A sense of impending danger, panic or doom
  • Having an increased heart rate
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
  • Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

There are so many pressures in life on a regular basis. I know you know what I am talking about. The pressure of being the good parent you want to be. Driving your kids around from point A to B to C.. and maybe F? The ultimate pressures of making sure they are doing well in school. But maybe they don’t care and you don’t know how to get them to invest in themselves. The pressure of wanting to be a good partner but you feel like you can’t win. Maybe your anxiety is leading you to be more reactive with your partner or making your sex life dwindle. Or it could be the pressure of your job that consumes your mind even post work hours. You’re not getting a break. 

Why does it feel so bad? 

Often times anxiety is something that is deep rooted with many layers to it. How do you handle conflict? What do you do when something bothers or worries you? Do you hide it below the surface or do you deal with it? The reality is that many of us have trouble being vulnerable, allowing space to tolerate the anxiety, and deal with what is in front of us. Instead the solution becomes stuffing it down and moving onto the next thing or just waiting for it to pass. But what happens? Quite literally this can feel like a ball of anxiety in your stomach. Like your stomach has a whole bunch of knots.  

woman holds her chin looking blankly in the light of a screen

And when you let anxiety symptoms go untaken care of- You ultimately teach yourself a message of “I can’t handle anxiety. It’s too hard.”

As a result, anxiety symptoms will become more apparent in your life than you would like. And we all know that anxiety can truly impact all parts of your life. It impacts your ability to be present, care and connect with your children in the way you would like, your marriage or intimate relationship suffers, and work takes a hit. Really all facets of life.      

How do I know what help to get for these anxiety symptoms? 

Many people are unsure what route to go when thinking of getting help for anxiety.The first step that many people think of when they have high anxiety is medication.  A general medical workup is always a good idea to double check on vitamin deficiencies or anything else that could be contributing to the anxiety. 

As for medication, it is very possible that this may be a good fit but I don’t recommend starting with medication under most circumstances. When you start with medication you are often times relying on this being the change that is needed.

The reality is however that there are so many habits, negative self talk, anxiety provoking ways of living that keep people stuck in a high anxiety state. Anxiety therapy allows for you to work on the underlying roots of the anxiety and make lasting deep changes in your life.

This work may or may not be in combination with medication. The therapist can be a source of support in helping you decide if medication is the right fit for you and when would be the right time to go for a psychiatric consultation. 

Anxiety Treatment for symptoms of anxiety in Simi Valley, Ca

With Anxiety Treatment at Simi Psychological Group we work with our clients on truly understanding anxiety symptoms and the tools they need to make real meaningful changes in their lives. We know that living with anxiety can be overwhelming and that it really doesn’t bring out the best in you. You are not able to be all that you want to be in your life. We help our clients vision a life without anxiety and take meaningful actionable steps towards making the changes they want. 

Call us for a free consultation today. We are happy to help you create real change in your life. 

Written by,

Donna Novak, Psy.D.

Simi Valley Psychologist Dr. Donna Novak

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist who empowers people to work through the roadblocks that are holding them back and find meaning and purpose in their lives.

I specialize in working with anxiety and in helping adolescents and their families, adults, and couples better their relationships and find direction. Rather than shy away from the tough stuff in life, I prefer to face it head-on, together. I believe that challenges are part of being human and that everyone has the potential to become their own life’s navigator. So they never have to feel out of control or at the mercy of their circumstances.

I make it my mission to reduce the shame around mental health issues so that everyone who faces challenges can get the help they need. I am dedicated to teaching you how to start taking better care of yourself again so you can show up and achieve the relationship and life success you desire. It is my passion to help people get to the root of their struggles and understand their story through a different lens.

Services at Simi Psychological Group include:

At our Simi Valley mental health practice, we offer Child therapy, Teen therapy, Anxiety Treatment, Depression Therapy, Marriage Counseling, and Neuropsychological Testing. We are now offering online therapy for anxiety in the LA area and Ventura County.

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