Anxiety Symptoms
Comprehensive Anxiety Symptoms List
Anxiety symptoms can vary widely in their onset, duration, severity, and location. Some people experience sudden, intense episodes, such as panic attacks, which peak within minutes and feel overwhelming. Others develop persistent, chronic symptoms that fluctuate in intensity over weeks, months, or even years.
For some, anxiety symptoms are localized, affecting a specific body system or a particular set of symptoms. Others experience widespread, systemic effects, impacting multiple systems throughout the body—or anything in between. The way anxiety manifests can be unique to each individual, making awareness and understanding essential for effective management.
The severity of anxiety can range from mild, where symptoms are manageable but noticeable, to moderate, where anxiety starts to interfere with daily life. In severe cases, anxiety can become debilitating, making it difficult to function in work, relationships, or daily activities.
• Visual (Eyes, Sight)
Blurred, distorted, or foggy vision
Difficulty focusing or frequent refocusing of the eyes
Seeing stars, shimmers, halos, shadows, ghosted images, or “heat-wave” patterns
Photophobia (eyes sensitive to light)
Visual anomalies: flashing lights, eye flashes, floaters (spots, lines, cobwebs), and kaleidoscope-like images
Tunnel vision (as if looking through a narrow tube)
Depth perception problems (distorted sense of distance or size)
Feeling of visual overstimulation or hypersensitivity
• Auditory (Ears, Hearing)
Distorted, fuzzy, warbly, or muffled sounds; sounds seeming louder or softer than normal
Ear popping, fullness, or pressure (feeling of blockage in the ear)
Hearing loss—partial, intermittent, or complete
Hyperacusis (overly sensitive hearing that can be painful or distressing)
Phantom sounds (humming, buzzing, rumbling, throbbing, hissing, fizzing, etc.)
Pulsing or throbbing noises in or behind the ear, in sync with heartbeat
Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, whistling, or other constant noise in the ears)
Musical Ear Syndrome (hearing music when none is playing)
Itching, tickling, tingling inside the ear
• Proprioception / Vestibular (Balance, Position, Motion)
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or a sensation of unsteadiness
Vertigo-like sensations (e.g., feeling that the floor is moving up or down)
Feeling of swaying, rocking, floating, or dropping—even when stationary
Motion sickness-like feeling
Overly sensitive or reactive balance (e.g., feeling off-balance in normal situations)
• Smell and Taste
Heightened sensitivities to smells (odors seeming more intense or unpleasant)
Chemical Sensitivity (already noted above), which can involve smells being overpowering or irritating
Phantom smells (detecting odors not actually present)
Altered or unusual taste sensations (e.g., metallic, bitter, or “off” taste), when noted
• General Sensory Hyper- or Hypo-Responsiveness
Hypersensitive senses: all senses (touch, hearing, sight, smell, taste) may be overly acute or painful
Diminished senses: experiencing a muted or dulled perception in one or more senses
Sensory overload: feeling overwhelmed or bombarded by ordinary levels of sensory input
All of these symptoms involve either abnormal sensations themselves (numbness, tingling, burning, buzzing, etc.) or distortions of normal sensory processing (heightened or reduced sensitivity to stimuli)
• Skin Sensations (Touch, Temperature, Pain)
Burning, itchy, “crawly,” prickly, stinging, or “hot sparks” sensations on the skin
Skin sensitivity: hypersensitivity to touch, clothing, or external stimuli
Body, or parts of it, feeling numb or “asleep”
Tingling (“pins and needles”), bubbling, crawling, or prickling feelings anywhere on or beneath the skin
Buzzing or vibrating sensations in the extremities or throughout the body
Hot or cold flashes, including sudden warmth or chills
Chemical Sensitivity / Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (heightened reactivity to chemicals, odors, products)
Pain on the skin (for example, burning pain, nerve-like pain, or sharp/stabbing sensations)
Chronic or persistent pain (as pain is processed by the sensory system)
• Body jolts (sudden, involuntary jolts or “jerks”)
• Body tremors, trembling, shaking, vibrating
• Brisk reflexes (hyperreflexia)
• Buzzing sensations in feet, toes, hands, fingers, arms, legs, or body
• Electric shock feeling, body zaps (sometimes described as “electric” or “zapping” sensations)
• Facial tic or twitches (involuntary facial muscle movements)
• Head zaps, brain zaps (electrical shock-like sensations in the head)
• Nerve pain or nerve-like pain anywhere in the body
• Numbness, including entire body numbness or partial numbness
• Pins and needles (tingling, prickly sensations) in hands, feet, face, or elsewhere
• Seizure-like episodes (non-epileptic seizure sensations)
• Swaying, rocking, floating feeling (vestibular/inner ear involvement, but also tied to overall nervous system function)
• Hyperreactive / Overly sensitive to stimuli (the nervous system reacting too strongly to normal stimuli)
• Startle easily, jumpy (exaggerated startle response)
• Involuntary stress hormone rushes (sudden surges of adrenaline or cortisol)
• Involuntary panic attacks (can arise from dysregulated sympathetic nervous system activity)
• Overdrive feeling (the sense of being constantly revved up or overly energized)
These symptoms reflect dysfunctional or heightened activity in either the peripheral or central nervous system, often correlating with stress and anxiety states.
• Heart palpitations – heart racing, pounding, or fluttering; feeling of skipped beats, irregular beats, or PVCs
• Rapid heartbeat – heart beating too fast
• Pounding heart – heart feels like it is beating with excessive force
• Irregular heart rhythms – flutters, “skipped” beats, PVCs, extra beats, or uneven pulsation
• High blood pressure – elevated readings or concern about high blood pressure
• Chest pain/tightness/discomfort – especially when described in relation to heart concerns
• Fear or worry about the heart – persistent concern that something is wrong with one’s heart
• Blanching (paleness) – reduced blood flow causing loss of color
• Blushing/flushing (turning red) – vasodilation increasing blood flow to the face
• Fainting (vasovagal syncope) – including feeling like you are going to pass out or experiencing actual fainting episodes
• Feeling like you can’t catch your breath or are out of breath – though often considered respiratory, it can be tied to rapid heart rate or palpitations
• Sudden shooting pains in the chest (sharp, stabbing pains) – sometimes attributed to heart concerns
• Concern or fear about the heart – such as persistent worry regarding heart function
• Asthma symptoms and attacks
• Anxiety cough, persistent cough, nervous cough (somatic or psychogenic cough)
• Choking (sensation of airway restriction)
• Feeling smothered – difficulty breathing, as if you can’t get enough air
• Shortness of breath, out of breath feeling – includes feeling like you have to force yourself to breathe and frequent yawning to try to catch your breath
• Gasping for air – a sudden, urgent need to inhale quickly due to feeling out of breath
• Chest pain/tightness/discomfort – when described in a respiratory context (restricting normal breathing)
• Rib or rib cage tightness or pressure – feeling like a tight band around the rib cage that makes it harder to breathe
• Tightness, pressure, fullness, or pain in the lower chest/diaphragm area – can restrict breathing capacity
• Sudden shooting pains in the chest (sharp, stabbing pain) – can be interpreted as respiratory distress
• Frequent or excessive yawning – often an attempt to “catch” a deeper breath
• Craving sugar, sweets, or chocolate – may involve blood-sugar-related hormonal fluctuations
• Erratic periods – irregular menstrual cycles can reflect reproductive hormone imbalance
• Excess of energy, can’t relax – potentially tied to abnormal adrenaline or cortisol levels
• Chronic fatigue, exhaustion, feeling super tired – may involve adrenal or thyroid hormone involvement
• Grey hair – while aging is a factor, chronic stress hormone elevation may contribute
• Hirsutism (excessive hair growth) – can result from elevated androgen levels
• Hot flashes, cold flashes, hot or cold sweats – often tied to hormone dysregulation (e.g., adrenaline surges)
• Increased or decreased sex drive – reflects fluctuations in sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone)
• Involuntary stress hormone rushes or bursts – sudden surges of stress hormones such as cortisol or adrenaline
• Night sweats – also associated with hormone fluctuations (particularly stress or reproductive hormones)
• “Overdrive” feeling – a sense of being constantly revved up, potentially linked to excess stress hormone production
• Sudden or persistent weight gain – frequently associated with hormonal imbalances
• Sudden or persistent weight loss – likewise can reflect endocrine issues, such as thyroid or adrenal irregularities
• Warm spells – abrupt feelings of internal warmth, also indicative of hormonal surges
• Allergy problems; increased allergies
May include a higher number of allergic reactions, greater sensitivity, more frequent or severe responses, or lengthier recovery times.
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) / Chemical Sensitivity
Heightened reactivity to everyday chemicals, odors, or products (often tied to immune overreactions).
• Food sensitivities; increased food sensitivities
Can manifest as new or worsening intolerance to certain foods, gastrointestinal distress, or systemic inflammatory responses.
• Infections
Increased frequency of infections, infections that recur more often, or infections that last longer than usual.
• Inflammation – chronic / persistent
Persisting inflammation in various parts of the body, which could indicate an overactive or dysregulated immune system.
• Nervous stomach, butterflies, warm feeling in the stomach
• Stomach distress, persistent stomach problems, chronic stomach irritation
• IBS
• Nausea or abdominal stress
• Nausea; Vomiting
• Heartburn, indigestion
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Aerophagia (swallowing too much air)
• Frequent upset stomach, bloating, gaseous, burning sensation
• Sick and tired after eating
• Tight stomach, “knot” in the stomach
• The thought of eating makes you nauseous
• Food sensitivities, increased food sensitivities
• Bowel movement symptoms (urgency, sudden urge, or persistent urge to have a bowel movement)
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (involuntary)
• Back pain, stiffness, tension, pressure, soreness, spasms, immobility in the back or back muscles
• Body ache, with muscles feeling sore and achy, like they are bruised
• Chronic pain (when it involves the muscles, joints, or bones)
• Clumsiness, feeling clumsy, coordination problems with the limbs or body
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Joint popping or cracking sounds (increase in frequency or intensity)
• Muscle movements seem exaggerated or overly forceful
• Muscle spasms or twitching
• Muscle tension, tight muscles, muscle stiffness, pain, or soreness
• Muscles that vibrate, jitter, tremor, or shake when they are used
• Muscle weakness or soreness
• Neck, back, shoulder pain, tightness, or stiffness
• Pain in hands and feet, including joint stiffness or soreness in these areas
• Restless legs (leg discomfort leading to an uncontrollable urge to move them)
• Rib or rib cage tightness, pressure, or feeling like a tight band around the rib cage
• Tremors, trembling, shaking, or vibrating in muscles and limbs
• Weakness in legs, arms, or extremities
Craving sugar, sweets, or chocolate
Suggestive of possible shifts in blood glucose regulation or stress-related glucose cravings.
Increased or Unusual Thirst
Feeling abnormally thirsty or needing to drink more fluids than usual.
Weight Gain or Sudden Weight Gain
Unexpected, often stress-related or hormonally influenced fluctuations in body mass.
Weight Loss or Sudden Weight Loss
Unintentional drops in weight, which can be driven by stress hormones, changes in appetite, or metabolic dysregulation.
Chronic Fatigue / Exhaustion
While multi-factorial, prolonged fatigue can indicate an altered metabolic or energy-production process (adrenal or thyroid involvement, for example).
Excess of Energy / Feeling “Revved Up”
Alternatively, some individuals may experience a hyperenergetic state (due to abnormal stress hormone output), which can affect metabolic rate.
Blanching (looking pale, loss of color) – indicative of reduced blood perfusion at the surface.
Easy bruising; bruising – may suggest increased fragility of blood vessels or reduced clotting response.
Craving sugar, sweets, or chocolate
Suggestive of possible shifts in blood glucose regulation or stress-related glucose cravings.
Increased or Unusual Thirst
Feeling abnormally thirsty or needing to drink more fluids than usual.
Weight Gain or Sudden Weight Gain
Unexpected, often stress-related or hormonally influenced fluctuations in body mass.
Weight Loss or Sudden Weight Loss
Unintentional drops in weight, which can be driven by stress hormones, changes in appetite, or metabolic dysregulation.
Chronic Fatigue / Exhaustion
While multi-factorial, prolonged fatigue can indicate an altered metabolic or energy-production process (adrenal or thyroid involvement, for example).
Excess of Energy / Feeling “Revved Up”
Alternatively, some individuals may experience a hyperenergetic state (due to abnormal stress hormone output), which can affect metabolic rate.
Dizziness, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, dizzy spells – can occur spontaneously or when changing position.
Floor moving feeling – perceiving the floor as moving up, down, sideways, or vibrating.
Swaying, rocking, or floating sensations – feeling as though you are swaying, rocking, or bobbing even while still.
Off balance feeling or unsteady feeling – difficulty maintaining normal balance or posture.
Motion sickness feeling – increased susceptibility to motion-induced nausea or vertigo.
Falling/dropping sensations – a sudden feeling of dropping, often when trying to fall asleep or upon waking up.
Stress Hormones and Inflammation
When you’re anxious, the body often releases stress hormones (like cortisol) and other chemicals that can alter gut motility (movement of food through the digestive tract) and increase intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”).
These changes can shift the balance of microbes in the gut, favoring some bacterial species over others.
Changes in Gut Motility
Anxiety can speed up or slow down gut transit time, influencing the environment in the intestines. A faster or slower transit time can alter the nutrient availability for gut bacteria, leading to changes in microbial composition.
Altered Eating Habits and Diet
During periods of high anxiety, dietary patterns often change (e.g., reaching for comfort foods or experiencing loss of appetite). Diet is a major factor shaping the microbiome; thus, an anxious individual’s dietary shifts can cause fluctuations in gut bacterial populations.
Immunological Shifts
Chronic anxiety can contribute to immune dysregulation, causing inflammation. An inflamed gut environment can make it harder for beneficial microbes to thrive, while potentially allowing less desirable bacteria to proliferate.
Potential Feedback Loop
An altered microbiome, in turn, can affect the synthesis of neurotransmitters (like serotonin) and other signaling molecules that influence mood and emotional well-being. This can create a cycle: anxiety changes the microbiome, and microbiome imbalances contribute to further anxiety.
Fixations on certain worries or obsessions
Altered state of consciousness or reality
Depersonalization, derealization – feeling disconnected from oneself or surroundings
Dream-like flashes – momentary episodes of unreality or surreality
Deja Vu – sudden sense of having previously experienced a current situation
Attention / Concentration / Memory
Brain fog – difficulty thinking or concentrating clearly
Confusion, mental bewilderment, uncertainty
Difficulty thinking, forming thoughts, following conversations
Difficulty writing (mixing up letters, grammar errors, sloppy handwriting)
Easily distracted – trouble maintaining focus
Forgetfulness – forgetting things easily
Memory loss, memory lapses – short-term and longer-term
Mind goes blank – momentarily losing one’s train of thought
Reading, comprehension problems – difficulty processing written material
Short-term learning impairment – trouble learning new information
Short-term memory impairment – can’t recall recent events or details
Thought Content and Patterns
Always thinking about problems / stuck in your head – persistent ruminations
Crazy, outlandish, odd, bizarre, or uncharacteristic thoughts
Earworms – melodies, tunes, or songs looping in mind
Hallucinations – seeing or hearing things that aren’t real (though often stress-related)
Hyperreactive – overly reactive to normal situations and stimuli
Intrusive, stuck, and unwanted thoughts – repeated anxiety-inducing thoughts
Mind chatter / racing thoughts – incessant inner dialogue or mental noise
Negative thinking / pessimism – persistently negative mindset
Obsession about sensations or getting better – fixating on bodily symptoms or recovery
Odd, unusual, off-kilter thoughts – irregular patterns that feel unlike your usual thinking
Sensory overload – feeling overwhelmed by normal sensory input
Stuck thinking about anxiety 24/7 – feeling consumed by anxious thoughts
Stuck thoughts (concepts, mental images, melodies repeating in your head)
Afraid all the time, Afraid of everything, Afraid to be happy
Avoidance anxiety – avoiding places or situations due to fear
Fear of being in public – social or agoraphobic anxieties
Fear of being trapped (in places with no exits)
Fear of dying – worry that something fatal is about to happen
Fear of losing control – worry you might do something uncontrollable
Fear of going crazy (suddenly “snapping,” losing one’s mind)
Fear of passing out – dread that you may faint
Feelings of impending doom – foreboding sense that something terrible is imminent
Feeling of unreality, disassociation, desensitization – perception that things aren’t real
Slow motion feeling – everything appears to move or occur more slowly than usual
Fast-forward feeling – conversely, feeling like everything is sped up or happening too quickly
Spaced out feeling, feeling disoriented, “out of it,” like a zombie, wasted
Heightened self-awareness or self-consciousness – overly concerned about oneself or others’ opinions
Need to seat near exits or find washrooms – anxiety-driven need for quick escape routes
Sudden feeling of despair, doom, gloom – abrupt onset of intense negative fear or hopelessness
Sudden urge to escape, run away – flight response triggered by fear or anxiety
Mood / Motivational
Don’t feel like yourself – sense of personal unfamiliarity or distortion
Empty feeling; psychologically and emotionally lifeless, hollow
Euphoria; episodes of euphoria – moments of elevated or intense positive feeling that seem unusual
Frequent feeling of being overwhelmed – normal tasks or pressures feel unmanageably large
Lack of motivation – difficulty initiating or persisting in tasks
Overwhelmed – feeling that demands exceed coping ability
Ready to explode; run away – urges to lash out or flee due to mental overload
Agitated; Nervous Excitement
Physical restlessness, fidgeting, and general agitation.
Akathisia (Can’t Sit Still, Nervous Energy)
A compulsion to move around or change position; difficulty remaining seated.
Avoidance
Actively avoiding certain places, situations, or triggers due to fear or worry or safety seeking
Fear of Being in Public / Fear of Being Trapped
Behaviorally, this can manifest as refusing to go to crowded locations or needing escape routes at all times.
Need to Sit Near Exits / Need to Find Nearest Washrooms
A specific avoidance or “safety behavior” to reduce anxiety in social or public settings.
Startle Easily; Jumpy
A heightened startle reflex, leading to sudden, noticeable reactions to minor stimuli.
Crying Spells
Frequent crying outbursts or breaking down in tears, often with little provocation.
Excess of Energy, Can’t Relax
Hyperactivity, pacing, fidgeting, or constant movement; an inability to stay still or calm.
Nervous Cough / Persistent Cough (Somatic or Psychogenic Cough)
A repetitive cough that emerges primarily from anxiety or nervousness, rather than a respiratory condition.
Grinding or Clenching Teeth (Bruxism)
Often occurs unconsciously or during sleep but is considered a stress-related behavioral manifestation.
Sudden Urge to Escape or Run Away
Feeling compelled to abruptly leave situations or environments due to overpowering anxiety or fear.
Lack of Motivation
Can lead to procrastination, withdrawal from normal activities, or decreased participation in daily tasks.
Easily Annoyed or Frustrated
Manifesting in irritated outbursts, snapping at others, or difficulty tolerating normal stresses.
Hyperreactive / Overly Reactive to Normal Situations
Exaggerated behavioral responses or outbursts to what would typically be minor triggers.