Less than ten years ago, talking about mental health was still extremely taboo. Thankfully, things have improved drastically. However, there are still some things we don’t like to talk about. Society accepts a romanticized and idealized version of mental illness. But anxiety is about so much more than just feeling nervous sometimes. There are so many uncomfortable anxiety symptoms that no one wants to talk about. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t talk about them and bring awareness to the struggles so many people face every day.
If you are struggling with anxiety and any of these symptoms, you are not alone. By speaking out about the ugly parts of our anxiety, we encourage everyone around us to stop suffering in silence. Here are some uncomfortable anxiety symptoms people never want to talk about – because not wanting to doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be talking about them.
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. That means that if you decide to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your continued support! I am not a doctor or mental health professional. All opinions stated here are based on my own experience. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to a professional for help.
1. Damaging habits
Anxiety can lead us to pick, rub, and pull at our bodies. This can lead to skin picking, hair pulling, and nail-biting that can interfere with our health and appearance. These repetitive behaviours can help soothe or express anxious thoughts and feelings, but these habits often end up doing more harm than good.
2. Skin problems
It’s not just picking or pulling at our skin that can cause problems. Sometimes anxiety can literally manifest itself in the skin. Acne, rashes, eczema, and more can all be caused or worsened due to stress and anxiety.
3. Upset stomach
One of the most uncomfortable anxiety symptoms, stomach issues can be caused by stress hormones that interfere with the functioning of the digestive tract. This can result in painful symptoms like indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, excessive hunger, and nausea. And often, the fear of experiencing stomach troubles can cause even more anxiety and interfere with daily life.
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4. Perspiration
It’s normal to sweat when you are exercising or spending time in the heat. But stress and anxiety can make us sweaty at any time. When anxiety causes your heart rate to speed up and your blood vessels to constrict, it can cause your body temperature to rise and your skin to start sweating. That’s what causes those annoying anxious clammy hands and stress sweat pits.
5. Withdrawing from social situations
When you have anxiety, especially social anxiety, social situations can sometimes be overwhelming. So overwhelming, that sometimes it feels easier to just avoid them. That can lead to a lot of unanswered texts, missed calls, and canceled invitations. These symptoms can make it hard to make and maintain relationships, no matter how important they are to you.
6. Irritability
Anxiety can often cause us to feel frustrated, angry, and on edge. When your mind is already racing a million miles a minute, it can be difficult to keep from snapping at a friend or loved one when that pressure reaches a boiling point.
7. Crying at nothing
Anxiety often expresses itself in unpredictable ways. Similarly to irritability, when those uncomfortable feelings build and build, it can be hard to hold back tears when the smallest inconvenience pushes us over that edge.
8. Paranoia
The overthinking that comes with anxiety can lead to some serious feelings of paranoia. Powerful anxiety can convince our minds of any number of completely untrue things without needing any external proof that those things are true. Constantly feeling fearful can make us even more anxious, and makes us seek out even more reassurance that things really are okay.
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9. Excessive Fidgeting
Tapping toes, clicking pens, and squirming in our seats can be annoying to those around us – but to people with anxiety, fidgeting is one way of expelling some of the anxious energy in our bodies.
10. Struggling with speech
Anxiety can wreak all kinds of havoc on the way we express ourselves. It can make us stutter, speak too quickly, or get completely tongue-tied in stressful situations.
What can you do if you struggle with these uncomfortable anxiety symptoms?
1. Remember that you’re not alone.
Sometimes our brains can trick us into thinking we are only ones who have to struggle in life. But there are 7 billion people on our planet, and it’s estimated that 264 million of them deal with some sort of anxiety disorder. Just because people don’t talk about some of these symptoms doesn’t mean they aren’t very real for millions of anxiety sufferers worldwide. You are not alone.
2. Practice being more open about your anxiety symptoms.
Sometimes it feels easier to hide your pain when you’re struggling. But suffering in silence only makes things worse. The more we all speak up about our mental health, the easier it is for all of us to live authenitcally with our anxiety, and whatever symptoms it throws our way.
3. Seek help.
If your anxiety and these uncomfortable anxiety symptoms are impacting your life, it might be time to seek help. Here are some resources to check out when anxiety becomes overwhelming:
BetterHelp: BetterHelp is an online therapy service that connects you to a professional therapist from the comfort of your own home. You can read my full review on BetterHelp’s counselling services here.
7 Cups of Tea: If you’re looking for a more affordable option, 7 Cups of Tea also offers totally free chat sessions with trained peer listeners, as well as online support groups. While no substitue for professional therapy, there are some really lovely people who are happy to lend an ear when life feels overwhelming.
PsychologyToday: If traditional therapy is more your speed, PsychologyToday offers a great search tool to find your perfect therapist or psychologist.
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Other resources:
There are thousands of self-help books and journals that can help you on your journey to fight back against anxiety. I’ve linked a couple phenomenal options in the slideshow above. Just click each picture to visit the link to check it out!
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Coping with anxiety, or any mental health struggle, can feel isolating. When we keep quiet about the “ugly” parts of our mental health a secret, we isolate ourselves, and those secretly struggling around us, even further. If we want to continue our journey to destigmatize mental health, we need to start talking about all aspects of it… Even those uncomfortable anxiety symptoms that we have gotten so good at hiding. You are not alone. We’ve got this!
