Some Signs of Anxiety that may be Less Obvious
By Juliana Lewellen
Anxiety presents itself in a lot of different ways. Sometimes, though, anxiety can be extremely sneaky, and we don’t even know what we are feeling ourselves.
Other times, people can mistake signs of anxiety for something else, and it flies under the radar rather than being addressed and processed.
Here are some signs of anxiety that may not SEEM like they are signs of anxiety:
Snapping/ being impatient: This is one of the signs of anxiety that definitely gets put in the “mistaken for other things” category. A lot of times, people tend to read this as a behavior-related issue, or just being moody. However, it honestly may be one of the more common signs of anxiety.
Difficulty sitting still and concentrating: This is a sign of anxiety that also gets mistaken for ADHD, especially in kids and teens. Children who have anxiety jitters may also not have the emotional vocabulary to describe what they are feeling, and explain to their parents/ teachers that they are anxious. This leads to a lot of misdiagnoses of ADHD.
Zoning out or dissociating: Sometimes a child or teen seeming like they are daydreaming a lot can be harmless. Other times, it can be a sign that they are trying to escape the physical feelings of anxiety, resulting in zoning out or dissociating as a coping mechanism.
Appearing flaky or struggling to commit to future plans: This is one of the symptoms of anxiety that can appear frustrating to friends and loved ones of those who are struggling with it. Sometimes people tend to not be so understanding about someone who do not feel like they can keep their social plans. If this is something you struggle with, it is very possible that it’s due to some underlying social anxiety.
Not making eye contact: This is a very small sign, and it can also be related to one’s culture or the way they were raised out of respect. However, if presented with any of the other symptoms, it’s possible that someone who struggles to make eye contact when chatting with you may be anxious.
Startled by noises: This symptom can be related to a lot of different disorders and is a part of other diagnoses as well. But, when paired with other signs and feelings, it can certainly be a sign of someone dealing with anxiety as well.
Pacing: Like the inability to sit still, this can present to others like ADHD. However, it’s quite possible that a person who is pacing may be finding it comforting if they are feeling anxious, or it helps them get their anxious energy out.
Wanting to go home/stay home: Perhaps you find yourself searching for an exit whenever you go somewhere, or you find yourself wanting to go back home after a short period of time. This is certainly a possible sign of anxiety.
Harbored breathing: This is probably one of the more common symptoms that people understand as anxiety when they see it.
Fidgeting, stroking their arms, tugging on their hair: Some of these behaviors are considered protective gestures. Others are due to the inability to sit still, and the person doing it may be trying to make it look more natural by fidgeting with something.
Self critical comments: This symptom can be subtle comments, or it can be more obvious self-deprecating. Oftentimes, people may mistakenly perceive this as depression, as the person may make comments about how they are worthless or bad at things. However, people with anxiety are hyper-aware of other people’s perception of them and their own perception of themselves, and it makes them nervous.
Asking for reassurance often: Somewhat related to the above symptom, someone who makes a lot of self critical comments or deals with intrusive negative thoughts may require a lot of reassurance in order to feel better.
If you, your child, or someone you love presents with any of these signs and symptoms, it’s possible they may need some extra help processing and working through their anxiety with a mental health professional. Make an appointment today with one of our own!