A Therapist Shares 6 Habits that are Actually Anxiety Related

Some personality traits have benefits and positive sides to them, but can also be signs of anxiety if they are taken too far and start to inhibit your everyday life and happiness.

Some behaviors can be due to underlying anxiety that may be going unnoticed and, therefore, unresolved. If you have been feeling off and are unsure about what you are struggling with, here are some habits that you may not realize can be related to anxiety.

1. Self doubt

   • Struggle to trust yourself or your own opinions

   • Imposter syndrome

   • Tend to be indecisive

   • Need validation from others 

2. Safety objects

   • Inanimate objects that you rely on

   • Don’t feel fully comfortable if you don’t have them

   • Depending on the person’s age, this can look different

   • Could be a stuffed toy, headphones, water bottle, sweater

3. Being surprised when you are relaxed

   • It feels different when you are not worried

   • Being relaxed is rare

   • Find yourself wondering why you are feeling so “chill”

   • Start to stress that you are forgetting about something or should be worried

   • Don’t trust the relaxed feeling you are having

4. Over preparing and over thinking

   • Feeling stress when you are not in control

   • Running through various scenarios in your head before doing something

   • Trying to avoid negative outcomes by being extremely prepared and thought out

   • Upcoming events make you feel uneasy

5. Being guarded with your feelings

   • Similar to wanting to be in control

   • Struggle to trust people

   • Tend to brush your anxiety under the rug/ appear standoffish

   • Slow to warm up to people you don’t know well

   • Tend to hide any vulnerable or even all emotions until you feel more comfortable

6. Perfectionism

   • Trying to excel at everything

   • Being hard on yourself

   • Overly ambitious and pushing yourself too far

   • People-pleasing, wanting to make everybody happy

   • Unrealistic expectations

If any of these habits resonated with you, it may be a good idea to reach out for some extra support. Whether you are a parent whose child is expressing these concerns, or a teen who is feeling them personally, Amel Counseling is here to help! Reach out today for a free, 15-minute phone consultation today.