Signs of Anxiety: How to Know If What You're Feeling Is Anxiety
Maybe nothing is technically wrong.
Your life looks okay from the outside. You’re getting things done. You’re showing up for work, taking care of your family, answering texts, making plans, handling responsibilities.
But inside?
Your brain rarely feels quiet.
You replay conversations after they happen. You think through every possible outcome before making a decision. Your shoulders are always tense. You have trouble falling asleep because the moment everything gets quiet, your thoughts get louder.
Maybe you’re more irritable than usual. Small things overwhelm you. You procrastinate on things you care about because you’re afraid you won’t do them well enough. Or you keep yourself constantly busy because slowing down somehow feels worse.
And somewhere in all of that, you’ve probably wondered:
Why do I feel like this?
Am I just stressed?
Am I overreacting?
Or is this actually anxiety?
What Are the Signs of Anxiety?
Anxiety can affect your thoughts, emotions, body, and behavior. Common signs include excessive worry, racing thoughts, difficulty relaxing, irritability, muscle tension, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, physical symptoms such as a racing heart or upset stomach, and avoiding situations that make you feel anxious.
But anxiety doesn't always look the way people expect it to.
Sometimes it looks like panic.
Sometimes it looks like perfectionism.
Sometimes it looks like procrastination, people-pleasing, constantly checking your work, needing reassurance, staying busy, or lying awake at 2 a.m. replaying something you said six hours ago.
And sometimes you can have anxiety while appearing completely fine to everyone around you.
Understanding how anxiety actually shows up can make it easier to recognize what you're experiencing—and decide what kind of support might help.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is part of being human.
Your mind and body are designed to notice possible threats and prepare you to respond to them. If you're walking alone and hear footsteps behind you, anxiety can help you become more alert. If you have an important presentation tomorrow, some anxiety may motivate you to prepare.
So feeling anxious sometimes doesn't automatically mean you have an anxiety disorder.
The problem is when your internal alarm system seems to keep going even when there isn't an immediate danger, or when the intensity of your worry starts making everyday life harder.
You may intellectually know that everything is probably okay while your body and mind seem unconvinced.
You might tell yourself:
"There's nothing to worry about."
And your brain answers:
"Okay, but what if there is?"
That's part of what makes anxiety so frustrating. Logic alone doesn't always make the feeling disappear.
Anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or fear. They can involve persistent anxiety that is difficult to control and begins interfering with your work, school, relationships, sleep, routines, or ability to enjoy your life.
You don't need to diagnose yourself to recognize that something isn't feeling right.
Sometimes the first step is simply being able to say:
"This is taking up more of my life than I want it to."
Physical Signs of Anxiety
One of the most confusing things about anxiety is how physical it can feel.
You may think of anxiety as "worrying too much," but your body can respond to perceived threat before you've even consciously identified what you're worried about.
Physical symptoms of anxiety may include:
A racing, pounding, or noticeably fast heartbeat
Tightness in your chest
Feeling short of breath
Muscle tension, especially in your shoulders, neck, jaw, or back
Headaches
Sweating
Trembling or shakiness
Feeling restless or unable to sit still
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Nausea or an upset stomach
Digestive changes
Feeling unusually hot or cold
Fatigue or exhaustion
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Feeling physically "on edge"
Not everyone experiences all of these symptoms.
For one person, anxiety might feel like butterflies in their stomach before every meeting.
For someone else, it might be a tight chest and the feeling that they can't take a satisfying breath.
Someone else may not notice obvious fear at all. They just know they're exhausted, their jaw hurts from clenching it, and they haven't slept well in weeks.
Can anxiety cause physical symptoms even when you don't feel anxious?
Yes.
Sometimes physical sensations are one of the first clues that you're experiencing anxiety.
You might notice that your heart is beating faster, your stomach feels unsettled, or your muscles are tense before you consciously think, I'm anxious.
That's one reason anxiety can be confusing. You may go looking for an explanation for the physical sensation without realizing that stress and anxiety could be contributing.
At the same time, new, severe, persistent, or unexplained physical symptoms shouldn't automatically be assumed to be anxiety. Symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing can have causes unrelated to anxiety. If you're concerned about a physical symptom, particularly if it's new, severe, or unusual for you, talk with a medical professional.
Mental and Cognitive Signs of Anxiety
For many people, anxiety is loudest in their thoughts.
Your mind may feel like it's constantly trying to predict, prevent, solve, analyze, or prepare.
That can look like:
Constant worrying
Racing thoughts
Difficulty turning your brain off
Imagining worst-case scenarios
Replaying conversations
Second-guessing decisions you've already made
Overanalyzing texts, emails, or interactions
Wondering whether someone is upset with you
Difficulty concentrating because you're thinking about too many things
Feeling mentally scattered
Trying to prepare for every possible outcome
Struggling with uncertainty
Repeatedly asking yourself "what if?"
Needing reassurance that everything is okay
Difficulty making decisions because you're afraid of choosing incorrectly
You might spend 20 minutes writing a two-sentence email.
You send it.
Then read it again.
Then wonder if the tone sounded weird.
Then wonder if the other person thinks you're annoyed.
Then wonder if you should send another message clarifying what you meant.
Nothing objectively happened, but your brain has already created an entire story about what might happen.
That's anxiety too.
Why do I replay conversations in my head?
Replaying conversations over and over can be a form of rumination or post-event processing.
Your mind may return to an interaction trying to determine whether you made a mistake, embarrassed yourself, offended someone, missed a social cue, or should have responded differently.
You might think:
Why did I say that?
Did that sound stupid?
Why did they pause before answering me?
I should have said something different.
Are they upset with me?
The brain is often trying to create certainty after an interaction that feels ambiguous.
Unfortunately, repeatedly analyzing the conversation doesn't always create certainty. Sometimes it simply gives anxiety more material to work with.
Emotional Signs of Anxiety
Anxiety doesn't always feel like obvious fear.
Emotionally, anxiety can show up as:
Feeling nervous or uneasy
A persistent sense of dread
Feeling like something bad is going to happen
Irritability
Feeling easily frustrated
Being more emotionally reactive than usual
Feeling overwhelmed by things you normally handle
Difficulty relaxing
Feeling constantly "on edge"
Feeling emotionally exhausted
Feeling unsafe even when you know you're probably safe
Feeling guilty for not doing enough
Feeling ashamed that you're struggling
Sometimes people don't identify themselves as anxious at all.
They say:
"I've just been really irritable lately."
"Everything is getting on my nerves."
"I feel overwhelmed by everything."
"I don't know why I'm so exhausted."
"I just can't deal with one more thing."
Anxiety can be hiding underneath those experiences.
When your mind and body have been operating in a heightened state for a long time, your tolerance for additional stress can shrink. Something that would normally be mildly annoying can suddenly feel like the final straw.
Behavioral Signs of Anxiety
What you do in response to anxiety can be just as important as what you think or feel.
Some behavioral signs are obvious.
Others can look surprisingly responsible, productive, or socially acceptable.
Anxiety-related behaviors may include:
Avoiding situations that make you uncomfortable
Canceling plans
Procrastinating
Putting off difficult conversations
Avoiding phone calls, appointments, emails, or tasks
Repeatedly checking things
Asking others for reassurance
Googling symptoms or concerns repeatedly
Overpreparing
Arriving extremely early because you're afraid of being late
Rehearsing what you're going to say
Overexplaining yourself
Apologizing frequently
Trying to control situations so nothing unexpected happens
Staying constantly busy
Difficulty delegating
People-pleasing
Saying yes when you want to say no
Avoiding unfamiliar situations
Making decisions based primarily on what feels safest
Procrastinating because you're afraid you won't do something perfectly
One of the tricky things about anxiety is that many of these behaviors can make you feel better temporarily.
Avoiding the party means you don't have to feel socially anxious tonight.
Checking the email again gives you a few seconds of reassurance.
Asking your partner, "Are you sure you're not mad at me?" may help you feel calmer.
But when avoidance or reassurance becomes the main way you manage anxiety, it can sometimes reinforce the idea that the situation really was dangerous or that you couldn't handle the uncertainty.
That's one reason anxiety can become such a frustrating cycle.
Anxiety Doesn't Always Look Anxious
This is one of the biggest misconceptions about anxiety.
You don't have to look nervous to feel anxious.
You might be the person everyone describes as:
Reliable.
Successful.
Organized.
Calm.
Responsible.
The one who has it together.
Maybe you're great at your job.
You remember everyone's birthdays.
You respond to messages.
You take care of your kids.
You make the appointments.
You solve the problems.
You rarely miss a deadline.
People might even tell you:
"I don't know how you do everything."
What they don't see is how much energy it takes.
They don't see you checking your work three times because making a mistake feels unbearable.
They don't hear the conversation you're replaying in your head while you're driving home.
They don't know that you can't relax on Sunday because you're already mentally preparing for Monday.
They don't see you lying awake thinking about everything you forgot to do—or everything that could go wrong tomorrow.
Sometimes anxiety hides behind competence.
Subtle Signs of Anxiety You Might Be Missing
Less obvious signs of anxiety can include:
Perfectionism
Overachieving
Difficulty resting
Feeling guilty when you're not productive
Always needing a plan
Feeling uncomfortable when you aren't in control
Constantly preparing for worst-case scenarios
Being extremely self-critical
People-pleasing
Fear of disappointing people
Difficulty setting boundaries
Taking responsibility for other people's emotions
Repeatedly checking your work
Overexplaining yourself
Difficulty making decisions
Staying busy so you don't have time to think
Feeling exhausted after appearing calm all day
This is sometimes described as high-functioning anxiety.
High-functioning anxiety isn't a formal mental health diagnosis. It's a phrase people often use to describe anxiety that may be less visible because someone continues functioning, achieving, or meeting responsibilities despite significant internal distress.
You can be functioning and still be struggling.
The question isn't simply:
"Can I still get everything done?"
A better question may be:
"What is it costing me to keep functioning this way?"
What Does Anxiety Feel Like in Everyday Life?
Clinical symptom lists can be useful.
But sometimes anxiety makes more sense when you see it in ordinary moments.
Anxiety might sound like:
"What if I mess this up?"
"What if something bad happens?"
"Are they mad at me?"
"I know they said everything is fine, but what if it isn't?"
"I should be doing more."
"I can't relax until everything is finished."
"What if I make the wrong decision?"
"Let me check one more time."
"Why can't I just stop thinking about this?"
"Everyone else seems to handle this better than I do."
"I know this probably isn't a big deal, so why does it feel like one?"
And anxiety might look like:
Rewriting a text five times before sending it.
Staying late at work because your project doesn't feel good enough yet.
Avoiding a phone call you've been thinking about for three days.
Saying yes to something you don't have time for because you're afraid someone will be disappointed.
Checking your child's location again even though you know they're safe.
Lying in bed physically exhausted while your mind reviews tomorrow's to-do list.
Googling a physical sensation for the fourth time because you're still not convinced everything is okay.
Replaying something you said at dinner and wondering whether everyone thought it was weird.
Having an entire argument in your head that hasn't happened—and may never happen.
That's why anxiety can be so exhausting.
Your body may be sitting on the couch while your mind is running a marathon.
Anxiety vs. Stress: What's the Difference?
Stress and anxiety overlap, which is why it can be hard to tell them apart.
A simple way to think about the difference is that stress is often connected to an identifiable demand or stressor, while anxiety may continue even when there isn't an immediate threat or obvious problem to solve.
Imagine you have a major presentation Friday.
Feeling tense because you're behind on preparing for it could be stress.
But maybe the presentation is over. It went well.
Saturday morning arrives.
And you're already worrying about whether your boss really liked it, whether you said something wrong, whether your coworker thinks you're incompetent, and whether you're going to mess up the next project.
The original stressor ended.
Your internal alarm didn't.
When it feels impossible to relax, that's where anxiety may be playing a larger role.
Of course, stress and anxiety can happen at the same time, and chronic stress can contribute to anxiety.
You don't need to perfectly categorize every feeling before you're allowed to do something about it.
Is It Normal Anxiety or an Anxiety Disorder?
Some anxiety is completely normal.
Feeling nervous before an interview, worried about your child, uncertain about a major life change, or anxious before doing something unfamiliar doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong.
So when does anxiety become more concerning?
Consider asking yourself:
How often is this happening?
Is anxiety occasional, or does worry seem to follow you through most days?
How hard is it to turn off?
Can you redirect your attention, or does your brain keep returning to the same fears?
How much time does anxiety take from you?
Are you spending hours worrying, preparing, checking, researching, replaying, or recovering?
What are you avoiding because of anxiety?
Have you stopped doing things you want to do because they feel too uncomfortable?
Is anxiety affecting your body?
Are you frequently tense, exhausted, restless, nauseated, or struggling to sleep?
Is it affecting your relationships?
Are you seeking reassurance constantly, avoiding conflict, people-pleasing, becoming more irritable, or struggling to be present?
Is it affecting work or school?
Are you procrastinating, overworking, struggling to concentrate, or spending excessive time trying to make everything perfect?
Does your life feel smaller because of anxiety?
This question matters.
Sometimes anxiety doesn't completely stop you from functioning.
It simply starts deciding what feels safe enough to do.
And slowly, without realizing it, you organize more and more of your life around avoiding discomfort.
You don't need to wait until anxiety becomes unbearable before asking for help.
Different Types of Anxiety Can Look Different
"Anxiety" isn't one single experience.
Different anxiety disorders and anxiety-related difficulties can show up in different ways.
Generalized Anxiety
Generalized anxiety often involves persistent, difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life.
Your brain may move from one concern to another:
Work.
Money.
Health.
Your children.
Your relationship.
Something you forgot.
Something that hasn't happened.
Something that probably won't happen.
The topic changes, but the feeling of something needs my attention stays.
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
A panic attack involves a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that can include symptoms such as a racing heart, trembling, sweating, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, nausea, or a feeling that something terrible is happening.
A panic attack and panic disorder are not the same thing. Someone can experience a panic attack without having panic disorder. Panic disorder involves recurrent panic attacks along with ongoing concern or behavioral changes related to having additional attacks.
Because some panic symptoms overlap with medical conditions, don't assume that a new or unexplained physical symptom is automatically anxiety.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety goes beyond simply being introverted or shy.
It can involve significant fear of being judged, embarrassed, rejected, or negatively evaluated.
You might spend days worrying about an upcoming social event—and hours afterward analyzing everything you said.
Social anxiety can look like avoiding situations entirely, but it can also look like attending while internally monitoring everything you do.
High-Functioning Anxiety
Again, high-functioning anxiety isn't a formal diagnosis.
But the phrase resonates with many people because it describes the experience of looking capable while feeling anxious internally.
You may be productive, responsible, ambitious, and successful while also feeling driven by fear of failure, perfectionism, overthinking, or the belief that you can never let yourself fall behind.
Trauma-Related Anxiety and Hypervigilance
Past experiences can also shape the way you respond to uncertainty, conflict, relationships, or perceived danger.
If you've spent significant time needing to anticipate other people's moods, protect yourself emotionally, or stay alert to what might happen next, relaxing may not come naturally just because you're currently safe.
You might notice yourself scanning the room, reading into changes in someone's tone, preparing for conflict, or feeling uneasy when things are quiet.
Understanding the context around anxiety can be just as important as understanding the symptoms.
Why Does Anxiety Feel So Powerful?
Anxiety isn't simply a "negative mindset."
It involves an interaction among your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, behaviors, experiences, and your body's responses to perceived threat.
Those pieces can reinforce one another.
Imagine you're about to speak during a meeting.
You notice your heart beating faster.
You think:
"Why is my heart beating so fast?"
Then:
"Everyone is going to notice I'm nervous."
Your attention shifts toward your body.
You become even more aware of your heartbeat.
Your anxiety increases.
Your heart beats faster.
Now your mind thinks:
"See? Something really is wrong."
A feedback loop has started.
Or maybe anxiety works differently for you.
You worry you'll make a mistake, so you check your work repeatedly.
Checking makes you feel better for a moment.
The next time you're uncertain, your brain remembers:
"Checking made us feel safe."
So you check again.
Over time, behaviors meant to reduce anxiety can sometimes keep the cycle going.
This is also why someone telling you:
"Just stop worrying."
usually isn't particularly helpful.
If it were that simple, you probably would have done it already.
Why Do I Feel Anxious When Nothing Is Wrong?
This is one of the most common, and frustrating, questions people ask about anxiety.
Sometimes there is an obvious trigger.
Sometimes there isn't.
Anxiety may be influenced by a combination of:
Current stress
Chronic stress
Uncertainty
Major life transitions
Relationship difficulties
Past experiences
Learned patterns
Sleep
Caffeine or other substances
Physical health
Hormonal changes
Genetics and biological factors
Habits such as avoidance or reassurance seeking
And sometimes you won't be able to identify one clean explanation.
That doesn't mean you're imagining it.
You don't need to find the perfect reason before you can start paying attention to what your anxiety is doing and what helps.
Can Anxiety Make You Tired?
Absolutely.
Anxiety and exhaustion often travel together.
If your mind is constantly anticipating problems, monitoring situations, replaying interactions, making decisions, preparing for worst-case scenarios, or trying to control uncertainty, that takes energy.
Anxiety can also interfere with sleep.
You may be tired all day and then somehow completely awake the moment your head hits the pillow.
Or you sleep for eight hours but wake up feeling like your brain never really shut down.
Some people also expend enormous amounts of energy hiding their anxiety.
You hold it together at work.
You smile.
You finish everything.
You take care of everyone.
Then you get home and have nothing left.
That doesn't automatically mean anxiety is the only reason you're tired. Persistent fatigue can have many physical and psychological causes, so it's worth discussing unexplained or significant fatigue with an appropriate health care professional.
But anxiety can certainly contribute.
Can Anxiety Make You Irritable?
Yes.
Anxiety isn't always soft-spoken worry.
Sometimes anxiety sounds like:
"Why is everyone bothering me?"
When you're already mentally overloaded, ordinary demands can feel much bigger.
Noise.
Questions.
Another email.
Someone needing something.
Traffic.
A change in plans.
Your partner asking what you want for dinner.
You may snap and then immediately feel guilty because you know the situation didn't warrant that reaction.
Irritability can have many causes, but it is also a common anxiety symptom.
Sometimes the problem isn't that you're suddenly an angry person.
You're overwhelmed.
Can You Have Anxiety Without Realizing It?
Yes.
This is especially common when anxiety has been part of your life for a long time.
You may assume:
"This is just my personality."
"I'm just an overthinker."
"I've always been a worrier."
"I'm just really Type A."
"I like being prepared."
"I'm just a perfectionist."
And some of those descriptions may genuinely fit you.
But it's worth becoming curious about what is underneath the behavior.
Do you like preparing—or are you terrified of being caught unprepared?
Do you enjoy being productive—or do you feel guilty when you stop?
Do you genuinely want everyone to be happy—or does someone being disappointed with you feel almost unbearable?
Do you prefer organization—or does uncertainty make you feel unsafe?
The behavior alone doesn't tell us everything.
The function of the behavior matters.
What Can Help When You're Feeling Anxious?
You don't need to solve your entire relationship with anxiety today.
Start smaller.
1. Name What's Happening
Try:
"I'm noticing anxiety right now."
Not:
"Something terrible is happening."
Naming the experience can create a little space between the feeling and the conclusion your mind is drawing from it.
2. Ground Yourself in What's Actually Happening
Anxiety often pulls you into the future.
Bring your attention back to the present.
Notice what you can see, hear, feel, smell, or taste.
Feel your feet against the floor.
Look around the room.
Remind yourself where you are.
Grounding isn't about forcing anxiety away. It's about reconnecting with what's happening right now.
3. Get Curious About the "What If"
When you notice:
"What if this goes horribly?"
try asking:
"What am I predicting?"
"What evidence do I have?"
"What's another possible outcome?"
"If something uncomfortable does happen, could I handle it?"
The goal isn't to replace every anxious thought with forced positivity.
It's to loosen anxiety's certainty that the worst possible outcome is the only one worth considering.
4. Pay Attention to Avoidance
Notice what anxiety has convinced you not to do.
Sometimes the goal isn't to wait until you feel completely calm before acting.
It may be learning that you can feel some anxiety and still do something that matters to you.
5. Take Care of the Basics
Sleep, movement, regular meals, downtime, caffeine intake, alcohol or substance use, and chronic overstimulation can affect how anxious you feel.
None of these is a cure for an anxiety disorder.
But your mind doesn't exist separately from your body.
6. Try Responding to Yourself Differently
If your inner voice sounds like:
"Why am I like this?"
"This is ridiculous."
"I should be able to handle this."
try something more accurate:
"I'm having a hard moment."
"My anxiety is loud right now."
"I don't have to solve everything this second."
"I can be uncomfortable without attacking myself for being uncomfortable."
Self-compassion doesn't mean giving anxiety control.
It means you don't have to fight yourself while you're already struggling.
When Should I Consider Therapy for Anxiety?
You don't need to wait for a crisis. You don't need to have panic attacks. You don't need to be unable to leave your house.
And you don't need to prove that your anxiety is "bad enough."
Anxiety therapy may be worth considering when:
Anxiety takes up significant mental space
You feel like you're constantly worrying
You can't relax even when things are going well
Anxiety affects your sleep
You avoid situations because of fear
You're constantly seeking reassurance
Perfectionism is exhausting you
You struggle to set boundaries because you're afraid of disappointing people
Your relationships are being affected
You're having panic attacks
Anxiety is interfering with work or school
You're exhausted from appearing fine
Coping strategies help temporarily but the anxiety keeps returning
Your life is increasingly organized around preventing anxiety
Therapy isn't simply about learning how to "calm down."
It can help you understand what keeps your anxiety going.
For some people, that means learning to recognize and respond differently to anxious thoughts.
For others, it means gradually reducing avoidance.
It might involve learning to tolerate uncertainty, changing patterns of perfectionism or people-pleasing, understanding how past experiences influence present reactions, developing more effective coping skills, or practicing new ways of responding to uncomfortable emotions and physical sensations.
Evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy are commonly used for anxiety, and treatment can be tailored to the individual rather than following one identical formula for everyone.
Most importantly, therapy gives you a place where you don't have to pretend you're fine.
What Happens in Therapy for Anxiety?
Many people wonder, what should I expect in my first anxiety therapy session?
Your first session isn't a test. You don't need to show up knowing exactly what's wrong. You don't need to have the perfect explanation. And you don't need to tell your therapist your entire life story in the first 50 minutes.
Your therapist will usually want to understand what you've been experiencing, how long it has been happening, how it affects your life, what seems to make it better or worse, and what you'd like to change.
Together, you can begin identifying patterns.
Maybe you notice that anxiety gets louder when you feel out of control.
Maybe you realize how much time you're spending seeking reassurance.
Maybe perfectionism has become your way of preventing criticism.
Maybe you're avoiding things you care about because anxiety keeps convincing you that you're not ready.
Maybe you've been functioning so well on the outside that you've never stopped to ask how you're actually doing.
Therapy gives you room to ask those questions.
Online Anxiety Therapy in Chicago & Throughout Illinois
Maybe you've gotten very good at living around your anxiety.
You prepare.
You overthink.
You make lists.
You anticipate problems.
You keep everyone happy.
You stay busy.
You tell yourself you'll relax once everything is handled.
But somehow, there's always something else to handle.
You don't have to wait until anxiety completely disrupts your life before deciding you want things to feel different.
At Mindful Healing Counseling, our psychologist-led team provides online anxiety therapy for adults, young adults, teens, women, and others throughout Chicago and Illinois.
Our approach is warm, collaborative, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and affirming. Depending on your needs and your therapist, treatment may draw from evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, mindfulness-based strategies, relational approaches, and other methods designed around you rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all version of therapy.
We work with people whose anxiety may show up as:
Constant overthinking
Perfectionism
People-pleasing
Panic
Difficulty relaxing
Burnout and overwhelm
Fear of disappointing others
Relationship anxiety
Trouble setting boundaries
Persistent worry
Anxiety related to trauma or difficult past experiences
Major life transitions
Pregnancy and postpartum concerns
Identity-related stress
Feeling like you're always waiting for something to go wrong
Therapy isn't about making sure you never feel anxious again.
Anxiety is part of being human.
The goal is to help you understand your patterns, build skills that fit your life, and create more room for the things that matter to you—without anxiety making every decision.
Learn more about online anxiety therapy in Chicago and throughout Illinois or meet our therapists to find someone who feels like the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety
What are the most common signs of anxiety?
Common signs of anxiety include excessive worry, racing thoughts, feeling restless or on edge, irritability, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, fatigue, sleep problems, stomach discomfort, a racing heart, shortness of breath, avoidance, and difficulty controlling worry.
Anxiety can also show up more subtly through perfectionism, overpreparing, reassurance seeking, procrastination, people-pleasing, difficulty relaxing, or constantly anticipating what could go wrong.
Can you have anxiety without realizing it?
Yes. Some people don't recognize their anxiety because they've experienced it for so long that it feels normal. Others continue functioning well despite significant internal anxiety. You may think of yourself as an overthinker, perfectionist, worrier, planner, or people-pleaser without realizing anxiety may be contributing to those patterns.
Can anxiety cause physical symptoms?
Yes. Anxiety can be associated with physical symptoms including a racing heart, muscle tension, sweating, trembling, dizziness, digestive discomfort, fatigue, sleep problems, and shortness of breath.
However, physical symptoms can have many causes. New, severe, persistent, or unexplained symptoms should be discussed with an appropriate medical professional rather than automatically assuming anxiety is responsible.
Why do I feel anxious when nothing is wrong?
Anxiety can occur even when there isn't an obvious immediate threat. Stress, uncertainty, learned patterns, previous experiences, sleep, physical health, substances such as caffeine, biological factors, and other influences can all contribute. Sometimes there isn't one obvious explanation.
Rather than needing to find a perfect cause first, it can be helpful to notice when anxiety occurs, what thoughts and sensations accompany it, what you do in response, and how much it is affecting your life.
What's the difference between stress and anxiety?
Stress is often connected to an identifiable external demand or problem and may ease when that situation resolves. Anxiety can persist even when there is no immediate threat or when the original stressor has passed. The two can also occur together.
If worry or fear persists and begins interfering with your everyday life, it may be worth discussing your symptoms with a mental health professional.
Can anxiety make you tired?
Yes. Persistent worry, hyperarousal, muscle tension, poor sleep, overthinking, and constantly monitoring for problems can be mentally and physically exhausting. However, fatigue has many possible causes, so significant or unexplained fatigue should also be discussed with an appropriate health care provider.
Can anxiety make you irritable?
Yes. Irritability can be a symptom of anxiety. When you're already tense, worried, overstimulated, or mentally exhausted, your capacity to handle additional demands may be lower. Small frustrations can start feeling disproportionately difficult.
Is high-functioning anxiety a real diagnosis?
High-functioning anxiety is not a formal clinical diagnosis. It's an informal term commonly used to describe people who experience significant anxiety while continuing to perform well at work, school, parenting, relationships, or other responsibilities.
Someone can appear successful and capable while experiencing substantial internal distress.
When should I see a therapist for anxiety?
Consider reaching out when anxiety is persistent, difficult to manage, affecting your sleep, work, school or relationships, causing avoidance, taking up substantial mental energy, or preventing you from doing things that matter to you.
You don't have to wait until anxiety becomes severe before seeking support.
Does therapy help anxiety?
Yes. Anxiety disorders are treatable, and psychotherapy is an established treatment option. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the best-studied approaches for anxiety and can help people understand how thoughts and behaviors contribute to anxiety and develop different ways of responding.
The best treatment plan depends on your symptoms, experiences, goals, preferences, and any other concerns occurring alongside anxiety.
Can online therapy help with anxiety?
For many people, online therapy can provide a convenient way to work with a licensed mental health professional from a private location at home or elsewhere in their state. Whether online therapy is appropriate depends on the individual's needs, circumstances, safety considerations, and preferences.
Mindful Healing Counseling provides online therapy throughout Illinois.
You Don't Have to Wait Until Anxiety Takes Over
Maybe you're reading this because you've been wondering whether what you're experiencing "counts."
Maybe part of you still thinks:
"Other people have it worse."
"I'm still functioning."
"I should be able to handle this myself."
But functioning and feeling well aren't the same thing.
You can be successful and anxious.
You can be grateful for your life and still struggle.
You can know logically that everything is okay while your mind keeps searching for danger.
And you can decide that you're tired of spending so much energy managing what might go wrong.
You don't have to have the perfect label before you ask for support.
Sometimes recognizing: "This is affecting me, and I'd like things to feel different" is enough of a place to begin.
Mindful Healing Counseling provides compassionate, affirming online anxiety therapy throughout Chicago and Illinois for people who are ready to understand their anxiety, develop tools that actually fit their lives, and spend less time feeling controlled by worry.
Ready to take the next step? Learn more about anxiety therapy or reach out to get matched with one of our therapists.
Keep Exploring: Understanding Your Anxiety
If anxiety shows up differently for you, you may also find these helpful:
Why Do I Feel Anxious for No Reason?
If anxiety seems to show up even when everything is technically “fine,” learn why your mind and body may still be sounding the alarm.
Why Can’t I Relax Even When Nothing Is Wrong?
If slowing down somehow makes you feel more restless, not less, there may be a reason your mind and body have trouble settling.
Why Do I Replay Conversations in My Head?
Understand post-conversation overthinking and why your brain keeps revisiting what you said.
Why Do I Overthink Everything?
Explore why your mind gets caught in “what ifs,” second-guessing, and mental loops—and what can help you step out of the spiral.
What to Expect in Your First Anxiety Therapy Session
A reassuring guide if you’re considering therapy but aren't sure what the first appointment will be like.
About the Author
Dr. Aretha Steele, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Mindful Healing Counseling, a psychologist-led group practice providing online therapy throughout Chicago and Illinois. Dr. Steele and her team support adults, teens, couples, and families navigating anxiety, trauma, burnout, relationships, identity, life transitions, and more through warm, affirming, culturally responsive care.
