Do you find yourself constantly worrying, overthinking, and feeling on edge? While some anxiety is a normal part of life, excessive anxiety can be debilitating and interfere with daily activities.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States, affecting over 40 million adults.¹ Here are 12 signs that may indicate you’re more anxious than the average person.
1. Excessive Worrying
One of the hallmark signs of high anxiety is persistent and excessive worrying. If you find yourself constantly worrying about everyday situations, even when there’s no real reason to be concerned, it could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
This type of worrying is often disproportionate to the actual risk or likelihood of something bad happening.
Studies have shown that people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) tend to worry excessively about a wide range of topics, including health, work, family, and finances. (ref) This worrying can be difficult to control and can interfere with daily life.
If you’ve been worrying excessively for at least six months, it may be time to seek help from a mental health professional.
2. Physical Symptoms
Anxiety isn’t just a mental state; it can also manifest in physical symptoms.
When you’re anxious, your body’s sympathetic nervous system goes into overdrive, triggering a range of physical responses. These can include a racing heart, sweaty palms, shaky hands, and dry mouth.
Other common physical symptoms of anxiety include muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues like nausea or diarrhea. If you regularly experience these physical symptoms in response to stress or anxiety, it could be a sign that your anxiety levels are higher than average.
3. Difficulty Sleeping
Anxiety and sleep problems often go hand in hand. If you struggle with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling unrefreshed, it could be a sign of high anxiety. Anxious thoughts can race through your mind at night, making it difficult to relax and drift off to sleep.
Insomnia is a common symptom of anxiety disorders. In fact, research suggests that people with insomnia are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder than those who sleep well. (ref)
If you regularly have trouble sleeping due to anxiety, it’s important to address both issues with the help of a healthcare provider.
4. Perfectionism
Do you set impossibly high standards for yourself and become overly self-critical when you don’t meet them? Perfectionism is a common trait among people with high anxiety.
You may feel like you need to do everything flawlessly and beat yourself up over even minor mistakes. This type of perfectionism can be exhausting and lead to chronic stress and anxiety.
It’s important to remember that no one is perfect and that it’s okay to make mistakes. Learning to embrace imperfection and practice self-compassion can help reduce anxiety related to perfectionism.
5. Overthinking
Overthinking is another common sign of high anxiety. If you find yourself constantly analyzing situations, conversations, or decisions, it could be a sign that your anxiety is higher than average.
It can lead to rumination, where you get stuck in a loop of negative thoughts. This type of overthinking can be mentally exhausting and make it difficult to relax or focus on other things.
If you catch yourself overthinking, try to redirect your attention to something more positive or productive. Mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or meditation can also help break the cycle of overthinking.
6. Avoidance
Anxiety can lead to avoidance behaviors, where you start to avoid certain situations or experiences that trigger your anxiety.
For example, if you have social anxiety, you may avoid social events or meeting new people. If you have a phobia, you may go out of your way to avoid the object or situation you fear.
While avoidance may provide temporary relief from anxiety, it can actually make anxiety worse in the long run. Facing your fears gradually, with the help of a therapist if needed, can help you overcome avoidance and reduce your overall anxiety levels.
7. Procrastination
Procrastination is another common sign of high anxiety. If you find yourself putting off tasks or projects due to fear of failure or not meeting your own high expectations, it could be a sign that your anxiety is getting in the way.
Anxiety can make it difficult to start or complete tasks, leading to a cycle of procrastination and increased anxiety. Breaking tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps and setting realistic goals can help overcome procrastination related to anxiety.
8. Need for Control
People with high anxiety often feel a strong need to control every aspect of their lives. This desire for control stems from a fear of uncertainty and a belief that if you can control everything, you can prevent bad things from happening.
However, trying to control everything is impossible and can actually increase anxiety in the long run. Learning to tolerate uncertainty and let go of the need for control can be an important step in managing anxiety.
9. Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome is a common experience among people with high anxiety, particularly in work or academic settings. If you feel like you’re not worthy of your accomplishments or that you’ll be “found out” as a fraud, it could be a sign of imposter syndrome.
This type of self-doubt can be fueled by anxiety and can hold you back from reaching your full potential. Recognizing your own strengths and accomplishments and learning to accept praise and compliments can help combat imposter syndrome.
10. Difficulty Concentrating
Anxiety can make it difficult to concentrate or focus on tasks, even ones you normally enjoy. If you find your mind wandering or you’re easily distracted when you’re feeling anxious, it could be a sign that your anxiety levels are high.
This difficulty concentrating can interfere with work, school, or other daily activities. Taking breaks, practicing mindfulness, and breaking tasks down into smaller steps can help improve focus when anxiety is high.
11. Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are a severe form of anxiety that can come on suddenly and be very frightening.
During a panic attack, you may experience intense fear, racing heart, sweating, shaking, and difficulty breathing. You may feel like you’re losing control or even dying.
Panic attacks can be a sign of panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder. If you experience frequent panic attacks that interfere with your daily life, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional.
Treatment can help you manage panic attacks and reduce their frequency and intensity.
12. Constant Restlessness
Do you feel like you’re always on edge or unable to relax? Constant restlessness is another sign of high anxiety. You may feel like you need to be doing something all the time or that you can’t sit still.
This restlessness can make it difficult to unwind or enjoy leisure activities. Engaging in relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or yoga can help calm the body and mind when anxiety is high.
If you recognize several of these signs in yourself, it may be time to seek help for your anxiety. Remember, there is no shame in seeking support for your mental health.
With the right treatment and coping strategies, it is possible to manage even high levels of anxiety and live a fulfilling life.
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.
