I once asked a very wise man that was helping me get through anxiety:

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"What are the worst anxiety symptoms?"

 

And he replied "Yours."

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No truer words were ever spoken. There are hundreds of anxiety symptoms, but it is the ones that you are dealing with that appear to be the worst, because it is the reality of what you are going through, and do not want to be, at the moment.

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Everyone has their own constellation of symptoms. No one's are worse or better. To be honest, they all seem to stink, but they really do have their purpose. 

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When I was anxious and would read a list of symptoms, I would get scared if I would develop any of the new symptoms I just read about. That in and of itself is a symptom, worry! But it is completely normal for anxious people to be worried- it is part of the trick anxiety plays on us; it wants us to worry. So, as you read these, if you worry that's okay and perfectly normal for anxiety. Don't give it a second thought.

 

The comforting part of a list of symptoms is that you realize your symptoms are not signs of going mad or being extremely sick, but merely symptoms of high stress.

 

Here is the list:

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Symptoms

• Heart Pounding/Racing

• Stomach Aches/Digestion Distress

• Headaches

• Shortness of Breath

• Excessive Sweating

• Twitches or Tremors

• Wobbly or Weak 

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Burning feeling on skin

• Feeling Faint

• Hot Flashes

• Muscles tight/tense

• Shaking Muscle Feeling/Trembling

• Numbness in Body 

• Pins and Needles in Arms and Legs

• Perception is off

• Shooting Pains

• Cold Feeling/Hot Feelings

• Ringing in the Ears

• Zaps in Body, in Face

• Extra energy, cannot relax/No Energy Exhausted

• Feel Like you are Falling or Floating

• Feel Strange/Odd 

• Stabbing Pains in Body

• Chest Tightness

• Choking or Can't Swallow Feeling

• Throat Tightness

• Feeling of Unreality, not being part of the world

• Detachment Feelings

• Weird/Scary Dreams

• Insomnia/Sleep Problems/Hearing Things that Jolt You Awake

• Odd/strange/scary thoughts 

• Fear of Dying 

• Fear of Losing Control, Doing Something Weird/Odd/Scary

• Feeling like you are going to Pass Out

• Fear you are Losing your Mind 

• Feeling trapped or You Need to Run

• What if thoughts in a Loop

• Irrational fears

• Distracts Easily 

• Feel like you can't remember things

• Crying Out of the Blue

• Flat Feelings

• Fears about being in Public, Making Mistakes or Public Speaking

• Think you just heard or saw something and it scares you

• Disorientation 

• Racing Thoughts

• Heightened senses, especially smells

• Food sensitivities 

• This is not a complete list. If your symptoms are not here, and you have been diagnosed with anxiety, rest assured, they are just specific to you. I had a few that were never listed anywhere and I was sure it meant something was seriously wrong with me. In the end, it was just elevated stress symptoms. 

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