How does anxiety make you feel?
Anxiety is something we all encounter at some point in our lives. These emotions are normal, whether it’s the nervous flutter before a job interview or the sinking feeling of worry about an overdue bill. They’re part of our brain’s natural fight-or-flight response—designed to keep us alert and safe in potentially threatening situations. But what happens when anxiety becomes a constant companion? How does anxiety make you feel, and what are its deeper effects on the mind?
If you’ve found yourself grappling with the emotional and mental strain of anxiety, it’s essential to understand its impact and how it manifests in our thoughts and behaviours. Let’s delve into how anxiety makes you feel, exploring the ways it affects the mind and offering insights to help you regain control.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress or danger. When triggered, your brain releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, creating physical and emotional symptoms that help you respond to challenges. Once the situation is resolved, these symptoms typically subside.
However, for those with an anxiety disorder, these feelings persist even when there’s no real danger. The mind stays locked in a state of heightened alertness, creating a range of emotional symptoms that can be overwhelming and difficult to manage.
Understanding how anxiety makes you feel is the first step towards recognising its impact and seeking support.
12 Ways Anxiety Affects the Mind
Everyones experience of anxiety is unique, but there are common ways it influences thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Here’s a breakdown of how anxiety makes you feel and its profound effects on the mind.
1. Excessive Worry
Anxiety often manifests as persistent, excessive worry about everyday situations, the future, or potential negative outcomes. This worry can consume your thoughts, leading to overthinking and dwelling on “what if” scenarios.
You may find it hard to control these worries, which can spiral into a cycle of fear and helplessness.
2. Fear and Apprehension
Feelings of fear and apprehension are hallmarks of anxiety. Often, this fear is disproportionate to the actual threat.
For example, attending a social gathering or speaking in public might feel overwhelming, even if the event poses no real harm. This can lead to avoidance behaviours, preventing you from engaging in activities you once enjoyed.
3. Sense of Powerlessness
One of the most distressing aspects of anxiety is the feeling of powerlessness over your own thoughts and emotions.
Despite your best efforts, anxiety can feel unmanageable, leading to frustration, hopelessness, and even self-doubt. This sense of losing control can further exacerbate anxious feelings, creating a vicious cycle.
4. Feeling On Edge
Anxiety often leaves you feeling on edge, as though something terrible is about to happen. This heightened state of alertness can make it difficult to relax or focus.
You may find yourself constantly scanning your surroundings for potential threats, which can be exhausting both mentally and physically.
5. Difficulty Concentrating
Another common effect of anxiety is difficulty concentrating. Intrusive thoughts and preoccupation with worries can disrupt your focus, making it challenging to complete tasks or make decisions.
This lack of concentration can lead to reduced productivity and feelings of inadequacy.
6. Catastrophising
Catastrophising involves imagining the worst-case scenario in any given situation, even when there’s little evidence to support such outcomes.
This pattern of thinking magnifies fear and nervousness, intensifying anxiety and making it harder to approach situations with a balanced perspective.
7. Feeling Overwhelmed
Simple daily tasks can feel insurmountable when anxiety takes hold. Decisions, responsibilities, or even routine errands may become sources of overwhelming stress.
This can lead to avoidance behaviours, further feeding feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
8. Anticipatory Anxiety
For many, the anticipation of a future event can trigger anxiety. This is known as anticipatory anxiety and often manifests as dread or unease long before the event itself.
In some cases, this can lead to panic attacks or avoidance, as the mind attempts to escape the perceived threat.
9. Persistent Negative Thoughts
Anxiety can trap you in a cycle of negative thinking, characterised by self-criticism and fear of failure.
These persistent negative thoughts can erode self-esteem and create a distorted view of reality, making you feel as though you’re not good enough.
10. Sense of Impending Doom
Anxiety can create a sense of impending doom—a constant feeling that something bad is about to happen.
This emotional symptom is difficult to shake and can heighten vulnerability, leaving you in a state of perpetual worry about hypothetical threats.
11. Feeling Detached or Unreal
In severe cases, anxiety can lead to depersonalisation, a feeling of detachment from yourself or the world around you.
You might feel as though you’re living in a dream, disconnected from reality. This experience can be both unsettling and disorienting.
12. Emotional Sensitivity
Anxiety often heightens emotional sensitivity, making it harder to cope with everyday stressors.
Even minor challenges can trigger intense emotional reactions, leading to mood swings and difficulties managing emotions effectively.
How Anxiety Affects Relationships
Anxiety doesn’t just impact the person; it can significantly affect relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Here are a few ways anxiety can influence your connections with others:
- Communication Issues: Anxiety can make it difficult to express yourself clearly. You may avoid discussing your feelings or find it hard to focus during conversations.
- Avoidance Behaviour: Avoiding social gatherings or interactions can strain relationships, leading to feelings of isolation.
- Increased Dependence: On the other hand, some people may become overly dependent on loved ones for reassurance, which can create tension.
Recognising these patterns and seeking help can improve both your mental health and your relationships.
Understanding the Physical Effects of Anxiety
While this article focuses on how anxiety makes you feel emotionally and mentally, it’s crucial to acknowledge the physical toll it can take. Common physical symptoms include:
- Racing heart or palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Digestive issues, such as nausea or stomach pain
These symptoms are your body’s response to stress, but they can exacerbate the emotional strain of anxiety, creating a cycle that feels hard to break.
Coping Strategies for Anxiety
If you’re living with anxiety, there are practical steps you can take to manage it effectively:
- Mindfulness and Meditation
Practising mindfulness helps you stay grounded in the present moment, reducing the grip of anxious thoughts about the future. - Establish a Routine
A consistent daily routine can provide structure and a sense of stability, helping to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed. - Journaling
Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you process them, identify triggers, and develop strategies for managing them. - Gradual Exposure
Facing your fears in small, manageable steps can help you overcome avoidance behaviours over time.
Seeking Professional Support
Sometimes, self-help strategies aren’t enough, and that’s okay. Anxiety is a treatable condition, and seeking professional support can make a significant difference.
Online counselling offers an accessible, low-cost option for those looking to explore their feelings, identify triggers, and develop coping mechanisms in a supportive environment.
As a counsellor, I’ve helped many people manage their anxiety and reclaim a sense of calm. You don’t have to face this alone—help is available.
Final Thoughts: How Anxiety Makes You Feel
Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but understanding its emotional and mental impact is the first step towards finding relief. By recognising how anxiety makes you feel and exploring ways to manage it, you can regain control and live a more balanced, fulfilling life.
Remember, there’s no shame in seeking help. Whether through self-care techniques or professional counselling, you’re taking an important step towards better mental health.
Low Cost Online Counselling
Our low-cost counselling service gives you access to private therapy for only £29. Just follow these two simple steps to access our affordable counselling service.
Step 1: Go to the self referral contact form below.
Step 2: Complete the form to book and secure an initial free consultation.
It’s as simple as that. One of our team will contact you within 24 hours to discuss your needs.
