10 Weird Symptoms of Anxiety You Might Not Have Heard Of!

We’re no strangers to anxiety and its symptoms; after all, in our busy lives, stress and anxiety have become as familiar as our friends. While most of us are aware of the typical symptoms of anxiety like restlessness, racing thoughts, rapid heartbeat, and whatnot, there are some hidden symptoms of anxiety that no one talks about. 

Anxiety can manifest in different ways, and it rarely looks the same in everyone. What I might experience in the throes of anxiety might be very different from what you experience in the same situation. Trying to recognize anxiety symptoms can be as absurd as looking for a needle in a haystack. 

While anxiety disorders still remain the most commonly diagnosed ones around the world, the symptoms of the same are not easy to figure out. In this article, we’re looking at the weird anxiety symptoms that you might not know about and what you can do when anxiety pops up unexpectedly.  

Keep reading to learn the unusual and weird symptoms of anxiety that no one talks about but should be known to all. 

An Overview of Anxiety and Its Symptoms

Anxiety is a natural response to stress and stressful conditions. It’s our body’s way of alerting us to a potential threat; either real or perceived. Psychologically speaking, anxiety can manifest in different forms and symptoms and can involve a complicated play of thoughts, emotions, and responses. 

The most commonly associated symptoms of anxiety are rapid heartbeats, a racing mind, and muscle tension as our body prepares itself for the fight-flight-freeze response. Chronic stress and anxiety can cause long-term symptoms that might impact all aspects of your life if not addressed and treated. 

Other typical anxiety symptoms can look like this; 

• Restlessness or feeling “on edge” 
• Experiencing fatigue
• Trouble concentrating 
• Feeling irritable
• Muscle tension
• Trouble with sleep 

Anxiety can activate your body’s sympathetic nervous system aka the flight-fight-freeze response. This stress response triggers the release of cortisol and adrenaline, the stress hormones, which cause physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and numbing. 

Anxiety can also cause “hyperalertness” wherein your body goes into a state of super-awareness, where you’re observant of your surroundings and your senses are heightened, looking for a potential threat or danger.

While these anxiety symptoms are common and easy to spot (if you know about them), other, more unusual anxiety symptoms might not be as noticeable but are as complicated as the typical symptoms of anxiety. 

10 Weird Symptoms of Anxiety

1. Chronic Indecisiveness 

One of the weird anxiety symptoms can manifest as overthinking and indecisiveness. You tend to overthink and second-guess every decision you make, no matter how small it can be. This can be a sign of anxiety; weird but real. 

2. Jaw Pain or Teeth Grinding

Muscle tension might be common in anxiety, but so in jaw pain and teeth grinding. Without realizing it, you might clench your jaw or grind your teeth when you’re anxious. This is called bruxism and can even occur when you’re asleep. 

3. Derealization or Depersonalization

Another weird anxiety symptom is feeling disconnected from reality or yourself. This can be a sign of heightened anxiety. More often than not, disconnection is a defense mechanism for trauma and stress. While these symptoms are common in a psychotic disorder, they can also be triggered by the stress response.  

4. Skin Issues

Another anxiety symptom that no one talks about is skin issues. Anxiety can affect your skin as well, causing issues such as excessive sweating, anxiety or stress rashes, and even hives. So, if you feel your skin itching when you’re stressed, take it as a sign of anxiety. 

5. Hair Loss

Another unusual symptom of anxiety is hair loss. The stress that comes with anxiety can cause hair loss in many people. It might be a lesser-known symptom of anxiety, but it’s a distressing one, too. 

6. Tightness in Throat

Anxiety can make you feel like there’s something lodged in your throat, blocking your airway, even when there is no physical evidence of it. Shortness of breath can be caused by anxiety, which can be treated as hyperventilation. Studies suggest that even excessive yawning can be a symptom of anxiety.  

7. Unexplained Pain

If you live with anxiety disorders or even chronic anxiety, then you might experience muscle tension and unexplained aches and pains. Usually, anxiety can slow down your blood flow because stress hormones can constrict blood vessels. This can cause changes in body temperature and cause hot flashes. 

8. Memory Issues

If you struggle with memory loss and issues with concentration, forgetfulness, and mental fog, then take them as weird anxiety symptoms. These symptoms can be categorized as cognitive symptoms of anxiety, but distressing symptoms, nonetheless.  

9. Unusual Digestive Problems

One of the weird symptoms of anxiety can be associated with your stomach. Yes, anxiety affects your digestion too, and can cause nausea, constipation, diarrhea, cramps, and even IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). More than digestion, anxiety can cause hiccups. In a study, it was found that children and teens can develop hiccups as a symptom of anxiety and distress. 

10. Poor Sleep Quality

Beyond the insomnia that is often linked with anxiety and stress, a weird anxiety symptom can be poor quality of sleep. Anxiety can cause you to have restless sleep, frequent waking up in the middle of the night, and vivid but distressing dreams. 

How to Overcome Unexpected Anxiety Symptoms?

So, how can you deal with the unexpected symptoms of anxiety? Here are some tips for you! 

1. Practice mindfulness and meditation.

You can try to focus on the present moment. These practices can help you stay calm and soothe your overactive mind, reducing anxiety symptoms. 

2. Practice breathing exercises.

You can also practice deep and deliberate breathing exercises to signal your brain and body that it’s safe. This can help ease the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety. 

3. Move your body.

If you feel anxious or notice the unexpected symptoms of anxiety, then move your body in physical exercise to release endorphins. Endorphins are your body’s natural painkillers and can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress. 

4. Make healthy lifestyle choices.

Try to sleep at least 7–8 hours at night, eat a well-balanced diet, and limit stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol. 

5. Seek professional help.

If your anxiety symptoms persist or worsen with time, then try seeking professional help and support. Therapy and even medications, in some cases, can help treat symptoms of anxiety. 

Wrapping Up…

Anxiety is a complicated condition and so are its symptoms that can manifest in unexpected and weird ways. Knowing how to recognize the weird and usual anxiety symptoms can help you stay prepared and address anxiety more effectively. Seeking support and choosing healthy and safe coping strategies can help you manage anxiety as it manifests in weird ways.

Know that ways to calm anxiety are in your hands, so choose wisely! I hope this article helped you understand the weird anxiety symptoms no one talks about and what to do with them. Let me know what you think about this article in the comments below. 

Take Care!