This blog post is a follow up to our previous post “A snapshot of anxiety”.

You will find examples of behaviors and thought patterns that may show up when we are feeling anxious. This is not a diagnostic criteria for anxiety or an anxiety disorder, but rather signs and symptoms that may be related to feelings of anxiety.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing anxiety that is interfering with your daily life, I encourage you to seek out support from a psychologist or your family doctor.

Behaviors related to anxiety may include:

  • Impulsivity, actions without thought
  • Over or under eating 
  • Over or under sleeping
  • Withdrawal from friends or family
  • Fidgeting, unable to sit still 
  • Lack of attention or focus, forgetfulness  
  • Overthinking or racing thoughts
  • Needing to be overly busy and productive
  • Avoidance
  • Rigidity, perfectionism 
  • Difficulty slowing down and being still

Thought patterns related to anxiety may include:

  • A sense of urgency 
  • Worrying about judgment from others 
  • A sense of worry or dread on a regular basis 
  • Negative thought patterns
  • Wanting things to go perfectly 
  • Fear- based thoughts (ex., fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of missing out, fear of upsetting others) 

Some coping strategies that may help with anxious feelings can include:

  • Deep Breathing/ Mindfulness
  • Physical activity
  • Journaling/ Writing down your thoughts
  • Art- Drawing/ Painting
  • Reducing time on your phone/ social media
  • Keeping a routine 
  • Being kind to yourself with self-compassion 
  • Engaging in therapy 

If you would like to book an appointment with us, please contact us via our website.