Signs & symptoms of anxiety
Physical
Risk factors:
- Fast heart rate
- Stomach cramps
- Tight or painful chest and throat
- Shallow breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Muscle tension (grinding teeth, neck and shoulder pain, back pain, muscle twitching)
- Avoiding certain situations, activities, places, or people
- Over-controlling
- Asking others for constant reassurance
- Checking things repeatedly
- Being overly cautious
- Shaking
- Racing thoughts
- Imagining bad scenarios
- Ruminating on the past
- Worrying and obsessing
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty concentrating and focusing
- Perfectionism (believing you should not make any mistakes and do everything just right)
Risk factors:
- history of high anxiety and/or depression
- history of miscarriage(s)
- high-risk pregnancy
- major life stressors (such as marital or financial problems)