Symptoms of Anxiety

• Unrealistic or excessive worry

• Unrealistic fears concerning objects or situations

• Exaggerated startle reactions

• “Flashbacks” of past trauma

• Sleep disturbances

• Ritualistic behaviors as a way of with dealing with anxieties

• Shakiness

• Trembling

• Muscle aches

• Sweating

• Cold/clammy hands

• Dizziness

• Jitteriness

• Tension

• Fatigue

• Racing or pounding heart

• Dry mouth

• Numbness/tingling of hands, feet or other body part
• 
Upset stomach

• Diarrhea
• 
Lump in throat
• 
High pulse and/or breathing rate

• Impatient, irritable and easily distracted

• Dread, certain something bad will happen, if not now later

The treatment of anxiety disorders can include medication, psychotherapy and behavioral techniques. It is important to learn how to manage stress in your life and how to calm yourself down when you start to become anxious. This can be done by identifying what is frightening you (real or imagined), making a plan to take care of yourself while at the same time soothing and reassuring yourself that you are in charge and you will not abandon yourself. If you can calm yourself down you can reduce the anxiety. Calm your breathing, take in deep breaths with slow exhales to avoid panting, this will help insure you are getting in enough oxygen to slow your heart rate down. If you go to the article on stress it discusses the fight and flight syndrome in greater detail with more explanation on how to manage these feelings.