Subconscious anxiety is when you experience symptoms of anxiety without knowing it. Medications and talk therapies can help treat subconscious anxiety.
Anxiety can cause physical symptoms like fatigue, pain and aches, and changes in weight. If you’re experiencing these symptoms but don’t consciously feel that you’re worried or stressed, it’s possible that you have subconscious anxiety.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms and treatments for subconscious anxiety. This article also discusses possible causes, preventing subconscious anxiety, and more.
What are the symptoms of subconscious anxiety?
Michela Ravasio/Stocksy United
Subconscious anxiety can cause the same symptoms as regular anxiety. Anxiety can lead to both emotional and physical symptoms.
Emotional and psychological symptoms in people with subconscious anxiety may not be very obvious, but you can still experience symptoms such as:
ruminating thoughts
distractibility
irritability
difficulty making decisions
fogginess
feeling of overwhelm
Physical symptoms of subconscious anxiety can include:
tiredness and fatigue
headache
dizziness
muscle tension
pain in the chest
sleep problems
numbness and tingling
What can cause subconscious anxiety?
The causes of subconscious anxiety are mostly similar to those that lead to regular anxiety.
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Life stressors are stressful events in day-to-day activities. These can include positive events such as starting a new job or more challenging situations like financial problems.
If stress builds up, it can lead to anxiety. If the stress has been building up over time, you may not realize you’re experiencing anxiety as a result.
Genetics
Anxiety can be genetic. Studies from 2017 and 2015 suggest that anxiety is linked to specific genes.
People with relatives who have the condition may have a higher likelihood of developing the condition.
Health conditions
Having chronic health conditions can lead to subconscious stress and health anxiety.
If you experience physical symptoms of anxiety alongside physical symptoms of another chronic health condition, you may not be aware that you are also experiencing anxiety.
Sleep problems
People with insomnia tend to be more prone to developing anxiety and depression, and people with these mental health conditions tend to have sleep disturbances, according to a 2019 study. The study involved analyzing data from a 2011–2012 survey that almost 2,800 Korean individuals between ages 19 and roughly 69 years participated in.
If you’re experiencing sleep problems, you may have subconscious anxiety.
As there are many factors that might be affecting the quality of your sleep, a doctor can help you determine the underlying cause.
What are the risk factors for subconscious anxiety?
People with certain risk factors have a higher likelihood of experiencing anxiety. Some of these risk factors include:
having childhood trauma or feelings of distress and nervousness during childhood
being exposed to negative environments during childhood
having a family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions
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To treat subconscious anxiety, a mental health professional may prescribe medications as well as therapy.
Medications include:
Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines can help with anxiety symptoms, but these drugs have a high potential for dependency. Examples include diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan).
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): SSRIs and SNRIs can treat depression and anxiety and can include medications like sertraline (Zoloft) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
Beta-blockers: These medications are typically prescribed to treat heart disease and high blood pressure. However, sometimes doctors will recommend them to treat certain physical symptoms of anxiety.
Buspirone:Buspirone (BuSpar) can help provide short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. It has a lesser likelihood of dependency than some other medications used to treat anxiety.
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Therapy, a standard treatment for anxiety, can help you with coping with anxiety symptoms. Some types of therapy that can help with anxiety include:
Talk therapy or psychotherapy: Talk therapy can help you better understand what’s causing your anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT can help you identify and change harmful thought patterns that may be causing anxiety.
Exposure therapy: With a mental health professional supervising the treatment, exposure therapy helps you directly face what may be causing your anxiety. A therapist can help you to identify what’s causing your symptoms.
Is it possible to prevent subconscious anxiety?
Various steps can help you prevent anxiety or reduce the likelihood of subconscious anxiety recurring. These actionable steps include:
getting enough regular physical activity or exercise
practicing stress-reducing activities, such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and journaling
eating a balanced diet high in fresh foods and low in processed foods
performing breathing exercises to help reduce stress
getting enough quality sleep
avoiding or reducing intake of alcohol and caffeine
Summary
Having subconscious anxiety means that you may not realize that you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety. It can cause physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, aches and pains, irritability, trouble concentrating, and more.
The symptoms and treatments for subconscious anxiety are similar to those of general anxiety. It’s best to talk with a doctor if you have concerns about subconscious anxiety. They can help determine what’s causing your symptoms and help you to create a suitable treatment plan.
