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About your Symptoms

You Are Not Dying. You Are Not Going Crazy. You Are Anxious.

If you are reading this page, you are likely frightened by what is happening to your body and mind. You may have already visited the ER, convinced you were having a heart attack, only to be told, "It’s just stress."

But it doesn't feel like "just stress." It feels dangerous.

The first step to recovery is understanding that anxiety is a chameleon. It can mimic serious illnesses, cause bizarre physical sensations, and make you doubt your own sanity. Below is a list of common symptoms reported by the thousands of people we have helped.

Heart & Chest Symptoms

Your body is reacting to a "Fight or Flight" signal, dumping adrenaline into your system to fight a danger that isn't there.

  • Palpitations, racing heart, or skipped beats.
  • Chest tightness or sharp pains (often mistaken for a heart attack).
  • Obsessively checking your pulse.
Deep Dive: Read: Why Your Chest Hurts →
Related: Read: Stop The Pulse Checking →

Breathing & "Air Hunger"

  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling like you can't get a deep breath (Air Hunger).
  • A sensation of choking or a tight throat.
Deep Dive: Read: Understanding "Air Hunger" →

Neurological Sensations

  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint.
  • Derealization: Feeling detached from your body, or like the world is dreamlike or foggy.
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or face.
Deep Dive: Read: Why You Feel "Unreal" →

Stomach & Digestion

  • Nausea, "butterflies," or a knot in the stomach.
  • Diarrhea, constipation, or digestive distress.
Deep Dive: Read: The Gut-Anxiety Link →

Social & Muscular Symptoms

  • Trembling or shaking hands, especially in public.
  • Intense blushing or sweating.
  • Constant muscle tension or twitching.
Deep Dive: Read: Why You Shake & Blush →

Racing & Scary Thoughts

  • A mind that won't shut off, constantly looping on "What if?" scenarios.
  • Intrusive Thoughts: Sudden, violent, or bizarre mental images.
  • Fear of losing control or "going crazy."
Deep Dive: Read: Why You Have Scary Thoughts →
Related: Read: Stop The "What Ifs" →

Sleep & Morning Dread

  • Insomnia or difficulty falling asleep.
  • Waking up with a racing heart or a sense of dread immediately upon waking.
Deep Dive: Read: Why Mornings Are Hardest →

Health Anxiety

  • Obsessively Googling symptoms.
  • Seeking constant reassurance from doctors or family members.
  • Believing you have a hidden illness despite clear medical tests.
Deep Dive: Read: Stop Googling Symptoms →

Behavioral Changes

  • Avoidance: Stopping activities you used to enjoy (driving, crowded places).
  • Needing a "safe person" to leave the house.
Deep Dive: Read: The "Safe Person" Trap →
Related: Read: Driving Anxiety Guide →

Why is this happening to me?

These symptoms are not signs of a disease; they are signs of a sensitized nervous system.

When you live with chronic stress or anxiety, your body’s "threat detection center" (the amygdala) gets stuck in the "ON" position. It is firing false alarms, causing real physical reactions.

Feeling Stuck? Read: Why Setbacks Happen →

Ready to Turn Off the Alarm?

Reading this list confirms what you are feeling is real. But reading about it won't make it stop. It's time to learn the skills that will quiet your nervous system for good.

Start The Program

Over 1.6 million people have used this program to reclaim their lives.