There is no doubt about it: anxiety can be odd. It can show up in all parts of our lives. The more common symptoms are feelings of worry and fear, restlessness, pounding heart, rapid breathing, shortness of breath or air hunger, and racing thoughts.. When we feel these familiar and famous symptoms, we know it’s anxiety. However, anxiety may be lurking through lesser -known symptoms, in areas that you may not realize.
These lesser-known symptoms of anxiety are skin crawling, phantom smells or tastes, cold hands and feet, muscle twitches, and Gastrointestinal Issues and understanding these signs is an important first step toward getting the right support, which could include anxiety therapy to treat the root cause of these issues.
If you’ve been experiencing strange physical or emotional symptoms with no clear cause, anxiety might be behind them. Here are our top five odder and lesser-known signs to watch out for:
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Skin Crawling or Itching
Skin crawling sensations (known as formication) can sometimes occur during periods of anxiety. People often describe this as tingling, itching, or the feeling of insects crawling on the skin, even though nothing is actually there. This can happen because anxiety activates the body’s stress response, which may increase nerve sensitivity and affect how the brain interprets physical sensations. Changes in circulation and muscle tension can also contribute to these unusual skin feelings.
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Phantom Smells or Tastes
Phantom smells (phantosmia) are when you suddenly smell something that isn’t actually there. These smells are often described as smoke, burning, chemicals, rotten food, or a metallic scent. They can come and go and may affect one or both nostrils. In most cases, phantom smells are linked to physical causes rather than anxiety. According to medical sources such as the Cleveland Clinic, phantosmia is commonly associated with sinus infections, allergies, nasal inflammation, dental issues, or changes following viral infections like COVID-19. Less commonly, it may be connected to migraines or neurological conditions, so it’s important to have persistent or unexplained symptoms properly assessed.
Anxiety doesn’t typically cause phantom smells directly, but it can heighten your awareness of physical sensations, which may make the experience feel more noticeable or distressing. If this is happening repeatedly or feels new, it’s always best to check in with a medical professional to rule out any underlying medical causes.
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Cold Hands and Feet
Cold hands and feet during anxiety are often related to peripheral vasoconstriction, which is part of the body’s natural stress response. When anxiety activates the fight-or-flight system, blood flow is redirected away from the hands and feet and toward the heart and major muscles. This can leave the extremities feeling unusually cold, numb, or sometimes even slightly tingly.
This reaction is common during periods of acute stress or panic and is typically not dangerous, but it can feel uncomfortable or alarming in the moment. In most cases, the sensation improves once the body returns to a calmer state. Now, you may be someone who regularly experiences cold hands or feet, and if so, this doesn’t mean anxiety. It’s when it shows up a little more suddenly that could indicate anxiety.
Anxiety activates your body’s fight-or-flight response, redirecting blood flow to major muscles and away from extremities. This can leave your hands and feet feeling cold or even numb, especially during a panic attack. Now, you may be someone who regularly experiences cold hands or feet, and if so, this doesn’t mean anxiety. It’s when it shows up a little more suddenly that could indicate anxiety.
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Muscle Twitches (including Eye Twitching)
Muscle twitches (known as fasciculations) are small, involuntary muscle movements that can occur during periods of anxiety or stress. When anxiety activates the nervous system for long periods, it can lead to increased muscle tension and overstimulation, which may result in twitching in areas such as the eyelids, hands, or other small muscle groups.
Eye twitching specifically is often referred to as benign eyelid myokymia, and it is commonly linked to stress, fatigue, caffeine, or anxiety. While these twitches can feel uncomfortable or concerning, they are typically harmless and tend to improve when a person learns how to manage their stress levels. -
Gastrointestinal Issues
Gastrointestinal symptoms (often linked to stress-related gastrointestinal dysfunction or the gut–brain axis) are a common physical response to anxiety. Not as much a surprise here, for anyone who experiences IBS or regular tummy troubles, as this often shows up when we’re stressed or upset. While upset stomachs and nausea are well-known anxiety symptoms, more unusual digestive issues can include bloating, gurgling noises, or feeling full after eating very little. The gut-brain connection plays a huge role in how anxiety manifests. As with all the items on our list, persistent stomach troubles should be investigated medically to rule out any other issues.
How Anxiety Symptoms Can Show Up in the Body
At Impart Therapy, we often work with clients who come in feeling confused or even worried about physical symptoms they can’t explain. One client, for example, sought support after experiencing persistent eye twitching and unusual skin sensations that they initially feared were neurological. After medical causes were ruled out, we began exploring how chronic stress and past experiences were impacting their nervous system. Through EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, we helped the client process underlying stress responses that were keeping their body in a heightened state of alert. As those patterns were addressed, their nervous system gradually became more regulated. Over time, they noticed a significant reduction in both their anxiety and the physical symptoms that had been causing concern.
Experiences like this are more common than people realize, and they highlight how closely the mind and body are connected, especially when anxiety is held in the body over time.
Paying Attention to Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health ailments, affecting nearly all of us from time to time. Recognizing these lesser-known symptoms of anxiety is paramount to receiving the right care. Being aware of these manifestations can help you seek the right support, whether through therapy, lifestyle changes, or medical care. It can also be helpful to understand whether what you’re experiencing is anxiety or stress-related. Our article on How to Tell the Difference Between Anxiety vs Stress explains the key differences. We always recommend seeking medical care first (typically with a visit to your doctor), before determining that you are experiencing anxiety. If you are feeling anxious, you’re not alone, and these symptoms, strange as they may be, are valid. We can help.
About Deeya Sumra
At Impart Therapy, Deeya Sumra works with teens and young adults experiencing anxiety, helping them develop practical, evidence-based skills to manage stress and build resilience. If any of these signs sound familiar, we’re here to help support both you and your teen. To book a free meet and greet with Deeya, please visit: Book Online | Impart Therapy
Impart Therapy
At Impart, we work with clients struggling with anxiety, stress, and life transitions. If you are looking for help with therapy or counselling for your anxiety, please reach out. Our therapists are available immediately. Contact us today!