Why Do I Feel Anxious for No Obvious Reason?

Feeling anxious when you can’t identify a reason can be confusing.

You might wake up with a sense of worry, feel uneasy during the day or find that something simply doesn’t feel right.

You may then start asking yourself:

“What am I anxious about?”

Sometimes there is a clear answer. Sometimes there isn’t.

DOES ANXIETY NEED TO HAVE AN OBVIOUS CAUSE?

Not always.

Anxiety isn’t necessarily caused by one big event or problem.

Pressure can build gradually. Work, family, money, relationships, caring responsibilities, poor sleep and uncertainty can all take up mental space.

Individually, these things might feel manageable. Together, they can become overwhelming.

You may notice the anxiety before you’ve recognised how much pressure you’re under.

COULD SOMETHING BE SITTING IN THE BACKGROUND?

Think about what’s been happening in your life recently.

Have you been:

• dealing with lots of small problems?
• waiting for important news or a decision?
• worrying about money or work?
• taking responsibility for other people?
• going through changes at home?
• sleeping badly?
• avoiding something you don’t want to deal with?
• feeling that you never properly switch off?

There doesn’t have to be one obvious answer.

Sometimes several smaller worries are enough to leave you feeling unsettled.

TRY LOOKING FOR PATTERNS

You don’t have to force yourself to find an explanation.

Instead, become curious about when the anxiety appears.

For a few days, you could make a simple note of:

When did I feel anxious?Morning, evening, at work, at home or somewhere else?

What was happening?Were you busy, alone, tired, under pressure or waiting for something?

What was on my mind?Even a passing thought may help you recognise a pattern.

What happened afterwards?Did the feeling pass, remain or become stronger?

You may begin to notice connections that weren’t obvious before.

DON’T PUT PRESSURE ON YOURSELF TO FIND A REASON

It’s easy to become anxious about being anxious.

You might repeatedly ask yourself why you feel this way or worry that something must be wrong because you can’t explain it.

Try not to make finding an immediate explanation another problem you have to solve.

Instead, focus on what you need right now.

That might be taking a break, going for a walk, talking to somebody, getting some sleep or dealing with one small thing that’s been worrying you.

WHEN SHOULD I ASK FOR MORE HELP?

Consider speaking to your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional if anxiety is happening regularly, becoming difficult to manage or affecting your sleep, work, relationships or everyday life.

You don’t need to know exactly why you’re feeling anxious before asking for support.

Understanding anxiety
What are the physical symptoms of anxiety?
Why am I worrying about things I can’t control?
Managing racing thoughts
Identifying your stress triggers

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEONE?

Sometimes it can help to talk things through.

General information only. This is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional healthcare advice.