The Anxiety Symptom No One Talks About

When I work with anxiety, there’s something that comes up again and again. It’s something people don’t always realise is part of the picture, but it has a huge impact.

Adrenaline.

More specifically, people experiencing the effects of adrenaline without realising it and mistaking it for something more serious.

This morning, on my way to work, I wasn’t rushing. I wasn’t late. I was just walking. Then:

Horns blaring. People shouting. A woman leaning on her horn, trying to move a moped. Him refusing. And then she reversed straight into him.

I wasn’t involved. But I felt it. That unmistakable rush.

Heart pounding. Muscles tensing. My body telling me to walk faster, get out of the way. Threat detected.

This is what adrenaline does. It doesn’t check if you’re actually in danger. It doesn’t ask, “Is this my problem?” It just floods your system, gets you ready to move.

And sometimes, before you even realise it, you’re reacting to your own body’s chemistry without knowing that’s what’s happening.

Why Does This Happen?

Your brain doesn’t know the difference between real threats and things that just feel intense, like an argument, a tense email, or an awkward conversation.

That’s why so many people misinterpret the effects of adrenaline. A racing heart feels like a heart attack. Feeling shaky seems like something’s wrong. A churning stomach feels like panic coming out of nowhere.

What’s actually happening? Your body is just responding to stress.

How Adrenaline Fuels Anxiety

This is why anxiety can spiral so fast. It’s not just the stress, it’s the fear of the stress response itself.

Once you start fearing your own body’s reaction, adrenaline surges again. Your heart beats faster. Your breath feels short. More fear, more adrenaline, more panic.

But when you understand what’s happening, you can start to break the cycle.

So What Can You Do About It?

You can’t stop adrenaline from kicking in as it’s part of your survival system. But you don’t have to it run the show.

Here are three ways to work with it instead of being hijacked by it:

🔥 Move With It – If adrenaline wants you to move, let it out on your own terms. Walk with purpose, unclench your jaw, shake out your hands, use the energy, don’t suppress it.

🎯 Channel It Into Focus – Adrenaline sharpens attention. Instead of letting it pull you into panic, redirect it: “Alright, brain, if you’re this alert, let’s focus on something that actually matters.”

⚙️ Give It a Job – If your body is gearing up for action, assign it something. “Okay, body, let’s use this energy to steady myself, not react.” Adrenaline doesn’t have to be a trigger because it can be a tool.

We can’t stop adrenaline from kicking in because it’s doing what it evolved to do. But we don’t have to let it run the show.

Want to Understand Your Anxiety Better?

If you’ve ever found yourself in a spiral of anxiety, unsure why your body feels the way it does, this is something I often help people with.

Drop me a message, and we can figure out how to work with your nervous system rather than feeling like it’s working against you.