Subconscious anxiety may present as physical and mental health symptoms that you don’t notice. Treatments for anxiety can help alleviate symptoms.

Anxiety can signal to you that there’s an actual or perceived threat which can cause fear and worry. Many people experience anxiety on some level, and some people even live with anxiety disorders.

Many times, with anxiety, the worry is out of proportion to the actual threat that exists.

Some people can recognize that they’re anxious. For others, they may live with physical or mental health symptoms that appear to have no cause.

Brain activity exists in your unconscious mind, including thoughts and feelings you may not know. Sometimes, having specific symptoms that you can’t pinpoint the underlying cause of may be subconscious anxiety.

Subconscious anxiety is a type of anxiety that you may experience without being aware of it. With subconscious anxiety, you can exhibit symptoms similar to symptoms you would see in anxiety disorders. But you may have difficulty recognizing those symptoms as anxiety.

If you experience subconscious anxiety, it can feel overwhelming and take a toll on your physical and mental health. For some people, subconscious anxiety may feel like a continuous nervousness or restlessness where it’s hard to pinpoint where it’s coming from.

Many people who experience subconscious anxiety may have difficulty locating the source of their anxiety. Unconscious processes can be the root cause of many mental health disorders.

Research from 2020 indicates that unconscious processes can underly the origins of mood, anxiety, thought, and stressor-related disorders.

Various subconscious processes can lead to anxiety. Research suggests that our unconscious mind can be filled with irrational thoughts you aren’t aware of. The author also suggests you have many more thoughts outside of awareness than the ones you are aware of.

Anxiety occurs when you worry excessively about a threat or perceived threat. It’s a future-oriented mind state. The causes of subconscious anxiety can be similar to what causes typical anxiety.

Some potential causes of anxiety, according to a 2023 overview, include biopsychosocial factors such as:

  • childhood experiences
  • substance misuse
  • living with panic disorder
  • trauma
  • medications

Subconscious anxiety comes from underlying thought processes outside of what we know. Anxiety can manifest in various physical and mental health symptoms.

Subconscious anxiety can present in many different ways.

Some common mental health symptoms you may experience if you’re dealing with subconscious anxiety include:

  • increased worry or fear
  • feeling overwhelmed
  • feeling exhausted or fatigued
  • difficulty making decisions
  • challenges with organization
  • trouble focusing or concentrating
  • experiencing “brain fog”
  • irritability

Some physical health symptoms that may indicate subconscious anxiety include:

  • migraine
  • headaches
  • tiredness
  • tense or sore muscles
  • stomach problems
  • heart palpitations

While many of these symptoms are linked to typical anxiety, some of the physical manifestations may be unrecognizable as anxiety. One of the main telltales of experiencing subconscious anxiety is feeling the following with an unknown cause:

  • nervous
  • restless
  • tense
  • on edge

The treatment for subconscious anxiety is the same as that of typical anxiety—usually a combination of medication and therapy. It may take trial and error to determine what strategies and available treatments work best for you.

You can talk with a doctor or mental health professional for recommendations. If you choose to go the therapy route, there are evidence-based treatments for anxiety.

According to a 2023 review, evidence-backed therapy for anxiety includes:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A type of therapy that helps you replace maladaptive patterns of thinking with more helpful patterns of thinking.
  • Exposure therapy: A type of therapy in which you confront the object you fear in a controlled way with the therapist to guide you.
  • Relaxation therapy: Types of interventions that are used to help alleviate stress and tension and get to a more peaceful state
  • Third Wave CBTs: Interventions focusing on mindfulness practice and achieving broader life goals.

If you’re considering medication for anxiety, there are several options.

Medication classes that are effective for anxiety, according to research, include:

It’s important to note that Lyrica and moclobemide are not approved to treat general anxiety disorder (GAD) in the United States. But Lyrica is currently approved in European countries.

If you’re considering medication to treat your anxiety, consider speaking with a medical professional about what options may be suitable for you.

Anxiety can also occur as a result of underlying medical conditions. Research suggests that there’s a link between anxiety and the following conditions:

  • arthritis
  • chronic pain
  • hypertension
  • stroke
  • heart disease
  • asthma
  • peptic ulcers
  • gastrointestinal conditions

If you’ve been diagnosed with these conditions or suspect these conditions, consider consulting with a healthcare professional for treatment recommendations.

There are ways you can alleviate symptoms of unconscious anxiety. Research from 2019 suggests that these self-help tips can help you manage symptoms of anxiety:

When implementing regular exercise, you’re more likely to stick with it if you move your body in ways that feel good to you and by participating in the physical exercise you enjoy.

You may also try working on deep breathing exercises, as deep breathing has many benefits for alleviating anxiety symptoms.

Subconscious anxiety is a lesser-known type of anxiety that you may not be aware of. If you experience subconscious anxiety, there may be something in your unconscious that is the root of underlying anxiety.

If you notice you’re feeling restless, on edge, or nervous but aren’t sure where it’s coming from, that could be subconscious anxiety.

The symptoms and treatment for subconscious anxiety are similar to typical anxiety. Many people who seek treatment for anxiety attend therapy and take medication.

Anxiety can be overwhelming and make you feel alone. But support options are available to help you during this time. Professional treatment and self-help strategies can provide you with relief from anxiety symptoms.