Something I’ve been noticing a lot recently is how my anxiety manifests as physical tension in social situations.
I’ve noticed I often clench my teeth, make fists with my hands, and hunch my shoulders up. I don’t do these things consciously, and often when I remind myself to notice it I am surprised to find myself doing them. It’s probably a cycle, too, where doing these things makes me feel more tense and seem more tense to others, so I interpret the situation as more stressful than it actually is.
I am working on reminding my body that it doesn’t need to always be physically braced for situations to be stressful, and on trying to let go of physical tension so I feel more relaxed in social situations.
Does this resonate with anyone else? Have you noticed any physical manifestations of your anxiety?