Anxiety can occur as part of daily life from stress. For example, an upcoming review at work can cause anxiety for a person. MedlinePlus notes that an emotional condition such as depression may cause anxiety-like symptoms. Some people may have more severe anxiety that disrupts their ability to function, which is considered to be an anxiety disorder. Besides causing physical symptoms like headaches and sweating, anxiety can also affect patients emotionally, with emotions varying by the type of anxiety suffered.
Emotional Numbness
During a period of anxiety, a patient may feel emotionally numb and not express any emotion, and the individual may feel disconnected from others. The Mayo Clinic states that post-traumatic stress disorder, abbreviated as PTSD, can cause this numbness. An anxiety disorder triggered by a traumatic event like war or sexual assault, PTSD results in emotional numbing when patients try to avoid thinking about the event. For example, a patient can feel empty when thinking about the event. The emotional numbness may occur with hopelessness and concentration problems. Patients may feel like their minds have gone blank.
Irritability
Anxiety can cause irritability in patients. Anxiety patients may lose their temper as a result of the irritability. The Mayo Clinic states that when PTSD patients are emotionally aroused, as opposed to being emotionally numb, they can become irritable or angry. For example, a patient may feel angry about what happened to her during a traumatic event. Irritability can also occur with generalized anxiety disorder, which is another type of anxiety disorder.
Shame
Embarrassment and shame may occur in emotionally aroused PTSD patients, who may blame themselves for the traumatic event or feel guilty about what happened. For example, if a PTSD patient's friend was killed during combat, the patient may blame himself for not protecting his friend. The Mayo Clinic notes that these emotional effects of PTSD become worse when patients are triggered, or reminded, of the traumatic event.
Fearfulness
Anxiety can also make patients feel fearful. The cause of the anxiety, such as speaking in front of a group of people, can cause the fear. Patients with anxiety disorders may feel fearful due to their constant worrying. For example, the Mayo Clinic notes that patients with generalized anxiety disorder can feel on edge because of their worrying, which can make them feel restless. PTSD patients also may become easily frightened when they are emotionally aroused. For example, PTSD patients are easily startled by such things as loud noises.
