How can you recognize anxiety in others through body language?

Over the years, my leadership experience has taught me that understanding someone's anxiety only comes with a deliberate effort to know them personally. Recognising the signs of anxiety requires knowing their normal behaviour first, so you can spot the deviations.

In my experience 1. Anxious people don’t complete their sentences while talking 2. Anxiety leads to people changing conversation topics mid way 3. Due to anxiety people keep changing their sitting or standing stances 4. When anxious, people suddenly go quiet during a conversation and find it difficult to remember what they were saying 5. Due to anxiety people seem to either be too much in a rush or too slow in gathering thoughts. All the above are noticeable by others and appropriate actions can be taken.

Pay attention to subtle cues such as facial expressions, eye contact, and tone of voice, as they can provide valuable insights into someone's emotional state. Anxiety may manifest through facial expressions like furrowed brows, clenched jaw, or rapid blinking. Additionally, lack of eye contact or avoiding direct communication can indicate discomfort or avoidance behavior. Changes in tone of voice, such as speaking rapidly or hesitantly, may also signify nervousness or agitation. By being attuned to these cues, you can better understand and empathize with others' feelings and respond with support and reassurance.

First of all, you cannot detect anxiety as it is. There are lot of reasons contributing to it. Common non-verbal cues for anxiety includes -not making eye contact -looking upwards while talking -too much shrugging -fidgeting of hands -voice gets really high when anxiety shoots -sweating and heart palpitations These are common cues Now here is what is not visible but also a part of body language -tapping foot continuously -scribbling something in paper to avoid answering -frequent facial expression changes These are also considered normal, it's important to observe body language of the person if you are a coach or mentor.

A primeira coisa, acredito que a mudança de padrão de comportamento e fala. As vezes, o corpo comunica antes que as palavras. Pés e mãos inquietos, ou o oposto, paralização e letargia.

To detect anxiety in others, observe their facial expressions. Signs like furrowed brows, lip biting, and tense muscles indicate worry or fear. Avoidance of eye contact and rapid blinking suggest nervousness or confusion.

Facial expressions play a pivotal role in conveying anxiety. Look for signs of tension in the forehead, a furrowed brow, or narrowed eyes. Frequent eye blinking or avoiding eye contact altogether may also be indicative of heightened anxiety. Additionally, individuals may exhibit facial microexpressions, fleeting and involuntary expressions that reveal underlying emotions. A person experiencing anxiety might display microexpressions of fear, worry, or distress, offering valuable clues about their emotional state.

Voice and speech patterns undergo noticeable changes in anxious individuals. Anxious speech is often characterized by a faster pace, a higher pitch, or a shaky tone. They may stutter, stumble over words, or exhibit difficulty expressing themselves coherently. Listening for these variations in vocal patterns can provide valuable insights into the level of anxiety someone is experiencing.

Anxiety has a direct impact on the physiological responses of the body, and monitoring breathing and heart rate can be instrumental in gauging an individual's anxiety levels. Shallow and rapid breathing, accompanied by an increased heart rate, are common physiological manifestations of anxiety. These changes are part of the body's fight-or-flight response, indicating a heightened state of arousal and stress. Observing these physical indicators can help you gauge the severity of the anxiety someone is experiencing.

When interacting with someone you suspect is anxious, consider asking open-ended questions to encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings. Open-ended questions, which cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no," prompt individuals to express themselves more freely. For example, instead of asking, "Are you okay?" you could ask, "Can you tell me what's been on your mind lately?" This approach fosters open communication, allowing the person to articulate their feelings and concerns at their own pace.

Open-ended questions are superb. I have shifted from asking, "Why do you have that feeling/opinion on this topic?" to a better alternative that makes them less defensive by asking, "How did you come to believe this? I want to understand what you endured and learned to have this belief and learn from you." That slight shift from why to how allows them to feel that you are more open to their views and will enable them to share their experiences instead of defending them.

Don't put them in a spot. Sometimes, people follow the reverse psychology approach, criticising or ridiculing them to let them become confident. It doesn't work with everyone and it isn't a practice either. This does more harm than good. Be quite mindful of the words you are using, when the person is already anxious due to lack of self-confidence. What I do in my sessions is, I ask them a question like this? 'Are you comfortable talking about it? If not, then tell us something you can really think of or are comfortable talking about.'

When I notice someone exhibiting signs of anxiety, one approach I found to be useful is to distract them. This can alleviate their discomfort by redirecting their focus. Also changing a conversation to a neutral topic or giving them a simple task to focus on can break the tension. Providing reassurance and having a calm demeanor can also help them feel more at ease, so I don't make a big deal out of it and act as usual.