What is a common sign of anxiety often experienced during stressful situations?

Hyperventilation is a common sign of anxiety that occurs in stressful situations. When a person is anxious, their body's fight-or-flight response is activated, leading to physiological changes. One of these changes can be rapid or shallow breathing, known as hyperventilation. This reaction is the body's way of preparing for an emergency, providing more oxygen to the muscles and brain in response to perceived threats. In some cases, this can lead to symptoms such as lightheadedness, tingling in the extremities, or a feeling of breathlessness, which can further exacerbate feelings of anxiety.

In contrast, euphoria, drowsiness, and calmness are not typically associated with anxiety. Euphoria might indicate a state of extreme happiness or excitement, drowsiness suggests fatigue or sedation, and calmness reflects a sense of peace or lack of stress, which stands in sharp opposition to the heightened state of arousal characteristic of anxiety. Understanding these physiological responses to anxiety is crucial in recognizing and managing symptoms in stressful situations.