Always Nervous
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Short tempered
Insomnia
Mind wandering
Uneasy feeling in body
Trouble focusing
Dizzy and trouble focusing eyes
Uneasy feeling
Restless sleep
Difficulty concentrating
Excessive yawning anxiety
Irritability and depression
Easily annoyed
About the Symptom
Persistent nervousness can be feelings of constant worry, fear, or anxiety. It can be caused by many different medical or psychiatric conditions.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Numbness of the body
- Suicidal thought
- Recent weight loss
- Palpitation
- Numbness / sensory disorder
- Abnormal sensation (tingling, prickling)
- Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
- Easy fatiguability
Possible Causes
Generally, Always nervous can be related to:
- Adjustment Disorder
A psychological disorder, often with low mood and anxiety. It is triggered by a sudden change in life circumstances, e.g. divorce or losing a job.
- Depression
Depression is a mental illness that leads to low mood, reduced energy levels, and changes in sleep. This affects everyday activities like attending school and work. As the condition worsens, patients might have suicidal thoughts. Although stress and past trauma can cause depression, it can take time to identify and address causes, and genetic factors may also be at play.
- Sleep Disorder
Sleep disorders are conditions that affect the quality, timing, or duration of your sleep, impacting your ability to function when you're awake. There are many types of sleep disorders, including disturbances in sleep quality or quantity, excessive daytime sleepiness, abnormal behaviors during sleep, sleep disorders related to mental disorders, and more. Narcolepsy is one such disorder, often grouped under hypersomnias - a category of conditions characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness - and can be mistaken for or coexist with other sleep disorders like sleep apnea. Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.
- Hyperventilation Syndrome / Panic Attacks
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety
- Migraine
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Hypothyroidism
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you feel nervous all the time?
Reviewed By:
Charles Carlson, DO, MS (Psychiatry)
Dr. Carlson graduated from Touro University in Nevada with a degree in osteopathic medicine. He then trained as a resident in Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals where he was also a chief resident and completed a fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry. After training, he started practicing in | Addiction Psychiatry at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he also teaches Psychiatry residents.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Content updated on Jan 29, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Feel nervous most or all the time
- Nervous all or most of the time
- Always feeling nervous
- Persistent nervousness
- Constantly nervous
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FAQs
Q.
Always Nervous? Why Your Brain Stays on High Alert & Medical Next Steps
A.
Feeling nervous most of the time often reflects an overactive stress response that keeps your brain on high alert; common causes include anxiety disorders, chronic stress, thyroid or other hormone shifts, caffeine or stimulant use, poor sleep, and low blood sugar. This is treatable, but the specifics matter for choosing the right plan. Next steps include using a symptom checker, scheduling a primary care visit for an exam and labs such as thyroid and glucose, and considering a mental health evaluation for therapies like CBT and, if needed, medication; seek urgent care for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or thoughts of self-harm. There are several factors to consider; important details that can shape your next steps are outlined below.
References:
* Adhikari A, et al. Neural mechanisms of anxiety disorders: the role of the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2020 Sep;21(9):487-501. doi: 10.1038/s41582-020-0376-2. Epub 2020 Jul 17. PMID: 32677840.
* Bystritsky A, et al. Generalized anxiety disorder: a current review. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018 Mar;20(1):19-32. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.1/abystritsky. PMID: 29775086.
* Gorka SM, et al. Neurobiology of Anxiety Disorders: A Primer. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2023 May 8;19:147-170. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-070821-020040. Epub 2023 Feb 9. PMID: 36760074.
* Bandelow B, et al. Management of generalized anxiety disorder. CNS Spectr. 2022 Dec;27(6):639-651. doi: 10.1017/S109285292100057X. Epub 2021 Apr 28. PMID: 33907797.
* Moga DE, et al. The neurobiology of anxiety: advances in understanding and treatment. Expert Rev Neurother. 2023 Apr;23(4):307-320. doi: 10.1080/14737175.2023.2185246. Epub 2023 Mar 9. PMID: 36980643.
Q.
Always Anxious? Why Your Nervous System is Overreacting: Magnesium Glycinate & Next Steps
A.
Feeling constantly on edge often means your nervous system is stuck in fight or flight; magnesium glycinate can help by supporting calming neurotransmitters, easing muscle tension, improving sleep, moderating stress hormones, and stabilizing blood sugar, though it is not a standalone cure. There are several factors to consider, including the right dose 200 to 400 mg elemental daily, starting low, evening use for sleep, and safety with kidney disease or interacting medicines, plus lifestyle steps like sleep hygiene, blood sugar stabilization, stress reduction, and therapy; see the complete guidance below for red flags, other medical causes to rule out, and how to choose your next steps.
References:
* Boyle NB, Lawton C, Dye L. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2017 Apr 29;9(5):429. doi: 10.3390/nu9050429. PMID: 28480289; PMCID: PMC5452159.
* Serefko A, Szopa A, Wlaź P, Nowak G, Radziwoń-Zaleska M, Skalski M, Galecki P. Magnesium and the Brain: From Pharmacology to Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rep. 2013;65(3):547-54. doi: 10.1016/s1734-1140(13)71032-6. PMID: 23803882.
* Pickering G, Mazur A, Trouillas P, Felice V, Galan P, Coudray C, Joosten E, Pouteau E. Magnesium Status and Stress: Why a Critical Research Area? Adv Nutr. 2021 Mar 31;12(2):597-601. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmaa124. PMID: 33786278; PMCID: PMC8009187.
* Noah L, Pickering G, Mazur A. The Role of Magnesium in Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2019 Jul 25;11(8):1720. doi: 10.3390/nu11081720. PMID: 31349520; PMCID: PMC6723159.
* Poleszak E. Magnesium plays a key role in regulating neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity: a systematic review of the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic potential. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2021 Feb;128(2):169-178. doi: 10.1007/s00702-021-02290-y. Epub 2021 Jan 12. PMID: 33433555; PMCID: PMC7852391.
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