I have always been a somewhat “jumpy” person, but lately it’s gotten worse than usual and I’m wondering if it’s related to anxiety. 

I’m a runner and in the past month or so, I’ve noticed when I’m out on a run, little things in the environment have easily startled me. Think a bird chirping loudly, a car driving over something in the road or some gnats flying in front of my face. Nothing out of the ordinary, but for some reason they startle me so much that I end up tripping and falling. It’s really embarrassing to fall so easily and I’m sick of hurting my knee over and over. 

Before this, I would fall occasionally but it was usually on a trail run if I caught my toe on a rock or something. Now it seems to happen at least once a week, and occasionally more than once on the same run! I love running but this is giving me anxiety about going for a run.

Has anyone experienced jumpiness due to their anxiety, and what did you do about it?