Anxiety Disorder Physical Symptoms: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
Although everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, when anxiety becomes a problem, it can cause physical symptoms, as well as emotional ones. This can include a feeling of agitation, muscle tension, and stomach problems.
A psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist uses screening tools to determine if you have anxiety disorders. They will also ask about your medical history, and run tests to rule other health conditions which may cause similar symptoms.
1. Headaches
The majority of people experience anxiety at times. However, this is different from being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which is when the symptoms are more frequent or don't disappear. Anxiety can affect your daily life and make it difficult to participate in social situations.
A common physical symptom of anxiety is headaches. They can range from tension headache2 to a full-blown migraine in some people. Many people tighten their muscles in a fight-or-flight reaction, and holding them in a rigid way for a prolonged time could cause pain.
Another physical sign of anxiety is dizziness or lightheadedness. This can be due to an increased heart rate, hyperventilating or the combination of both. It could be a sign you have an illness that is serious, such as heart disease. Consult your doctor to find out.
You might be feeling weak, especially in your arms or legs. This can be a sign of anxiety. This is because your nervous system releases adrenaline and cortisol which aids in responding to danger by speeding up your heartbeat and preparing your entire body for an attack. In time, however, those hormones can have the opposite effect on your health and could cause you to feel shakey and weak or dizzy.
You may experience worse symptoms if your stressed and are having trouble sleeping. Try to take a break before bed and stick to a regular routine to rest better. Exercise is also helpful. Exercise can also aid. Consult your physician in case you're struggling to sleep.
2. Stomach issues
Anxiety can cause the body to tighten up and chronic anxiety may cause pain that persists for a long time. Your muscles may ache, your stomach can feel a bit sluggish, or you could experience diarrhea. Your digestive system may be affected by the constant release of stress hormones, and this could lead to constipation, bloating and irritable bowel syndrome.
You can experience stomach issues with any type of anxiety disorder, but people who suffer from panic disorders are more likely to suffer from these issues. According to the American Psychiatric Association, panic attacks are sudden, intense feelings or fear of imminent doom. They can happen in specific situations or without a reason. It could feel like you are having a heartattack or that you're unable to breathe. You may also experience chest pains, and a rapid pulse.
Chronic anxiety increases your risk of other health problems as well. The hormones that cause anxiety symptoms allow us to respond to threats and if we're alert our immune system could be affected. This could increase your risk of contracting the common cold, as well as other ailments.
Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through physical examination and an interview regarding your symptoms. They will rule out other causes, such as thyroid or heart problems before determining that you suffer from anxiety. A mental health professional can offer support and help you manage your symptoms. They can also teach relaxation techniques and help you deal with any trauma or negative experience that might have led to anxiety. They can also assist you to determine the best treatment option that is right for you. Ask your doctor to refer you to one or look up directories online for an anxiety specialist.
3. Muscle tension
Many people are aware that a racing pulse and jittery hand are signs of anxiety. However, they don't realize that chronic muscle tension could be a sign of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder , social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific fears. When a person is experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis they could begin to lose their range of motion and suffer from persistent pain in the back, neck and shoulders.
Tense muscles can be an indication of anxiety disorders due to the body's fight or flight response triggers a sequence of bodily reactions that cause us to physically react when we feel threatened. A moderate level of anxiety triggers these responses as part of our survival instincts, but they can lead to long-term muscle problems when they occur regularly or over a long period of time.
When a real danger is present, your adrenal glands produce hormones that increase the speed of your heartbeat, so that more blood is pumped to your large muscles in your arms or legs in the event that you have to flee or fight. These increased heart rates also boost how quickly your lungs fill with oxygen. This combination of heightened stress and hyperventilation can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
If you have an anxiety-related condition your body isn't able to return to its normal state between stress reactions. You are constantly stressed all the time due to the anxiety disorder, and you keep your sympathetic nervous system on alert. This leads to the chronic tensing of your muscles and can eventually cause long-term pain, according the American Psychological Association. It can also affect your digestive system, which can cause stomach pain constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome.
4. Dizziness
You might feel dizzy or off-balance in the event of anxiety. This is due to the nervous system's response to anxiety. When you are worried or anxious your body tightens and then it relaxes. However, if your anxiety is chronic and you experience these symptoms regularly, you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
It is difficult to fall asleep or concentrate when you're constantly stressed. It also wreaks havoc on your body and may cause you to gain weight, per the Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety also has a big influence on the menstrual cycle. It's because it could cause you to miss or have irregular menstrual flow due to the inability to release hormones that induce ovulation, according to the American Psychological Association.
Having high blood pressure or heart disease could make you more susceptible to anxiety, so it's important to bring these medical conditions under control to lower your risk. If you're suffering from any of these conditions, be sure to tell your therapist.
Other things that could increase the risk of anxiety are traumatic events like being in a car accident or having surgery. Anxiety can be triggered by a chronic illness like asthma or diabetes or a chronic medical condition. The good news is that there are treatments that can help with anxiety disorders. They include psychotherapy or talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you transform negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger anxiety into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation. You can also take supplements to help calm your mind and body.
5. Sweating
Anxiety is a term that encompasses a wide range of feelings that can cause your heart to beat and your stomach to become upset and your muscles to get tighter. Oftentimes, these feelings aren't enough to constitute anxiety disorder, but when they're ongoing and become out of control. There are also sweating, chills and other physical symptoms which make you seek medical help.
Sweating is a typical physical sign of anxiety disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. When your body's fight-or flight response kicks in, it increases the speed at which your blood circulates to prepare you for battle or escape. The increased heart rate can cause you to feel dizzy and out of breath. Breathing faster than normal--also known as hyperventilation--can enhance many of these physical symptoms by upsetting the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body, according to U.S. National Library of Medicine.
This imbalance can also lead to a feeling of not being breathing properly, which is called dyspnea. It's an indication that your anxiety is becoming too overwhelming to manage.
Your doctor will test your anxiety for a disorder based on your reported symptoms and how they impact your daily routine. They'll begin by asking you about your experiences in the past and current concerns. They might also conduct tests to determine if you have any other health problems that could be causing your symptoms, like bloodwork and imaging scanners. In certain instances, they might prescribe medications to alleviate your symptoms. These include strong antiperspirants with aluminium in them or other substances that block nerves and Botox injections in the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.