Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
Everyone feels anxious at times however when anxiety turns into an illness, it can trigger physical and emotional symptoms. These include a feeling of anxiety, muscle tension and stomach issues.
A psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist will employ screening tools to determine if you have an anxiety disorder. They will also ask you about your medical history and run tests to rule out any other health conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
1. Headaches
The majority of people have anxiety from time to times. However, this is different from being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which is when the symptoms are more frequent or do not go away. Anxiety can also interfere with your daily life or cause you to avoid social situations.1
One of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety is headaches. They can range from your typical tension headache2 to full-blown migraine in some people. This is because many people tighten their muscles as part of their fight-or-flight response and holding their muscles rigidly for long periods of time can lead to pain.3
Another symptom of anxiety is dizziness or lightheadedness. This could be due to an increased heart rate, hyperventilating, or the combination of both. It could be a sign you have a serious medical condition like heart disease. Talk to your doctor to find out.
You might also feel weak in the arms or legs this could be another sign of anxiety. This is because your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline, which helps you respond to danger by speeding up your heartbeat and preparing the entire body for an attack. In time these hormones can have a negative impact on your health, making you feel weak, shaky or dizzy.
There are times when you may experience more symptoms if you are stressed and having difficulty sleeping. Try to unwind before bed and adhere to an established routine to sleep better. Exercise can also be beneficial. Brisk aerobic activity can release brain chemicals that can reduce stress and boost your mood. It can assist you in falling asleep faster. Consult your physician If you're still struggling to sleep.
2. Stomach issues
The body is tense in response to anxiety and if you suffer from chronic anxiety it can cause constant pain. Your muscles might ache or your stomach may feel off or you can experience diarrhea. Stress hormones can affect your digestive system, causing constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.
People suffering from panic disorders are at an increased risk of stomach problems. Panic attacks are sudden feelings of fear or imminent doom that occur in specific situations or for no reason according to the American Psychiatric Association. You might feel as if you're having an attack on your heart or you're unable to breathe, or you might experience chest pain or a rapid heartbeat.
Chronic anxiety increases your risk of other health problems as well. The hormones that trigger the symptoms of anxiety aid us in responding to threats, but if you're in high alert throughout the day your immune system may suffer. This can make you more susceptible to getting the common cold as well as other ailments.
Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through an examination of your body and a discussion regarding your symptoms. They can rule out other causes, such as thyroid issues or heart disease, before diagnosing you with anxiety. A mental health professional can also provide assistance and support to manage your symptoms. They can help you learn relaxation techniques and assist you to work through any underlying trauma or negative experience that might have led to your anxiety. They can also assist you in finding the appropriate treatment for you. Ask your doctor to refer you or look up directories online for an anxiety specialist.
3. Muscle tension
Many people are aware that a fast pulse and a jittery hand are indicators of anxiety. But, they don't realize that muscle tension can be a sign of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobias. If someone is experiencing these symptoms regularly, they can lose their range and experience persistent pain in their back, neck and shoulders.
Tense muscles are an indication of anxiety disorders because the body's fight or flight response triggers a range of reactions which result in us physically reacting when we perceive threats. In moderate levels of anxiety, we trigger these reactions as part of our survival instincts however, they can also lead to long-term muscle problems when they are frequent or over a long period of time.
When there is a real danger, your adrenal glands churn out hormones that speed up the speed at which your heart beats, so that it can pump more blood to the big muscles in your legs and arms in case you need to escape or fight the threat. The increased heart rate can increase the speed at which your lungs fill with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation could make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, your body isn't able to return to its normal state of rest between stress-related responses. You are constantly anxious all the while due to your anxiety disorder, which is why you keep your sympathetic nervous system on alert. This leads to the continuous tension of your muscles, which can eventually cause long-term pain, according the American Psychological Association. It can also affect your digestive system, which may cause stomach pains constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome.
4. Dizziness
If you're a stressed-out person you might feel dizzy and off balance. This is due to the nervous system's response to anxiety. Your body tenses up whenever you think about something that scares or worries you, but then relaxes after the threat has passed. If, however, your anxiety is persistent and you are experiencing these symptoms often you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
If you're stressed on a regular basis it can be difficult to concentrate or get enough sleep. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can also cause your body to suffer, and you may gain weight. Anxiety can also have a significant impact on your menstrual cycles. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you to skip your menstrual cycle or have irregular cycles by altering hormones that cause ovulation.
A high blood pressure or heart disease can make you more susceptible to anxiety, so it's important to get these medical problems under control to decrease your risk. Tell your therapist if you have any of these conditions.
Other things that can increase your risk of anxiety are traumatic events such as being involved in a car crash or having surgery. A chronic medical condition, such as asthma or an ongoing health issue, such as diabetes, can create anxiety. There are solutions for anxiety disorders. They include psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches you to turn negative anxiety-inducing thoughts and behaviors into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation. You can also take supplements to help calm your body and mind.
5. Sweating
Anxiety is a term that covers many different feelings that can cause your heart to race and your stomach to ache and your muscles to tighten. Oftentimes, these feelings aren't enough to cause anxiety disorder--but when they're chronic they can get out of hand. You might also experience sweating, chills and other physical symptoms that require medical help.
Sweating is a common physical manifestation of anxiety disorders according to the National Institute of Mental Health. When your body's "fight-or-flight" response kicks in, it increases the rate of blood circulation to prepare you for battle. The increased heart rate may make you feel dizzy or out of breath. Breathing faster than panic anxiety disorder --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 could also lead to an uneasy feeling that you are not able to breathe or breathe, which is known as dyspnea. This is a sign that your anxiety has grown too severe to handle.
Your doctor will determine if you suffer from anxiety disorders by analyzing your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. You'll be asked about previous experiences as well as your current concerns. They may also conduct tests to determine if you have any other health issues that could be the cause of your symptoms, including bloodwork and imaging scanners. In some instances, they may prescribe medications to alleviate your symptoms. They can recommend strong antiperspirants with aluminium in them, drugs that block nerves, or Botox injections around sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation.