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 sense of anxiety, muscle tension, stomach issues and more.
A psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist will use screening tools to determine whether you suffer from anxiety disorder. They will also inquire about your medical history and conduct tests to rule out other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
1. Headaches
Many people have anxiety from time to times. But that's different from having an anxiety disorder, which is when the feelings are more frequent or do not go away. Anxiety can affect your daily life and make it difficult to participate in social situations.
The most frequent physical sign of anxiety is headaches. They can range from tension headache2 up to a full-blown, migraine in some people. Many people tense up their muscles in a fight-or-flight response, and retaining them rigidly for a long duration can cause pain.
Lightheadedness or dizziness are another symptom of physical anxiety. It could be due to rapid heart rate, hyperventilating, or a combination. It could also be an indication of a major medical issue like heart disease, which is why it is important to be checked out by your physician.
You may be feeling weak, especially in your arms or legs. This could be a sign of anxiety. This is because your nervous system releases adrenaline and cortisol which help you react to a danger by speeding up the heartbeat and preparing your body for a potential attack. Over time, however, those hormones can have a negative impact on your health and may cause you to feel weak, shaky and weak or dizzy.
If you are having trouble getting enough rest due to anxiety, it can make your symptoms worse. Relax before going to bed and adhere to your routine. This will allow you to get more rest. Exercise can be beneficial. Exercise can also help. Talk to your doctor If you're still struggling to sleep.
2. Stomach issues
The body tightens up in response to anxiety and if you suffer from chronic anxiety, it could cause constant discomfort. Your muscles could hurt or your stomach may feel a bit sluggish, or you could experience diarrhea. Stress hormones can also impact your gastrointestinal system, causing constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.
People who suffer from panic disorders are at greater chance of developing stomach problems. Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror or impending doom that can occur in certain situations or for no apparent reason according to the American Psychiatric Association. It could feel like you are having a heartattack or that you cannot breathe. You might also experience chest pains, and an extremely rapid pulse.
Long-term anxiety can increase your risk of other health issues as well. The hormones that cause anxiety symptoms help us to react to dangers and if we're alert our immune system could be affected. This can make you more prone to common colds, and other diseases.
Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through a an examination and talking to you about your symptoms. Before diagnosing anxiety, they'll rule out other causes such as thyroid and heart diseases. A mental health professional will also be able to offer you assistance and support in managing your symptoms. They can assist you in learning relaxation techniques and work through any traumas or negative experiences that may have caused anxiety. They can also aid you in finding the right treatment for you. Ask your doctor for a referral or check online therapist directories to find a therapist who is an expert in anxiety.
3. Muscle tension
Many people are aware that a twitchy pulse and a jittery hand are indicators of anxiety. However, they don't know that chronic muscle tension could be an indication of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder panic disorder, and even specific phobias. If someone is suffering from these symptoms frequently, they can lose their mobility and feel constant pain in their back, neck and shoulders.
Tense muscles are a common manifestation of anxiety disorder since the body's fight-or flight response triggers a cascade of responses that result in us physically reacting to perceived threats. These reactions are a normal part of our survival instincts however, they can lead to long-term problems if they are repeated or occur over a prolonged period of time.
If a serious threat is present your adrenal glands pump out hormones that accelerate how fast your heart beats, so that it can pump more blood to the large muscles in your arms and legs in case you need to escape or fight the danger. The increased heart rates also increase the rate that your lungs fill up with oxygen. The combination of stress and hyperventilation may make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, however your body isn't able to its normal state of relaxation between stress responses. Your anxiety disorder causes you to feel constantly anxious which means that your sympathetic nervous system is in high alert. This leads to the continuous tension in your muscles that can eventually cause long-term pain, according to the American Psychological Association. It can also affect your digestive system, causing stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome.
4. Dizziness
If you're a person who is anxious you may feel dizzy and out of balance. This is because of the nervous system's response to anxiety. The body gets tense when you think of something that scares or worries you, but then relaxes once the threat passes. If you experience these symptoms often and your anxiety is chronic you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder.
If you're constantly stressed on a regular basis it can be difficult to concentrate or sleep enough. It also causes havoc to your body and may cause you to gain weight, as per the Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety can also have a significant impact on your menstrual cycles. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you to miss your periods or have irregular cycles by altering hormones that cause the ovulation.
You are more prone to anxiety if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. It's important to control these medical conditions to lower your risk. If you're suffering from any of these conditions, make sure to inform your therapist.
Traumatic experiences like a car crash or surgery can increase your risk of anxiety. A chronic medical condition, such as asthma or an ongoing health issue, such as diabetes, can also trigger anxiety. The good news is that there are solutions that can help with anxiety disorders. Talk therapy or psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) can be helpful. CBT teaches you how to change negative behavior patterns and thoughts that cause anxiety into positive ones. You can also learn how to use relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing. You can also take supplements to calm your body and mind.
5. Sweating
Anxiety is a term that encompasses an array of emotions that can cause your heart to beat, your stomach to upset and your muscles to become tight. Most of the time, these feelings don't constitute an anxiety disorders, but if they're persistent, they can become out of control. You may also experience chills, sweating and other physical symptoms that prompt you to seek medical treatment.
Sweating is a typical physical symptom 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 that your blood circulates to prepare you for fight or escape. The increased heart rate can cause you to feel dizzy and breathless. 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 could also cause an uneasy feeling that you are not able to breathe or breathe, which is known as dyspnea. This could be a sign that your anxiety has become too severe to manage.
Your doctor will determine if there is an anxiety disorder by looking at your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. You'll be asked about your past experiences as well as your current concerns. They may also conduct tests to check for other health issues that could be the cause of your symptoms, including imaging scanners and blood tests. In certain instances they may suggest medications to ease your symptoms, such as powerful antiperspirants that contain aluminium, nerve-blocking drugs, or botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections around the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, and relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.