Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
While everyone feels anxious at times When anxiety becomes a problem, it can cause physical symptoms as well as emotional ones. They can be characterized by a feeling of anxiety, muscle tension, stomach issues and more.
A psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist utilizes screening tools to determine if you suffer from anxiety disorders. They will also inquire about your medical history, and perform tests to rule out other health conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
1. Headaches
Many people feel anxious at times. But that’s different from having an anxiety disorder which is when the feelings are more frequent or don’t disappear. Anxiety can also interfere with your daily routine or cause you to avoid social situations.1
A common physical symptom of anxiety is headaches. They can range from the average tension headache2 to a full-blown migraine in some people. This is due to the fact that many people tighten their muscles as part of the fight-or-flight response, and holding those muscles in a rigid position for long periods of time can lead to pain.3
Lightheadedness or dizziness are another physical sign of anxiety. This can be due to an increased heart rate, hyperventilating, or the combination of both. It could also be an indication of a major medical problem such as heart disease, and it’s crucial to have your heart examined by your physician.
You might be feeling weak, especially in your legs or arms. This can be a sign of anxiety. This is because your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline, which helps you respond to a danger by speeding up the heartbeat and preparing your body for an attack. In time the hormones could have a negative impact on your health, making you feel weak, shakey or dizzy.
If you’re having difficulty getting enough sleep because of anxiety, it can make your symptoms worse. Relax before bed and follow the same routine. This will allow you to get more rest. Exercise can be beneficial. Exercise can help. If you’re still having difficulty sleeping, speak to your doctor about treatment options.
2. Stomach problems
The body tightens up in response to anxiety, and if you have chronic anxiety, it could result in persistent discomfort. Your muscles might ache or your stomach may feel off or you can develop diarrhea. Your gastrointestinal system can also be affected by the constant release of stress hormones, and this could lead to constipation, bloating and IBS.
There are stomach issues that can be experienced with any type of anxiety disorder, but people with panic disorders are more likely to have them. Panic attacks are sudden sensations of fear or dread that occur in specific situations or for no reason, according to the American Psychiatric Association. It could feel like you’re experiencing a heart attack or that you are unable to breathe. You might also experience chest pains or an intense pulse.
Long-term anxiety may also increase your risk of developing other health issues. The fight-or-flight hormones that cause anxiety symptoms aid us in responding to a threat and if you’re constantly in high alert throughout the day, your immune system can suffer. This could make you more prone to the common cold, and other diseases.
Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by doing a physical exam and interviewing you about your symptoms of anxiety disorders. They will rule out other causes, like thyroid or heart problems prior to determining you have anxiety. A mental health professional can provide support and assistance to manage your symptoms. They can teach you relaxation techniques and help you overcome any underlying trauma or negative experiences that may have caused your anxiety. They can also help you in locating the best 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 twitchy pulse and jittery hand are signs of anxiety. However, they do not know that chronic muscle tension could be a sign of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobias. If someone is experiencing these symptoms regularly, they can lose their range of motion and suffer from chronic pain in their back, neck and shoulders.
Tense muscles are a common symptom of anxiety disorder because the body’s fight-or flight response triggers a chain of bodily reactions that trigger us to physically react to perceived threats. In moderate levels of anxiety, we trigger these responses as part our natural survival instinct however, they can lead to long-term muscle problems when they are frequent or over a long period of time.
If a real risk is present your adrenal glands release hormones that speed up the rate of your heartbeat to ensure that more blood can be delivered to your large muscles in your arms or legs in the event that you have to flee or fight. These increased heart rates also increase the rate that your lungs fill with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation may cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.
If you have an anxiety condition your body isn’t able to return to its normal state between stress responses. The anxiety disorder causes you to feel constantly anxious, so your sympathetic nervous system remains at a high level of alert. This leads to the chronic tension in your muscles that may eventually lead to long-term pain, according the American Psychological Association. It can also affect the digestive system causing stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea or irritable-bowel syndrome.
4. Dizziness
You may be shaky or unbalanced when you are stressed. The reason for this is to do with the nervous system response to severe anxiety disorder. The body gets tense when you think of something that scares or worries you, and then it relaxes once the threat passes. If you are experiencing these symptoms often and you feel your anxiety is chronic you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder.
It can be difficult to fall asleep or concentrate when you are constantly worried. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can also cause your body to suffer and you could gain weight. Anxiety can also have a significant influence on the menstrual cycle. According to the American Psychological Association, Anxiety Disorders Are Characterised By can cause you to skip your menstrual cycle or experience irregular menstrual cycles by affecting hormones that induce menstrual ovulation.
You may be more prone to anxiety if you suffer from high blood pressure or heart issues. It is important to manage these medical conditions to reduce your risk. Talk to your therapist if are suffering from any of the following conditions.
Other things that can increase the risk of anxiety are traumatic experiences like being in a car crash or having surgery. A chronic medical condition, such as asthma or chronic health issues, such as diabetes, can create anxiety. The good news is that there are solutions that can help with anxiety disorders. Talk therapy or psychotherapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can be helpful. CBT teaches you how to change negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger anxiety to positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. You can supplement your diet with supplements to relax your body and mind.
5. Sweating
anxiety disorders in women is a term that refers to many different feelings that can cause your heart to beat 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 become out of control. You might also experience chills, sweating and other physical symptoms that cause you to seek medical care.
The habit of sweating is a common manifestation of anxiety disorders according to the National Institute of Mental Health. When your body’s fight or flight response begins, it boosts the speed of blood circulation to prepare you for battle or escape. The increased heart rate can cause you to feel exhausted and dizzy. 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 the feeling of not being breathing properly, which is called dyspnea. This is a sign your anxiety has become too intense to manage.
Your healthcare provider will determine if you suffer from anxiety disorders by analyzing your symptoms and how they affect your daily routine. You’ll be asked about previous experiences as well as your current concerns. They might also conduct tests to identify other health issues that could be contributing to your symptoms, such as imaging scanners and blood tests. In some instances, they might recommend medications to alleviate your symptoms, such as powerful antiperspirants that contain aluminium, nerve-blocking medications or botulinum toxins type A (Botox) injections around the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.