Anxiety Body Symptoms
Everybody experiences anxiety at some point particularly when confronted with anxiety or fear. But constant anxiety can cause a domino effect of physical symptoms.
Fright or stress triggers the fight-or-flight response that triggers your breathing and heart rate to increase. Fuel and blood flood the muscles in case you have to flee from danger.
Tingling
The nervous system triggers an anxiety response when you feel threats. It releases a flood of chemicals and hormones, like adrenaline, to boost blood flow, boost oxygen levels and help you respond quickly and effectively. This is the body’s normal response to situations that could end your life, and it’s designed to protect you (Chand, 2021). However, many of us feel anxious about things that don’t necessarily pose a threat, or could even be beneficial. The constant uptick in stress hormones and other physical manifestations of anxiety can be mentally and physically draining.
Tingling throughout your body is among the most common signs that you are feeling anxious. You might feel it in your feet, legs as well as your chest and arms and the sensation could extend to your head, causing a headache. You can also experience it when you sit, lie or stand in the same position for a long time. It could be caused by nutritional deficiencies or nerve damage, or even compression, for example, from a compressed spinal cord or pinched nerves.
The sweating can also be a sign of anxiety. Your body is working hard to pump out more water to your sweat glands when you’re worried or on edge According to NIMH. This can cause you to feel cold in your hands and feet because the body draws blood away from these areas to protect its main organs.
Tiredness and exhaustion are frequently related to anxiety. You could be experiencing anxiety due to a constant fight-or-flight response or perhaps you are experiencing difficulty sleeping. A physician or mental health professional can give you tips for a better sleep, such as staying away from caffeine and alcohol in the evening and implementing healthy habits.
Weakness
Your body’s fight-or-flight response may be activated when you experience fear or hypersensitivity anxiety symptoms. When you feel anxiety or fear, your body’s fight or flight response may start to activate. In the long run, though, this constant state of heightened stress and worry can cause your body to feel weak, especially as it wears down your muscles.
Tight muscles are painful and can cause headaches, aches and pains, and other physical ailments. For instance, when you’re stressed or nervous your body starts to tense up, and if this happens over and over again, it can lead to tension headaches. Migraines can also be caused by tight shoulders and neck muscles.
A tummyache could also be a sign that you are stressed. Your gastrointestinal system is directly related to your mood. People suffering from anxiety are more likely to experience digestive issues such as constipation and stomachaches.
It can also be a symptom of anxiety because it can affect your immune system, which makes you more prone to infections. A prolonged period of high levels stress hormones, similar to those experienced by people with anxiety, can lower the immune system’s capacity to fight germs.
The first step to identifying and managing symptoms of anxiety is to take a step back and evaluate the situation, advises Dr. Barsky. If you can determine that your physical symptoms are the result of being in a constant state of anxiety and stress then you can make steps to break the cycle. “Distract yourself,” says the expert and adds that things like watering plants or putting a jigsaw puzzle together can aid.
Lightheadedness
Anxiety can make you feel numb, unbalanced, or as if the world is spinning. This can be a uncomfortable feeling and can also hinder you from being active, going out or doing things that you enjoy. Dizziness caused by anxiety is often referred to as Vertigo, but it can also be a symptom of a disorder that affects the inner ear like Benign Peripheral Persistent Dizziness (BPPV).
Stress response, also known as “fight or run” in the body, releases hormones and chemicals to prepare you for risk. This raises the heart rate, intensifies breathing and changes how much oxygen is flowing to the brain. This can cause a feeling of lightheadedness, which is why it could occur prior to giving speech or enter the midst of a crowd. If your anxiety is persistent and you are experiencing this without a clear reason, then it could be an anxiety disorder.
The anxiety-induced dizziness can last all day or even longer. It is called Chronic Subjective Dizziness or Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD). You should consult your doctor if you also have a medical problem that can cause this.
If you’re not experiencing any health issues but feel dizzy when anxious, you can try to calm yourself by breathing deeply or by focusing your eyes on an exact area. Many ballet dancers who suffer from this kind of dizziness get relief when they do this when they’re performing. If this doesn’t help you, you can always contact your family or a friend to discuss your anxiety and how they can assist you. This will help reduce your Somatic Symptoms Of Anxiety and keep them from spiraling out-of-control.
Mouth dryness
When you are anxious your breathing and heart rate will likely change. As part of the fight or flight response, your body releases stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which increase your heart rate to bring more oxygen into your bloodstream to enable you to react to threats. If you suffer from chronic anxiety the constant release of stress hormones can cause long-term health effects. For instance, it can cause your digestion to change in ways that impact your physical health like stomach pains, bloating and diarrhea.
In addition to changing your heart rate as well, these stress hormones may also cause you to feel breathless or short of breath. This can happen when you’re in an extremely stressful situation, like in the midst of an anxiety attack or when you’re preparing for a big event. It can also happen when you are constantly anxious and for no reason.
These feelings can make you feel sick or nauseated to your stomach, and it’s common for people with anxiety to experience digestive issues. According to the APA those who experience these symptoms regularly should consult a mental health professional.
You’re not the only one experiencing anxiety. If you’re worried about how you feel consult an GP or therapist. They can help you determine if your symptoms are related to a specific issue or if you have an social anxiety disorder symptoms condition. They can also provide details and suggestions on how to manage your anxiety. This may include recommending certain medications or therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Keep active and take plenty of rest. Relaxation exercises such as guided imagery and deep breathing can be helpful to ease symptoms.
Tension
Anxiety can cause the body to feel uncomfortable and tense. It can be painful. The brain sends signals that signal other parts of the system to prepare for a fight-or-flight scenario. This could result in a knotting of the stomach muscles and the sensation of a stomachache. This is not something to be ignored, as it can lead serious digestive issues, such as irritable bowels syndrome or ulcers on the stomach lining.
Another symptom that is often associated with anxiety is heart palpitations that are fast and irregular heartbeats. This occurs when the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released into the bloodstream. These hormones boost the rate that the heart beats and increase the amount of oxygen that is circulated throughout the body. The body doesn’t have to be alert all the time. If it is, it’ll become exhausted and weak.
Anxiety can cause sweating, cold hands and legs and lightheadedness. This is caused by an increase in blood flow to the major organs and muscles. This is a part of the fight or flight response, which prepares the body for a risky situation. It can be triggered by actual threats or simply by thinking about them. The amygdala, a region of the brain that controls emotional responses, may also respond to fears and trigger physical sensations.
Breathing fast and shallow can also cause anxiety symptoms to worsen. This is known as hyperventilation, and can disrupt the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This can cause dizziness as well as tingling in the feet and hands.