Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Although everyone experiences anxiety at times, when anxiety becomes an illness, it can trigger physical symptoms as well as emotional ones. These include a sense of anxiety, muscle tension, and stomach problems.

A psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist uses screening tools to determine whether you suffer from anxiety disorder. They will also ask you about your medical history and conduct tests to rule out other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

1. Headaches

The majority of people feel anxious from time times. But it’s not the same as being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which is when the feelings are more frequent or do not go away. Anxiety can also affect your daily routine or cause you to avoid social situations.1

A common physical symptom of anxiety are headaches. They can range from an typical tension headache2 to complete migraine in a few people. Many people tense up their muscles as part of a fight or flight response, and holding them in a rigid way for a prolonged duration could cause pain.

Lightheadedness or dizziness is another symptom of physical anxiety. This can be due to a rapid heart rate, hyperventilating or the combination of both. It could be a sign you suffer from a serious medical condition like heart disease. Consult your physician to find out.

You might also feel weak in the legs or arms, which can be another indication of anxiety. This is because the nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline which aid in responding to threats by increasing your heart rate and prepare your body for a potential attack. As time passes these hormones can have a negative effect on your health, making you feel weak, shaky or dizzy.

You may experience worse symptoms if your stressed and having difficulty sleeping. Try to unwind before bed and adhere to an established routine to rest better. Exercise is also helpful. Exercise can also aid. If you are still having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about possible treatment options.

2. Stomach issues

Anxiety can cause your body to tense up and chronic anxiety may cause pain that persists for a long time. You might experience stomach discomfort, muscle pain or diarrhea. Your digestive system may be affected by the constant release of stress hormones, which can cause constipation, bloating, or IBS.

You can experience stomach issues with any type of anxiety disorder, however people with panic disorders are more likely to experience stomach issues. Panic attacks are sudden feelings of fear or dread that occur in specific situations or for no apparent reason, according to the American Psychiatric Association. It could feel like you’re having an attack of the heart or that you’re not breathing, and you might experience chest pain and a fast heartbeat.

Long-term anxiety can increase your risk for other health issues, too. The hormones that trigger anxiety symptoms assist us in responding to threats however, if you’re in high alert throughout the day your immune system could suffer. This could make you more susceptible to common colds, and other illnesses.

Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by conducting a an examination and talking to you about your symptoms. They can rule out any other causes, such as heart disease or thyroid problems prior to determining you have anxiety. A mental health professional will also be able to provide support and help manage your symptoms. They can also teach relaxation techniques and assist you to deal with any trauma or negative experience that may have caused your anxiety. They can also assist you to find a treatment option that is appropriate for you. Ask your doctor to refer you to one or look online for directories that feature an anxiety specialist.

3. Muscle tension

Although most people are aware that a heart racing and jittery hands are signs of anxiety, many don’t know that muscle tension can be a physical indicator of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD) or panic disorder, or specific phobias. If someone experiences these symptoms regularly, they may begin to lose their range of motion and experience chronic pain in their neck, back and shoulders.

Tense muscles are a common symptom of anxiety disorder because the body’s fight-or-flight response triggers a cascade of reactions that trigger us to physically react to perceived threats. These responses are a natural part of our survival instincts however, they can cause problems in the long run if they are repeated over a prolonged period of time.

When a real danger is present your adrenal glands release hormones that increase the speed of your heartbeat to ensure that more blood can be pumped to your large muscles in your legs or arms in the event that you need to run away or fight. These increased heart rates also increase the rate that your lungs fill with oxygen. The combination of stress and hyperventilation could cause you to feel lightheaded or dizzy.

If you suffer from an anxiety disorder,, your body can’t return to its normal state of relaxation between stress responses. You are constantly anxious throughout the day due to the anxiety disorder, and you keep your sympathetic nervous system on alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this can cause chronic muscle tensing and long-term pain. It can also affect the digestive system causing stomachaches, diarrhea, constipation or irritable-bowel syndrome.

4. Dizziness

If you’re a stressed-out person, you may often feel dizzy and off balance. panic anxiety disorder for this has to relate to the nervous system’s response to anxiety. When you are worried or worried your body tightens and then it relaxes. However, if your anxiety is recurring and you experience these symptoms frequently you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

If you’re constantly stressed often it can be difficult to focus or sleep enough. It also affects your body and may cause you to gain weight, per the Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety can also have a significant impact on your menstrual cycles. It’s because it could cause you to miss or experience irregular menstrual cycles by affecting the release of ovulation-inducing hormones, according to the American Psychological Association.

You are more prone to anxiety if you suffer from high blood pressure or heart problems. It is essential to manage these medical conditions to lower your risk. Talk to your therapist if are suffering from any of the following conditions.

Traumatic experiences like a car crash or surgery can increase the risk of anxiety. A chronic medical condition such as asthma or chronic health issues like diabetes can cause anxiety. The good news is that there are solutions that can help with anxiety issues. They include psychotherapy, or talk therapy, for instance cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you transform negative anxiety-inducing thoughts and behaviors into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. In addition there are supplements available to help calm your body and mind.

5. Sweating

Anxiety 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 constitute anxiety disorders, but if they’re persistent, they can get out of hand. You may also experience sweating, chills and other physical symptoms that cause you to seek medical treatment.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health, sweating is a frequent physical manifestation of anxiety disorders. When your body’s fight or flight response begins, it boosts the rate that your blood circulates to prepare you for fighting 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.

Dyspnea is the feeling that you can’t breathe. This is a sign that your anxiety has become too intense to manage.

Your doctor will determine if you have anxiety disorders by analyzing your symptoms and how they affect your daily routine. They’ll begin by asking about your past experiences and your current concerns. They may also conduct tests to look for other health issues that may be causing them, like imaging scans and blood tests. In some cases they may recommend medications to relieve the symptoms. They can recommend strong antiperspirants that contain aluminium or other substances that block nerves and Botox injections in the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavior therapy, psychotherapy and techniques for relaxation such as meditation or yoga.