20 Inspiring Quotes About Anxiety Disorder Physical Symptoms
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
Every person experiences anxiety at some point however when anxiety turns into a problem, it can cause physical and emotional symptoms. This can include a feeling of restlessness, muscular tension, stomach issues and more.
A psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist uses screening tools to determine if you have anxiety disorder. They will also inquire about your medical history and run tests to rule out any other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
1. Headaches
Most people feel anxious occasionally. An anxiety disorder is when these symptoms are persistent or more frequent. Anxiety can also affect your daily life or cause you to avoid social situations.1
Headaches are a common physical symptom of anxiety. They can range from your typical tension headache2 to complete migraine in a few people. Many people tighten their muscles as part of a fight-or-flight reaction, and holding them rigidly for a long period of time can cause pain.
Another symptom of anxiety is lightheadedness or dizziness. It could be due to a rapid heart rate, hyperventilating, or the combination of both. It could also be a sign that you suffer from a serious medical condition like heart disease. Consult your physician to determine.
You may be feeling weak in your legs or arms this could be another sign of anxiety. This is because your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline which aids in responding to a danger by speeding up your heartbeat and preparing your entire body for an attack. Over time these hormones could have a negative impact on your health, causing you feel weak, shaky or dizzy.
If you are having trouble getting enough sleep due to anxiety, it could make your symptoms worse. Try to unwind before bed and adhere to your routine so that you can get more rest. Exercise can also be helpful. Exercise can also help. Consult your physician if you are 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 discomfort. You may experience stomach discomfort, muscle pain or diarrhea. Stress hormones can also impact your gastrointestinal system, causing constipation or irritablebowel syndrome.
You can experience stomach issues in any anxiety disorder, however people with panic disorders are more likely to suffer from 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. You might feel as if you're experiencing an attack on your heart or you're not breathing, and you may experience chest pain and a fast heartbeat.
Chronic anxiety can increase your risk for other health issues also. The hormones that trigger anxiety symptoms help us to respond to threats however, if we're always alert our immune system may be affected. This can make you more vulnerable to getting the common cold as well as other illnesses.
Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through physical examination and a discussion about your symptoms. Before diagnosing anxiety, they'll rule out other causes like thyroid and heart diseases. A mental health professional will also be able to offer you assistance and support in managing your symptoms. They can help you learn relaxation techniques and assist you to work through any underlying 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 for a referral, or check online therapist directories to find an anxiety specialist.
3. Muscle tension
Many people are aware that a fast pulse and jittery hand are signs of anxiety. However, they don't realize that chronic muscle tension could be a sign of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder panic disorder, and specific fears. If someone is experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, they can lose their mobility and suffer from chronic discomfort in their neck, back and shoulders.
Tense muscles can be a sign of anxiety disorders due to the body's fight or flight response triggers a range of bodily reactions that trigger us to physically react when we feel threatened. These reactions are a normal part of our survival instincts, however, they can cause long-term issues if they're repeated over a long time.
If a real risk is present, your adrenal glands produce hormones that speed up the rate of your heartbeat to ensure that more blood can be pumped to the muscles of your legs or arms in the event you have to escape or fight. Those increased heart rates also increase the speed at which your lungs fill with oxygen. The combination of stress and hyperventilation may make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, your body isn't able to its normal state of relaxation between stress responses. You feel stressed all the time due to your anxiety disorder, so you keep your sympathetic nervous system on high alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this can cause chronic muscle tension and long-term pain. 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 may often be shaky and unbalanced. The reason for this is to relate to the nervous system's response to anxiety. Your body is tense when you think of something that scares or worries you, but then relaxes when the threat is gone. If, however, your anxiety is recurring and you experience these symptoms regularly you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
It can be difficult to sleep or focus when you are constantly stressed. It also wreaks havoc on your body and can cause you to gain weight, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety also has a big influence on the menstrual cycle. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you to skip your menstrual cycle or experience irregular menstrual cycles by altering hormones that cause ovulation.
You are more prone to anxiety if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. It is important to manage these medical conditions to reduce your risk. If you have these conditions, make sure to tell your therapist.
Other things that can increase your risk of anxiety are traumatic experiences such as being involved in a car crash or having surgery. A recurring medical condition like asthma or a chronic health issue, such as diabetes, can also create anxiety. The good news is that there are solutions that can help with anxiety issues. They include psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, for instance cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you turn negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger anxiety into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation. Additionally there are supplements you can take to calm your body and mind.
5. Sweating
Anxiety is a term used to describe for a range of frightening feelings that could make your heart race and your stomach turn a bit upset, and your muscles tense. Sometimes, anxiety disorder physical symptoms don't constitute an anxiety disorder--but when they're chronic and become out of control. You may also experience sweating, chills and other physical symptoms that prompt you to seek medical care.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health sweating is a typical physical sign of anxiety disorders. When your body's fight-or flight response begins, it boosts the rate that your blood circulates to prepare you for fight or escape. This increased heart rate could cause you to feel faint or 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.
Dyspnea refers to a feeling of not breathing. This is a sign that your anxiety has grown too severe to manage.
Your healthcare provider will determine if you have anxiety disorders by analyzing your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. They'll begin by asking you about your experiences in the past and current concerns. They may also run tests to look for other health issues that may be causing them, such as imaging scans and blood tests. In some cases they may suggest medications to help ease your symptoms, including strong antiperspirants made of aluminium, nerve blocker drugs, or botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections that target the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy and relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation.