5 Anxiety Body Symptoms Lessons From The Professionals
Anxiety Body Symptoms
Everyone feels anxious at times, especially when faced by a fear or anxiety. But constant anxiety can lead to a chain reaction of physical symptoms.
Fright or stress triggers the fight-or flight response that causes your breathing and heart rate to increase. If you must escape danger, then blood and fuel will flood your muscles.
Tingling
The nervous system triggers an anxiety response when you perceive an imminent threat. anxiety disorders symptoms iampsychiatry.com releases a plethora of chemicals and hormones, including adrenaline, which increases blood flow, boost oxygen and assist you in responding quickly and efficiently. This is the body's natural reaction to life-or death situations. It's designed to safeguard you. A lot of us are worried about things that do not actually threaten us, or could be beneficial. The constant uptick in stress hormones and other physical manifestations of anxiety can be physically and mentally draining.
Tingling throughout your body is among the most frequent signs that you are feeling anxious. It can be felt in your arms, legs or in your chest, feet, or. It could also extend toward your head and cause headaches. It may also occur when you sit, lie or stand in the same place for an extended period of time. It may be caused by nutritional deficiencies as well as nerve damage or compression, like due to a compressed spinal cord or pinched nerves.
Sweating is another sign of anxiety. Your body is working hard to pump extra water to your sweat glands when nervous or anxious, according to NIMH. That can also cause you to feel cold in your hands and feet because the body pulls blood away from those areas to protect its main organs.
Anxiety is usually accompanied by constant feelings of fatigue and exhaustion. You may be experiencing anxiety due to a constant fight-or-flight response or because you are having difficulties sleeping. A doctor or mental health specialist can offer suggestions on how to get better sleep, such as following good habits and avoiding caffeine and alcohol at night.
Weakness
The body's fight or flight response could be activated when you experience fear or anxiety. If you experience anxiety or fear, your body's fight or flight response may kick in. In the long run however, this continuous anxiety and stress can cause your body to feel weak, particularly as it wears down your muscles.
Muscles that are tight can be painful and cause a variety of physical ailments, such as headaches and aches and pains. For instance, if you're stressed or nervous, your body tenses up, and if this occurs repeatedly it could lead to tension headaches. Tight neck and shoulder muscles can also contribute to migraines.
If you have a tummy ache, it could be an indication of anxiety as well. Your gastrointestinal system is directly connected to your emotions, and those who experience anxiety are more likely to experience digestive problems such as stomachaches, constipation and diarrhea.
Weakness can also be a sign of anxiety since it can affect the immune system, which makes you more susceptible to infections. A prolonged period of high levels of stress hormones, such as those experienced by people with anxiety, can reduce the immune system's capacity to fight bacteria.
Dr. Barsky says that the first step in identifying and managing anxiety is to stop, look at your situation, and then take action. If you are able to determine that your physical symptoms result from a constant state of anxiety and stress, you can take steps in order to break the cycle. "Distract yourself," says the expert, adding that even things like watering plants or putting a jigsaw puzzle together can be helpful.
Lightheadedness
Anxiety can make you feel dizzy, off-balance or like the world is spinning. This can be a very distressing feeling and it can also hinder you from getting active, going out, or engaging in activities you are enjoying. Vertigo is a term used to describe dizziness caused by anxiety. It can also be a sign of an inner ear disorder like Benign Peripheral Constant Dizziness (BPPV).
The body's "fight or flight" stress response releases an abundance of chemicals and hormones into the blood to prepare for danger. This increases the heart rate and breathing, and also alters the amount of oxygen that is being circulated to the brain. This can trigger a short-term sensation of lightheadedness and is why you may feel it prior to delivering a speech, or being in a busy room. However, if your anxiety becomes chronic and you start feeling lightheaded without any reason it could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
This type of anxiety-induced dizziness can persist for the entire day or even longer. It is called Chronic Subjective Dizziness or Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD). If you suffer from a medical condition that also causes this, you should consult your physician for a proper diagnosis.
If you're not experiencing any health issues and you are getting dizzy when you're stressed, you can try to calm yourself by taking deep breaths or by staring at the same area. This is how ballet dancers manage to ease this kind of dizziness when performing. If this doesn't work it's always a good idea to call a family member or friend to discuss your anxiety and how they can help you. This will help ease your symptoms and prevent them from getting out of control.
Mouth dryness
If your anxiety is high, you're likely to have changes in your breathing and heart rate. In the fight-or-flight response, your body releases stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that increase the rate at which you breathe to get more oxygen into your bloodstream, allowing you to respond to threats. But, if your anxiety is chronic, this constant release of stress hormones can cause long-term effects on your health. For instance, it could alter your digestion in ways that affect you physically, like stomach pains, bloating or diarrhea.
Stress hormones can make you feel sluggish or even breathless. This can happen when you're in a stressful situation, like in the midst of an anxiety attack or when you're preparing for a big event. But, it could be a sign that you're constantly anxious, with no apparent reason.
These symptoms can cause you to feel nauseous or sick to your stomach, and it's not uncommon for people with anxiety to have digestive issues. According to the APA, people who suffer from these symptoms frequently should see a mental health professional.
You're not the only one who feels anxiety. If you're worried about how you feel, talk to a GP or therapist. They can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to a particular challenge or the presence of anxiety as a condition. They can also give you information and suggestions to help manage your anxiety. This could include suggesting certain treatments or medications, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Keep active and take plenty of rest. You can also do exercises to relax like guided imagery or deep breathing, to help reduce your symptoms.
Tension
Anxiety can cause the body to feel tense and uncomfortable. It can be even painful. The brain sends signals that signal other parts of the system to prepare for a fight or flight scenario. This can result in an increase in the size of stomach muscles and the sensation of stomach pain. This is not something to ignore since it could cause serious digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome or ulcers in the stomach lining called ulcers.
Heart palpitations are another frequent symptoms. They are characterized by rapid and irregular heartbeats. This occurs when stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released into the bloodstream. These hormones can increase the rate at which the heart beats and also increase the amount of oxygen that circulates throughout the body. The body does not need to be constantly alert, so if it is always in this state, it can become weak and exhausted.
Anxiety can also cause sweating as well as cold legs and hands and lightheadedness. They are caused by an increased blood flow to the major organs and the muscles. This is a part of the fight or reaction, which prepares the body for a risky situation. It can be triggered through actual dangers or simply thinking about them. The amygdala is an area of the mind that controls emotional responses. It also responds to fears and cause these physical sensations.
Breathing shallow and fast can also trigger anxiety symptoms. This is referred to as hyperventilation. It disrupts the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the bloodstream, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This can cause dizziness and tingling of the feet and hands.