A Provocative Rant About Anxiety And Physical Symptoms
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
The fight-or-flight response is created to help us escape or confront danger, but anxiety can keep our bodies on high alert and create physical symptoms. These may include:
Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety can cause heart problems and other medical conditions. Talk to your doctor to learn how you can manage these symptoms. For instance you can limit your the intake of caffeine and avoid alcohol and recreational drugs.
Tense muscles
Muscle tension is a common sign of anxiety. It can cause pain or stiffness in your neck, back shoulders, chest, and back and also in your hands, feet or the digestive tract. The tension caused by anxiety can affect your posture and breathing.
The muscle tension that is associated with anxiety is often short-lived and typically disappears after the trigger event or situation passes. For some people, however, the muscle tension can become chronic and lead to long-term health issues.
Tight muscles can be an indicator of anxiety as the fight-or-flight stress response triggers your body to prepare for danger by pumping more blood into muscles, which increases their strength and gives them more oxygen so they can escape or combat a physical danger. This increased flow of blood is the reason why your heart beats faster and also the reason you breathe more quickly when you're feeling anxious.
In an anxiety attack the increased blood flow and speed of breathing can temporarily boost your immune system to help you deal with any perceived threat or stress. But when you suffer from anxiety frequently the increased alertness may become a regular part of your life, leading to constant, chronic symptoms such as breathlessness and muscle tightness.
As your body prepares to fight off or flee from a perceived threat, it releases flood of hormones and chemicals. The constant state of alertness can cause you to feel worn out and feel like you constantly suffer from headaches or experiencing stomach pain.
Heart rate changes
Anxiety can make your heart race, which can cause chest pain and shortness of breath. This is because a person's stress response triggers adrenal glands to pump out hormones, such as cortisol or adrenaline, which can increase heart rate and blood pressure. This is a good reaction in times of crisis where you need to pump more blood to your muscles to defend yourself or escape from a threat. However, it can be dangerous when it occurs often, since it increases the risk of heart disease and other health problems.
You may also notice that your stomach is more upset when you are stressed. This is because your body's fight or flight response keeps you alert and can impact digestion, causing symptoms like constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea or IBS. Sleep problems or a hard to fall asleep could be experienced by those with anxiety. The constant surge of stress hormones can weaken the immune system and make it more prone to catch the common cold or other diseases.
Speak to your doctor if you experience these physical symptoms. They can determine whether there are any medical issues that could cause similar symptoms. For instance, a thyroid issue. However, it's also a good idea to find a mental health professional who can help you discover methods to manage your anxiety so that the physical symptoms stop occurring. They may recommend treatments such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you replace negative thoughts with more positive ones. It's also recommended to avoid taking your pulse, since it can fuel the feelings of anxiety.
Tingling in your feet and hands
A tingling feeling in your hands and feet can be one of the signs of anxiety. Tingling is also known as paresthesia and is a sign of anxiety-induced stress. When you experience panic or other intense feeling your body releases hormones such as adrenaline or cortisol to shield you against perceived danger or harm. These hormones can cause various physical reactions and can cause changes to the blood circulation.
As part of the fight or response to flight the body redirects blood flow away from the peripheral areas to the major muscle groups that might require assistance in preparing for physical actions. This could result in reduced blood flow to the hands and feet and cause sensations of tingling. anxiety disorders symptoms iampsychiatry.com tingling may be more evident during times of stress or anxiety and will likely disappear after the tension has subsided.
Consult your physician if your discomfort persists. They can assist you in managing your anxiety and ease the tingling sensations in your feet and hands.
Although tingling in your feet or hands can be a sign of a serious medical condition the majority of times, it's caused by anxiety. Do some exercise regularly to increase blood flow, or practice relaxation techniques. It is essential to get enough sleep since anxiety can affect your sleeping habits. Limiting your alcohol and caffeine intake can also help. If you notice the sensation of tingling suddenly in your feet or hands Contact a FastMed Urgent Care location to talk to a health care specialist about your symptoms.
Dry mouth
If you're feeling anxious, your body may start to alter the way it produces saliva. Dry mouth is a condition that can indicate anxiety. It is also a side effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants, Antihistamines, antipsychotics, and muscle relaxers.
It is essential to consult your doctor if you experience dry mouth. They can rule out any medical issue that could be causing it. If your doctor concludes that you suffer from anxiety, he or she will suggest a treatment plan.
Anxiety can cause a dry mouth due to the cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones that are released when you feel nervous or fearful. These hormones can raise the heart rate and respiration to help you fight or run away from a danger. However, they can also cause digestive problems and other physical signs.
You might also experience a feeling of dry mouth when you are under stress or take medication that reduces saliva production. SSRIs (which are usually prescribed to alleviate anxiety) can cause dryness in the mouth. These drugs block the action of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that is involved in voluntary movements and bodily functions like salivation, digestion and urination.
If you're experiencing dry mouth, it's important to drink plenty of water and use relaxation techniques to relieve your anxiety symptoms. If your anxiety is severe an expert in mental health may recommend other treatment options including cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and protection from exposure to harmful substances, and other complementary health practices like yoga and mediation.
Breathing shortness
The feeling of a shortness of breath can be an indication of anxiety whether you experience it while you exercise or elsewhere throughout the day. This symptom could be linked with any anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorders. Anxiety is often a cause of tension in the muscles, leading to a feeling of being out of breath, particularly in the back or shoulders area. These tensions can lead to the cycle of depression and anxiety which can further intensify these physical symptoms.
This and other physical reactions can be triggered by anxiety as a result of the body's fight or flight. This reaction is essential to respond to threats, but when activated long-term due to chronic anxiety, it may cause negative effects.
When you feel anxious it is because your body doesn't know that you aren't in danger and there's no real reason to feel this way. This can cause you to feel as if you're always in danger, even when you're not. That's why it's so important to consult with mental health experts.
If you're stressed your body releases a lot of stress hormones. These hormones trigger your body to respond as if you're in danger, and this can be accompanied by feelings of a shortness or a sluggish breath. This is a normal response, but can be difficult to differentiate from other diseases or conditions that could trigger this symptoms. This can be caused by heart disease or a blood clot in the lung, or pneumonia. It's important to talk with your doctor or health care professional to run tests and determine if have an underlying issue which could be the cause of this sensation.