Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
While everyone feels anxious at times If anxiety develops into an illness, it can trigger physical symptoms, as well as emotional ones. This can include a feeling of anxiety, muscle tension, stomach issues and more.
A psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist will employ screening tools to determine whether you suffer from an anxiety disorder. They will also inquire about your medical history, and perform tests to rule out any other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
1. Headaches
The majority of people experience anxiety from time to time. But that's different from being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which is when the symptoms are more frequent or don't disappear. Anxiety can affect your daily life or cause you to avoid social situations.1
Headaches are a typical physical symptom that is associated with anxiety. They can range from your average tension headache2 to a full-blown migraine for some people. A lot of people tighten their muscles as part of their fight-or-flight response, and retaining them rigidly for a long duration could cause pain.
Another physical symptom of anxiety is dizziness or lightheadedness. This could be due to rapid heart rate, hyperventilating or the combination of both. It could also be an indication of a major medical condition like heart disease, so it is important to be examined by your doctor.
You may 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 allow you to respond to a threat by increasing your heart rate and preparing your body for a possible attack. However, over time these hormones can have the opposite effect on your health and can make you feel shaky, weak, or dizzy.
If you're having difficulty getting enough sleep due to anxiety, it could cause your symptoms to get worse. Relax before going to bed and follow the same routine. This will help you get more sleep. Exercise can also be helpful. Exercise can also help. Consult your physician in case you're struggling to sleep.
2. Stomach issues
Anxiety can cause your body to become tense, and chronic anxiety can cause chronic pain. Your muscles could hurt and your stomach may feel a bit sluggish, or you could experience diarrhea. The digestive system of your body can be affected by the constant release of stress hormones and this could lead to constipation, bloating and irritable bowel syndrome.
People suffering from panic disorders are at a higher risk of having stomach issues. According to the American Psychiatric Association, panic attacks are sudden, intense feelings or fear of imminent death. They can happen in specific circumstances or without apparent reason. You might feel as if you're experiencing an attack on your heart or you're unable to breathe, or you might have chest pain or a rapid heartbeat.
Long-term anxiety can increase your risk for other health problems also. The fight-or-flight hormones that cause anxiety symptoms help us respond to threats, but if you're on high alert throughout the day, your immune system can suffer. This could make you more susceptible to getting the common cold and other diseases.
Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through a an examination and talking to you about your symptoms. Before diagnosing anxiety, they can determine if there are other causes, such as 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 work through any negative or traumatic experiences that could have triggered anxiety. They can also help you in finding the right treatment for you. Ask your doctor for a referral, or look up online directories of therapists to locate a specialist in anxiety.
3. Muscle tension
While the majority of people know that a racing heart and jittery hands are signs of anxiety, many people do not realize that chronic muscle tension can be a physical indicator of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD) or panic disorder, or even specific phobias. If a person experiences these symptoms regularly they could begin to lose their range of motion and experience persistent pain in the neck, back, and shoulders.
Tense muscles are a typical manifestation of anxiety disorder since the body's fight or flight response triggers a cascade of responses that trigger us to physically react to perceived threats. A moderate level of anxiety triggers these reactions as part of our instinctual survival instinct however, they can also cause long-term problems with muscles when they occur regularly or over a long period of time.
When a real threat occurs your adrenal glands pump out hormones that accelerate the rate at which your heart beats, so that it can pump more blood to the big muscles in your arms and legs in the event that you need to flee or fight the danger. The increased heart rates also increase the rate that your lungs fill up with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation could cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.
When you have an anxiety disorder, your body isn't able to return to its normal state of rest between stress-related responses. You are constantly stressed all the time due to your anxiety disorder, so you keep your sympathetic nervous system in high alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this can lead to chronic muscle tension and lasting pain. It can also affect the digestive system causing stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea or irritable-bowel syndrome.
4. Dizziness
You might be shaky or unbalanced when you are stressed. The reason for this is to relate to the nervous system's response to anxiety. Your body tenses up whenever you think about something that scares or worries you, but then relaxes once the threat passes. However, if your anxiety is chronic and you are experiencing these symptoms often you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
When you're worried frequently it can be difficult to focus or sleep enough. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can also cause your body to suffer and you may gain weight. Anxiety can also have an influence on your menstrual cycles. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you to skip your menstrual cycle or have irregular cycles by affecting hormones that induce menstrual ovulation.
You may be more prone to anxiety if you have high blood pressure or heart issues. It is essential to manage these medical conditions to decrease your risk. Tell your therapist if you suffer from any of these ailments.
Other things that could increase your risk for anxiety are traumatic experiences such as being involved in a car accident or having surgery. Anxiety can be triggered by a chronic illness such as diabetes or asthma or a recurring medical condition. There are treatment options for anxiety disorders. Talk therapy or psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) can be helpful. CBT teaches you how to change negative behavior patterns and thoughts that cause anxiety to positive ones. You can also learn how to practice relaxation techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing. You can also take supplements to calm your mind and body.
5. Sweating
disorders anxiety is an umbrella term for a variety of threatening feelings that can make your heart race, your stomach upset and your muscles tight. These symptoms alone aren't enough to trigger anxiety disorder however, when they become chronic, they can cause problems. You might also experience chills, sweating and other physical symptoms which make you seek medical assistance.
The habit of sweating is a common sign of anxiety disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. When your body's fight or flight response kicks in, it increases the speed of blood circulation to prepare you for battle or escape. This increase in 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.
This imbalance could also cause a feeling of not being able to breathe, which is called dyspnea. It's a sign that your anxiety has become too intense to manage.
Your doctor will test your anxiety for a disorder by looking at your symptoms and how they affect your daily routine. You'll be asked about your past experiences and current concerns. They may also conduct tests to determine if you have any other health problems that could be causing your symptoms, such as bloodwork and imaging scanners. In some instances, they may recommend medications to relieve symptoms. These include powerful antiperspirants with aluminium in them or other substances that block nerves, or Botox injections around sweat glands. Alternative treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation.