Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Chronic anxiety can trigger physical symptoms and keep our bodies alert. These symptoms can include:
Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety could lead to heart problems and other medical conditions. Consult your physician to find out ways to manage these symptoms. For example you can cut down on the intake of caffeine and stay clear of drinking alcohol and recreational substances.
Tense muscles
Anxiety is often associated with muscle tension. It can cause stiffness or pain in your neck, shoulders, hands, chest and back. Anxiety can also affect your breathing and posture.
The muscle tension associated with anxiety tends to be short-lived, and it usually fades when the trigger event or circumstance has passed. For some people, however, the muscle tension can be chronic and cause long-term issues.
Tight muscles are a sign of anxiety. The fight-or-flight response triggers your body to prepare by pumping more oxygen into the muscles. This boosts their strength to escape physical threats. The increase in blood flow is the reason your heart beats more quickly, and also why you breathe more quickly when you're stressed.
In the event of an anxiety attack, an increase in blood flow and rapid breathing can temporarily boost your immune system to help you fight off the fear or stress. If you experience anxiety on a regular basis and are constantly alert, this increased alertness could become part of your daily life and lead to long-term symptoms, such as breathing difficulties and tightness in your muscles.
When your body is preparing to defend itself or escape from a perceived threat, it releases a flood hormones and chemicals. This constant state of alertness can make you feel worn out like you always suffer from headaches or walking around with a stomachache.
Heart rate changes
Anxiety can make your heart beat faster, which can cause chest pain and shortness of breath. This is because the stress response triggers the adrenal glands to churn out hormones, such as cortisol or adrenaline, which raise the heart rate and blood pressure. This is a beneficial response in situations of real emergency that require you to pump more blood to your large muscles so that you can flee or fight a threat. It can be dangerous when you do it all often, since it increases your risk of heart disease.
You might also notice that your stomach becomes more agitated when you're stressed. This is due to the body's fight or flight response keeps you on edge and can impact digestion and cause constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea or IBS. Problems with sleep or having a difficult to fall asleep could be experienced by people with anxiety. The constant increase in stress hormones can degrade the immune system which makes it more susceptible to contract the common cold or other illnesses.
Talk to your doctor If you have these physical symptoms. They can determine if there are any medical issues that could cause similar symptoms. For instance, a thyroid issue. It's recommended to seek out a mental health professional who can help you discover ways to manage your anxiety so that physical symptoms stop occurring. They might recommend therapies such as psychodynamic psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, which will help you replace negative thoughts with healthier ones. It's also best to stay away from taking your pulse, as checking it can increase the feeling of anxiety.
Tingling in the hands and feet
A sensation of tingling in your feet and hands can be one of the
symptoms of labyrinthitis anxiety of anxiety. Tingling is also called paresthesia and is a sign of anxiety-induced stress. When you experience panic or other intense emotions, your body releases hormones such as adrenaline or cortisol to shield yourself from perceived danger or harm. These hormones can trigger a variety of physical reactions that can affect the blood circulation.
As part of your fight or flight response, the body redirects blood away from peripheral areas to the major muscles that require assistance with physical actions. This can leave the feet and hands with less blood flow, which could cause a tingling sensation. The tingling sensation will be more noticeable when you are stressed or anxious, and will go away when the tension has subsided.
If your tingling is ongoing it is best to consult your doctor. They can assist you in managing anxiety, and reduce the tingling in your feet and hands.
While tingling in your feet or hands can be an indication of a serious medical condition the majority of times, it's caused by anxiety. Try exercising regularly to improve blood flow, or try relaxation techniques. It is crucial to get enough rest, because anxiety can alter your sleep habits. Additionally restricting your consumption of caffeine and alcohol may aid. Contact the FastMed Urgent Care to speak with a doctor about your symptoms if there is an immediate sensation of numbness or tingling in your feet or hands.
Dry mouth
If you're stressed, your body can start to change how it produces saliva. Dry mouth is a sign that can indicate anxiety. It is a possible side-effect of certain medications such as antidepressants and antipsychotics.
If you have a dry mouth, it's vital to see a doctor. They can rule out any medical issue that could be causing it. If your doctor determines you have anxiety, he or she will suggest a treatment plan.
The stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released when you experience anxiety or
fear and anxiety symptoms. These hormones can raise the heart rate and respiration to aid you in battling or running away from a threat. However, they could also cause digestive problems as well as other physical symptoms.
You may also experience a feeling of dry mouth if under stress or taking medication that reduces saliva production. For instance, SSRIs that are typically prescribed for anxiety, can cause dry mouth. These medications block the action of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that is involved in voluntary movements and bodily functions such as salivation, digestion, and urination.
If you're experiencing dry mouth, it's vital to drink plenty of water and use relaxation techniques to relieve your anxiety symptoms. If your anxiety is extreme an expert in mental health can recommend other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure response prevention, as well as complementary health practices such as yoga and meditation.
Shortness of Breath
If you're feeling exhausted when you exercise, or at other times throughout the day, this sensation could indicate that you're suffering from
anxiety and physical Symptoms. This symptom can be associated with any type of
anxiety symptoms sleep disorder, which includes social anxiety, generalized anxiety and panic disorders. Anxiety can often cause tension in the muscles, leading to a feeling of being out of breath, particularly in the shoulders or back area. These tensions can also result in the cycle of depression and anxiety which can further intensify these physical
psychological symptoms of anxiety.
The reason anxiety can cause this and other physical responses has to do with the body's fight or flight response. This response is crucial in resolving a threat, but when activated long-term due to chronic anxiety, it can cause negative effects.
When you feel anxious and stress, your body is unable to tell that you're not in danger and there's no reason to feel this way. This can make you feel as if you're always in danger, even if you're not. That's why it's so crucial to work with mental health professionals.
When you are stressed, your body releases many stress hormones. These hormones trigger your body to feel as if you're in danger. This could include feeling short of breath. This is a normal response however, it is difficult to distinguish from other illnesses and conditions that can lead to this symptom. It could be due to heart disease, a clot of blood in the lung or pneumonia. It is important to speak with your medical professional or doctor so that they can conduct tests and determine if you have an underlying issue that may be causing this feeling.