Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
The fight-or flight response is designed to assist us in escaping or confronting danger, however, chronic anxiety can keep our bodies on high alert and create physical symptoms. This could include:
Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety can cause heart problems and other medical issues. Consult your physician about ways to control these symptoms, including cutting down on caffeine intake and avoid drinking alcohol or recreational street drugs.
Muscles that are tight
Muscle tension is a common sign of anxiety. It can cause stiffness or pain in your neck, back, chest, and shoulders and also in your feet, hands or stomach. The tension caused by anxiety can affect your posture and breathing.
Muscle tension is usually short-lived and goes away after the trigger event or circumstance has passed. For some people, however, the muscle tension can be chronic and cause long-term issues.
The tight muscles are an indication of anxiety. The fight or flight response causes your body to prepare by supplying more oxygen to the muscles. This increases their strength so they can escape a physical threat. This increased flow of blood is the reason why your heart beats faster, and it's also why you breathe faster when you're stressed.
In the event of an anxiety attack, increased blood flow and rapid breathing can temporarily boost your immune system to help you fight off the fear or stress. If you suffer from anxiety on a regular basis, this heightened alertness can become a normal part of your life, resulting in chronic, persistent symptoms such as breathing problems and muscle tightness.
A lot of the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as fatigue, achy joints and muscles are the result of your body releasing a flood of hormones and chemicals into your system to prepare to fight or escape any perceived threat. This continuous state of high alertness can make you feel worn out like you always have a headache or are in a state of constant stomachache.
Heart rate changes
Anxiety can cause your heart rate to increase which can cause chest pain and shortness in breath. This is because a person's stress response triggers the adrenal glands to crank out hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which raise the heart rate and blood pressure. This is a helpful response in an emergency in which you need to pump more blood to your large muscles to fight or escape an attack. However, it could be harmful when it occurs often, since it increases the risk of heart disease and other health problems.
You might also notice that your stomach becomes more agitated when you're stressed. The body's fight or flight reaction can keep you on edge, and can affect digestion. This can lead to symptoms like constipation, abdominal discomfort, or irritablebowel syndrome. People with anxiety might also experience sleep issues or have trouble sleeping because they're on edge all the time. The constant increase in stress hormones can degrade the immune system and make it more prone to contract the
common symptoms of anxiety cold and other illnesses.
Talk to your doctor If you are experiencing these physical symptoms. They can check whether there are any medical issues that may cause similar symptoms. For example, a thyroid issue. It's a good idea, however, to consult an expert in mental health who can help you manage your anxiety and stop the physical symptoms. They may recommend treatments such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy, which can teach you how to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. It's also best to stay away from taking your pulse, as checking it can increase the feeling of anxiety.
Tingling in your feet and hands
A tingling sensation in your feet or hands can be an indication of anxiety. Tingling in your feet or hands is also called paresthesia, and is a sign of the body's stress response that
what is anxiety physical symptoms triggered by anxiety. During a panic or other intense feeling, your body releases hormones such as adrenaline or cortisol, which protect your body from danger or harm. These hormones cause a number of physical responses, including changes in your blood circulation.
As part of the fight or response to flight the body redirects blood flow away peripheral areas and towards the major muscle groups that may require assistance in preparing for physical action. This can leave the feet and hands with less blood flow, which may cause a tingling sensation. The sensation will likely be more noticeable during periods of anxiety or stress and will likely disappear when the tension subsides.
If your tingling continues You should talk to your doctor. They can help you find ways to control your anxiety and alleviate the discomfort in your hands and feet.
While tingling in your hands or feet can be an indication of a serious medical issue the majority of times, it's caused by anxiety. Try exercising regularly to improve blood flow, or try relaxation techniques. Sleeping enough is crucial, as anxiety symptoms list (
fenger-breen-3.technetbloggers.de) can influence your sleep habits. In addition to that, limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol can also help. Contact a FastMed Urgent Care to speak with a medical professional about your symptoms if you notice the sensation of numbness or tingling sensations in your hands or feet.
Dry mouth
If you're stressed, your body can start to change the way it produces saliva. Dry mouth is a sign that can indicate anxiety. It can be a side-effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics.
It is important to see an expert if you suffer from dry mouth. They can determine if there are any medical issues that could be the cause. If your doctor determines you suffer from anxiety, they can recommend treatment options.
Anxiety can lead to dry mouth because of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that are released when you are feeling nervous or fearful. These hormones can boost breathing and heart rate to help you run or fight against threats however, they also affect digestion and trigger other physical
symptoms of anxiety and depression.
You may also experience a feeling of dry mouth when you are under stress or taking medications that decrease saliva production. SSRIs (which are commonly prescribed to combat
anxiety disorder physical symptoms) can cause dryness in the mouth. These medications inhibit the action of acetylcholine which is a neurotransmitter involved in involuntary movements and bodily functions, such as salivation digestion and urination.
If you have a dry mouth and experience anxiety, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids and use relaxation techniques. If your anxiety is serious, a mental health professional might suggest other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure response prevention, as well as complementary health practices such as meditation and yoga.
Breathing shortness
Whether you feel short of breath when you exercise, or at other times throughout the day, this feeling can be a sign that you're suffering from anxiety. This symptom is common to various types of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorders. Most often, anxiety causes muscle tension that leads to feeling out of breath, especially in the back and shoulders area. These tensions may result in an increase in physical symptoms.
These and other physical reactions can be triggered by anxiety as a result of the body's fight or flight reaction. This reaction is necessary to respond to a danger, but it can be detrimental if chronic anxiety activates it.
If you experience anxiety, your body cannot tell that you're not in danger, or that this isn't really the main reason behind your anxiety. This can cause the sensation that you are constantly in danger, even if you're not. This is why it's important to consult a mental health professional.
When you're anxious your body releases large amount of stress hormones. These hormones cause your body to react as if you're in danger. This could include feeling shaky. This is a normal response, but can be difficult for you to differentiate from other diseases or conditions that may cause this sign. For instance heart disease, blood clot in the lung, or pneumonia all can trigger this. You should consult with your doctor to run tests to determine if there is a root cause that could be causing the sensation.
