Anxiety Body Symptoms
(Image: https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/coe-2022.png)Everyone feels anxious at times, especially when faced with a fear or worry. Constant anxiety can lead to an array of physical symptoms.
Fright or stress triggers the fight-or flight response, which causes your breathing and heart rate to speed up. Fuel and blood flow through the muscles in case you have to flee from danger.
Tingling
The nervous system triggers an anxious response when you feel a threat. It releases chemicals and hormones such as adrenaline to improve blood circulation, improve oxygen levels, and help you respond faster and more effectively. This is the body's natural response to life-or death situations. It's designed to protect you. However, many of us feel anxious about things that do not actually pose a threat or even have a positive impact. The constant increase in stress hormones, along with other physical symptoms associated with anxiety, can be physically and mentally draining.
Tingling throughout your body is among the most common signs that you are feeling anxious. It can be felt in your feet, legs as well as your chest and arms, and the sensation can extend to your head, which can cause headaches. It can also occur when you sit or lying in the same position for a long duration. It can result from nutritional deficiency or nerve damage. It can also be caused by compression such as a compressed spine cord or pinched nervous system.
Sweating can also be an indication of anxiety. According to NIMH, your body pumps more water to the sweat glands during times of anxiety or in a state of stress. That can also cause you to feel cold in your feet and hands as the body is pulling blood away from these areas to protect its main organs.
Tiredness and exhaustion are frequently connected to anxiety symptoms menopause. It could be due to the constant fight-or-flight stress response or if you're having difficulty sleeping. A physician or mental health specialist can offer suggestions for a better sleep including avoiding alcohol and caffeine in the evening and implementing healthy habits.
Weakness
The body's fight-or flight response can be activated when you experience fear or Anxiety symptoms Full list. This is when your brain triggers the sympathetic nervous system to release hormones like adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and allows blood to flow more quickly to your muscles, ensuring you can run away or fend off an attack. Over the long term however, this continuous state of heightened stress and worry can cause your body to feel weak, particularly when it strains your muscles.
Muscles that are tight can be painful and can result in a range of physical ailments, like headaches, aches and pains. For example, when you're anxious or agitated your body starts to tense up and if this occurs repeatedly it can cause tension headaches. Tight neck and shoulder muscles can also trigger migraines.
A tummyache could also be a sign that you're stressed. Your digestive system is directly related to your emotions. People with anxiety are more likely to experience digestive issues such as stomachaches and constipation.
Weakness can also be a sign of anxiety as it can impact the immune system, which in turn makes you more susceptible to infections. Stress hormones can affect the immune system. This is especially true for people who are anxious.
The first step to identifying and managing the symptoms of anxiety is to stop and assess your situation, says Dr. Barsky. If you recognize that your physical symptoms result from a constant state of stress and worry, you can take steps to end the cycle. “Distract yourself,” says the expert noting that even something as simple as watering your plants or putting a jigsaw together can be helpful.
Lightheadedness
driving anxiety symptoms can cause you feel dizzy, unbalanced or as if the world is spinning. This can be a very uncomfortable sensation, and it may hinder you from exercising or engaging in activities you like. Dizziness caused by anxiety is sometimes known as Vertigo but it could be a sign of a disorder that affects the inner ear, such as Benign Peripheral Persistent Dizziness (BPPV).
The body's “fight or fight” stress response releases an abundance of hormones and chemicals into the blood to prepare for threats. This can increase the heart rate and breathing and alters the amount of oxygen being circulated to the brain. This may cause a brief feeling of lightheadedness. That's the reason you might feel lightheaded prior to delivering a speech, or when you are in a busy room. If your anxiety is chronic and you experience this feeling without any apparent reason, then it could be an indication of an anxiety symptoms vs panic attacks disorder.
This type of anxiety symptoms tiredness-induced nausea can last all day or even for a longer period of time. It is also known as Chronic Subjective Dizziness or Persistent Perceptual-Postural Dizziness (PPPD). You should consult your doctor in case you have a medical condition that causes this.
If you have no health issues but are getting dizzy when you're anxious, try to calm yourself by taking deep breaths or by focusing your eyes on a fixed spot. This is how ballet dancers find relief from the dizziness they experience while performing. If this isn't working, call your family member or a friend to discuss your anxiety with them and seek their assistance. This will reduce your symptoms and keep them from getting out of control.
Mouth dryness
If your anxiety is high it is likely that you will experience changes in your breathing and heart rate. As part of the fight or flight response the body releases stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which increase your heart rate to bring more oxygen into your bloodstream, allowing you to respond to threats. If you suffer from chronic anxiety, this constant release of stress hormones can cause long-term health effects. It can affect digestion in a way that is physically harmful, such as stomach pains, bloating, and diarrhea.
In addition to affecting your heart rate and blood pressure, stress hormones can also cause you to feel sluggish or out of breath. This could happen when you're in a stressful situation, such as during an anxiety attack, or when you're preparing for a big event. It can also happen when you are constantly anxious and for no reason.
It's not uncommon for those suffering from anxiety issues to suffer digestive problems. According to the APA those who suffer from these symptoms often should seek out a mental health professional.
The most important thing to keep in mind is anxiety can be very difficult on your body, and you're certainly not the only one. Talk to a GP If you're worried about your emotions. They can help you determine if your feelings are related to a particular challenge or if anxiety is a condition. They can also give you information and suggestions to help you manage your anxiety. This may include recommending specific medication or therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Make sure you are active and sleep enough. You can also do exercises for relaxation like guided visualization or deep breathing to help ease the symptoms.
Tension
Anxiety can cause the body to feel tense. It can be even painful. The reason for this is that the brain sends signals to the other parts of the body, telling them to brace for an eventual fight or flight situation. This can result in a knot in the stomach muscles and a feeling of stomachache. This is not something to be ignored, as it can lead serious digestive issues like irritable bowels syndrome or ulcers on the stomach lining.
Heart palpitations are another frequent symptom. They are fast and irregular heartbeats. This happens when the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released into the body. These hormones can boost the rate that the heart beats and also increase the amount oxygen that circulates throughout the body. The body doesn't need to be constantly alert. If it is, it will become weak and tired.
Anxiety can cause sweating, cold legs and hands, and lightheadedness. This is caused by an increase in blood flow towards the major organs and muscles. This is part of the fight or flight response, which prepares the body for a risky situation. It is triggered by real threats or simply by thinking about them. The amygdala, an area of the brain that manages emotional responses, may also react to fearful thoughts and trigger physical sensations.
Rapid and shallow breathing can also exacerbate anxiety. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine this is known as hyperventilation. It can disrupt the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the bloodstream. This can cause dizziness and sensations of tingling in feet and hands.