Anxiety Body Symptoms
Everyone feels anxious at times, especially when faced with a fear or worry. Anxiety that is constant can cause an array of physical symptoms.
If you are afraid or stressed, your heart rate and breathing will increase. Fuel and blood flood the muscles in case you need to run away from danger.
Tingling
The nervous system triggers an anxiety response when you perceive a threat. It releases a flood of chemical and hormones, including adrenaline, which increases blood flow, boost oxygen and help you respond quickly and effectively. This is the body's natural reaction to life-or death situations. It's designed to protect you. A lot of us are worried about things that don't really threaten us or even could be beneficial. The constant rise in stress hormones, in addition to other physical symptoms that are associated with anxiety, can be mentally and physically draining.
Tingling throughout your body is among the most common symptoms of feeling anxious. It could be felt in your feet, legs or arms and the sensation could move up to the head, causing a headache. It may also happen when you are sitting, lying or standing in the same position for a long duration. It could be caused by nutritional deficiencies or nerve damage, or even compression, for example, from a compressed spinal cord or pinched nerves.
The sweating can also be a sign of anxiety. Your body is working hard to pump extra water to your sweat glands when you are nervous or anxious according to NIMH. That can also cause you to feel cold in your hands and feet because the body is pulling blood away from those areas to protect its main organs.
Anxiety is often accompanied with persistent feelings of fatigue and exhaustion. It is possible that you are experiencing anxiety as a result of a constant fight-or-flight response or due to difficulty sleeping. A psychiatrist or a medical expert can provide suggestions for getting better sleep, including following good habits and avoiding alcohol and caffeine at night.
Weakness
Your body's fight-or-flight response may start to kick in when you experience anxiety or fear. If you experience fear or anxiety the body's fight or flight response may start to activate. In the long run however, this constant state of stress and worry can cause your body to feel weak, especially when it strains your muscles.
Tight muscles are painful and can cause headaches, aches and pains, and other physical conditions. For example, when you're startled or anxious, your body tenses up and if this happens over and over again it could lead to tension headaches. Migraines can also be caused by tight shoulders and neck muscles.
If you have a tummy pain, it could be a sign of anxiety too. The digestive system is directly connected to your mood and people who struggle with anxiety are more likely to experience digestive problems such as constipation, stomachaches, and diarrhea.
Weakness is also a symptom associated with anxiety, as it can affect your immune system and make you more susceptible to infections. A prolonged period of high levels of stress hormones, similar to those experienced by those suffering from anxiety, can affect the immune system's ability to battle germs.
The first step in identifying and managing the symptoms of anxiety is to take a step back and evaluate the situation, advises Dr. Barsky. If you are able to determine that your physical symptoms result from a constant state anxiety and stress you can take action in order to break the cycle. "Distract yourself," he suggests, noting that something as simple as watering your plants or putting together a jigsaw puzzle can help.
Lightheadedness
Anxiety can cause you feel dizzy, unbalanced or as if the whole world is spinning. This can be a troubling feeling and could also make it difficult for you to continue getting active, going out or doing activities that you enjoy. Vertigo is a term used to describe dizziness that is caused by anxiety. However, it can also be a sign of an inner ear disorder like Benign Peripheral Constant Dizziness (BPPV).
The body's "fight or flight" stress response releases an abundance of chemicals and hormones into the bloodstream to prepare for danger. This increases the heart rate, increases breathing, and alters how much oxygen is circulating to the brain. This can cause a temporary sensation of lightheadedness and is why you might feel it when you are delivering a speech or when you are in a busy room. If your anxiety is persistent and you experience this feeling without a clear reason, then it could be an indication of an anxiety disorder.
This kind of anxiety-related dizziness can last all day or longer and is called Chronic Subjective Dizziness or Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD). If you have an illness that causes this, you should consult your physician for an accurate diagnosis.
If you have no health concerns and are experiencing dizziness when you're anxious, try to calm yourself by breathing deeply or by staring at a fixed spot. Many ballet dancers who suffer from this kind of dizziness get relief by doing this when they're performing. If this doesn't work you, you can always contact your family or a friend to discuss your anxiety and how they can assist you. This can help reduce your symptoms and prevent them from spiraling out of control.
Mouth dryness
When you are anxious your breathing and heart rate will likely to change. As part of your fight-or-flight response your body releases
stress anxiety depression symptoms hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which increases your heart rate in order to provide more oxygen to your bloodstream. If your anxiety is chronic, this constant release of stress hormones can have long-term effects on your health. It can affect digestion in a way that's 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 exhausted or short of breath. This can happen in high-stress situations, for instance, when you're preparing for an important event or during an anxiety attack. It can also happen if you experience anxiety frequently and without any reason.
These
symptoms of Separation Anxiety in adults can cause you to feel nauseated or sick to your stomach, and it's not uncommon for people with anxiety to have digestive issues. According to the APA, people who suffer from these symptoms frequently should consult an expert in mental health.
You're not the only one to experience anxiety. If you're concerned about how you feel consult an GP or therapist. They can tell whether your symptoms are linked to a specific issue or the presence of anxiety as a condition. They can also provide you with details and suggestions on how to manage anxiety. This may include recommending specific medication or therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Try to remain active and get enough rest. You can also do relaxation exercises, such as guided imagery or deep breathing, to help reduce your symptoms.
Tension
Anxiety can cause the body to feel tense and uncomfortable. It can cause pain. The brain sends signals that tell other parts of the system to prepare for a fight or flight scenario. This can lead to an increase in the size of stomach muscles, and the sensation of a stomach ache. This is not something you should ignore because it could lead to serious digestive problems such as ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome on the stomach lining.
Another common symptom of anxiety is heart palpitations that are fast and irregular heartbeats. This happens when the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released into the bloodstream. These hormones can increase the speed at which the heart beats and also increase the amount oxygen that circulates throughout the body.