Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

While everyone feels anxious at times When anxiety becomes 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 psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist will employ screening tools to determine whether you suffer from anxiety disorders. They will also ask you about your medical history and run tests to rule out any other health conditions that may cause similar symptoms.

1. Headaches

Most people feel anxious occasionally. An anxiety disorder occurs when these symptoms are constant or frequent. Anxiety can also affect your daily routine or cause you to avoid social anxiety disorder dsm 5 situations.1

Headaches are a common physical symptom that is associated with anxiety disorder blood pressure. They can range from a tension headache2 up to a full-blown migraine in some people. This is because many people tense their bodies as part of the fight-or-flight response and holding their muscles for prolonged periods of time can cause pain.3

Lightheadedness or dizziness is another physical sign of anxiety. This can be due to a rapid heart rate, hyperventilating or the combination of both. It could also be an indication of a major medical condition like heart disease, and it's crucial to have your heart examined by your doctor.

You might also feel weak, particularly in your legs or arms. This could be a sign of stress. This is because your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline, which helps you respond to a threat by speeding up the heartbeat and preparing your body for an attack. However, over time these hormones can have a negative effect on your health, and could cause you to feel shakey and weak or dizzy.

There are times when you may experience more symptoms if you're anxious and have difficulty sleeping. Try to relax before bed and follow your routine so that you can sleep better. Exercise can also be beneficial. A vigorous aerobic workout can release brain chemicals that reduce stress and improve your mood. It can aid in falling asleep more easily. If you are still having difficulty sleeping, speak to your doctor about options for treatment.

2. Stomach problems

The body is tense when you are anxious, and if you suffer from chronic anxiety, it can cause constant discomfort. Your muscles might ache and your stomach may be irritable, or you may get diarrhea. Stress hormones can also affect your digestive system, leading to constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.

There are stomach issues that can be experienced with any type of anxiety disorder, but people with panic disorders are more likely to have these issues. According to the American Psychiatric Association, panic attacks are sudden feelings or fear of imminent death. They can happen in specific situations or without any reason. You might feel as if you're having a heart attack or that you cannot breathe. You may also experience chest pains, and an extremely rapid pulse.

Long-term anxiety can also increase your chances of developing other health problems. The hormones that cause anxiety symptoms allow us to respond to threats, but if we're constantly on alert our immune system could be affected. This could make you more vulnerable to getting the common cold as well as other diseases.

Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through a an examination of your body and asking you about your symptoms. Before diagnosing anxiety, they'll rule out other causes like thyroid and heart diseases. A mental health professional will also be able to provide assistance and support in managing your symptoms. They can assist you in learning relaxation techniques and work through any underlying negative or traumatic experiences that could have triggered your anxiety. They can also assist you to find a treatment option that is appropriate 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 hands that are jittery are indicators of anxiety, a lot of people don't realize that chronic muscle tension can be a physical sign of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social does anxiety disorder ever go away disorder (SAD) or panic disorder, or even specific fears. If someone is suffering from these symptoms on a regular basis they may lose their mobility and feel constant discomfort in their neck, back and shoulders.

Tense muscles are a common sign of anxiety disorders because the body's fight-or-flight response triggers a cascade of bodily reactions that cause us to physically react to perceived threats. Moderate anxiety levels elicit these responses as part of our natural survival instinct, but they can lead to long-term muscle problems when they are frequent or over a prolonged period of time.

When a real danger is present the adrenal glands produce hormones that increase the speed of your heartbeat so that more blood can be delivered to your muscles that are large in your arms or legs in the event you need to run away or fight. Those increased heart rates also boost how quickly your lungs fill with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation can cause you to feel lightheaded or dizzy.

If you suffer from an anxiety condition your body is unable to return to its normal state between stress responses. You feel anxious all the while because of your anxiety disorder, so you keep your sympathetic nervous system on alert. This causes the constant tensing of your muscles and can eventually cause long-term pain, according the American Psychological Association. It can also affect your digestive system, which may cause stomach pain constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome.

4. Dizziness

If you're a person who is anxious, you may often feel dizzy and off balance. This is due to the nervous system's response to anxiety. Your body is tense when you think of something that worries or scares you, and then relaxes once the threat passes. If you are experiencing these symptoms often and your anxiety is chronic, you may have an anxiety disorder.

If you're constantly stressed on a regular basis, it can be hard to focus or sleep enough. It also causes havoc to your body and may cause you to gain weight, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety can also have a significant influence on the menstrual cycle. It's because it could cause you to miss or experience irregular menstrual cycles because it affects the release of hormones that induce ovulation, according to the American Psychological Association.

Having high blood pressure or heart disease can increase your risk of anxiety, and it's essential to bring these medical conditions under control to reduce your risk. If you suffer from these conditions, be sure to inform your therapist.

Experiences that are traumatizing, such as a car crash or surgery can also increase the risk of anxiety. Anxiety can be triggered by a chronic illness like asthma or diabetes, or a recurring medical illness. There are solutions for anxiety disorders. They include psychotherapy, or talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you turn negative anxiety-inducing thoughts and actions into positive ones. You can also learn to use relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. In addition there are supplements available to relax your body and mind.

5. Sweating

Anxiety is a term used to describe for a whole cluster of frightening feelings that could make your heart race and your stomach ache, as well as your muscles tense. These feelings alone are not enough to cause anxiety disorders however, when they become chronic, it could be a problem. You might also experience sweating, chills and other physical symptoms that prompt you to seek medical treatment.

Sweating is a typical physical symptom of anxiety disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. When your body's fight or flight response is activated, it increases the rate that your blood circulates to prepare you for fighting or escape. This increase in heart rate can cause you to feel dizzy and breathless. 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 best medicine for anxiety disorder.

Dyspnea is a feeling that you are unable to breathe. It's an indication that your anxiety has become too intense to manage.

Your healthcare provider will assess your anxiety disorders based on your reported symptoms and the way they interfere with your daily routine. They'll begin by asking about your past experiences and your current concerns. They may also conduct tests to check for other health issues that may be the cause of your symptoms, such as bloodwork and imaging scanners. In some instances, they might recommend medications to alleviate your symptoms, such as strong antiperspirants made of aluminium, nerve blocker drugs or botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections that target the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavior therapy, psychotherapy and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.