Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

While everyone feels anxious from time to time If anxiety develops into an illness, it can trigger physical symptoms as well as emotional ones. This can include a feeling of agitation, muscle tension, stomach issues and more.

A psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist may use screening tools to determine if you suffer from an anxiety disorder. They will also inquire about your medical history, and will run tests to rule out other medical conditions that could cause similar symptoms.

1. Headaches

Many people feel anxious at times. But it's not the same as having an mixed anxiety depressive disorder disorder that is, when the feelings are more frequent or do not go away. Anxiety can also affect your daily life and make it difficult to participate in social situations.

A common physical symptom of anxiety are headaches. They can range from tension headache2 up to a full-blown, migraine for some people. This is because many people tense their bodies as part of the fight-or-flight response and securing those muscles in a rigid position for long periods of time can cause pain.3

Another symptom of anxiety is lightheadedness or dizziness. It can be caused by an increased heart rate, hyperventilating, or the combination of both. It can also be an indication of a major medical condition like heart disease, so it is important to be checked by your physician.

You might be feeling weak in your arms or legs and arms, which could be a sign of anxiety. This is because your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline, which helps you respond to a danger by speeding up your heartbeat and preparing your body for a potential attack. As time passes these hormones can have a negative impact on your health, causing you feel weak, shaky or dizzy.

You might experience more severe symptoms if you're stressed and having difficulty sleeping. Relax before bed and stick to a routine. This will allow you to get more sleep. Exercise can be beneficial. Aerobic exercise can release brain chemicals that reduce stress and improve your mood, and it can assist you in falling asleep faster. Consult your physician If you're still struggling to sleep.

2. Stomach problems

Anxiety can cause your body to tense up, and chronic anxiety can cause chronic pain. Your muscles could hurt, your stomach can feel off or you can develop diarrhea. Stress hormones can also affect your gastrointestinal system, leading to constipation or irritablebowel syndrome.

People with panic disorders have a higher risk of having stomach issues. Panic attacks are sudden, intense feelings of fear or imminent doom that happen in specific circumstances or without explanation, according to the American Psychiatric Association. You may feel like you're experiencing an attack on your heart or you're unable to breathe, or you might experience chest pain and a fast heartbeat.

Chronic anxiety Disorder physical symptoms can increase the chances of developing other health problems. The hormones responsible for fighting or flight that cause the symptoms of anxiety help us respond to danger however, if you're in high alert throughout the day, your immune system can suffer. This could make you more prone to getting the common cold as well as other diseases.

Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by doing an examination of your body and asking you about your symptoms. Before diagnosing anxiety, they will rule out other causes, such as heart disease and thyroid problems. A mental health professional will be able to offer you assistance and support in managing your symptoms. They can assist you in learning techniques for relaxation and work through any underlying traumas or negative experiences that could have triggered separation anxiety disorder treatments. They can also help you identify a treatment plan that is appropriate for you. Ask your doctor to refer you, or look up directories online for an anxiety specialist.

3. Muscle tension

Many people are aware that a twitchy pulse and jittery hand are signs of anxiety. But, they don't realize that chronic muscle tension could be an indication of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder panic disorder, and even specific phobias. When a person experiences these symptoms regularly they could begin to lose their range of motion and suffer from constant pain in the neck, back and shoulders.

Tense muscles are a common symptom of anxiety disorder because the body's fight-or-flight response triggers a cascade of reactions that trigger us to physically react to perceived threats. In moderate levels of anxiety, we trigger these responses as part our instinctual survival instinct however, they can cause long-term problems with muscles when they are frequent or over a long period of time.

When a real danger is present your adrenal glands release hormones that speed up the rate of your heartbeat, so that more blood is pumped to your muscles that are large in your legs or arms in the event that you need to run away or fight. Those increased heart rates also increase the speed at which your lungs are filled with oxygen. The combination of stress and hyperventilation can cause you feel lightheaded or dizzy.

When you have an anxiety disorder, however, your body can't return to its normal state of relaxation between stress responses. You feel stressed all the time due to your anxiety disorder, so you keep your sympathetic nervous system on high alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this can lead to chronic muscle tension and lasting pain. It can also affect your digestive system, which can cause stomach pain and constipation, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome.

4. Dizziness

If you're a stressed-out person, you may often feel dizzy and out of balance. The reason for this has to be due to the nervous system's response to anxiety. The body gets tense whenever you think about something that worries or scares you, but then relaxes when the threat is gone. If you are experiencing these symptoms often and you feel your anxiety is chronic you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder medication list disorder.

If you're constantly stressed on a regular basis it can be difficult to concentrate or get enough sleep. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can also cause your body to suffer and you could gain weight. Anxiety can also have a significant influence on the menstrual cycle. It's because it could cause you to miss or have irregular menstrual flow by affecting the release of hormones that trigger ovulation, as per the American Psychological Association.

You may be more prone to anxiety if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. It is essential to manage these medical conditions to reduce your risk. If you're suffering from any of these conditions, make sure to tell your therapist.

Traumatic experiences such as a car crash or surgery can also increase your anxiety risk. A chronic medical condition such as asthma or an ongoing health issue like diabetes can also trigger anxiety. The good news is that there are solutions that can ease anxiety disorders. Talk therapy or psychotherapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can aid. CBT teaches you how to change negative behavior patterns and thoughts that cause anxiety into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing. You can also take supplements to help calm your body and mind.

5. Sweating

Anxiety is a term that refers to an array of emotions that can cause your heart to race and your stomach to ache and your muscles to tighten. Most of the time, these feelings aren't enough to cause anxiety disorder, but when they're ongoing and become out of control. You may also experience sweating, chills and other physical symptoms that prompt you to seek medical attention.

The habit of sweating is a common manifestation of anxiety disorders according to the National Institute of Mental Health. When your body's "fight-or-flight" response kicks in, it increases your blood circulation rate to prepare you for combat. The increased heart rate may make you feel faint or dizzy. 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 Medicine.

This imbalance may also cause a feeling of not being able to breathe and is known as dyspnea. This could be a sign that your anxiety has become too intense to handle.

Your doctor will evaluate your anxiety disorders in light of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. You'll be asked about previous experiences as well as current concerns. They might also conduct tests to check for other health issues that may be the cause of your symptoms, such as imaging scanners and blood tests. In certain instances, they might recommend medications to help ease your symptoms, such as powerful antiperspirants that contain aluminium, nerve-blocking drugs, or botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections that target the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive therapy and relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.