10 Times You'll Have To Learn About Anxiety Disorder Physical Symptoms
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder While everyone feels anxious at times If anxiety develops into an illness, it can trigger physical symptoms as well as emotional ones. This can include a feeling of tension in the muscles, restlessness and stomach problems. A psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist uses screening tools to determine if you suffer from anxiety disorders. They will also inquire about your medical history and conduct tests to rule out other health conditions which may cause similar symptoms. 1. Headaches Many people feel anxious from time to time. An anxiety disorder is when these symptoms are constant or frequent. Anxiety can affect your daily routine or cause you to avoid social situations.1 One of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety are headaches. They can range from the typical tension headache2 to full-blown migraine in some people. This is because a lot of people tighten their muscles in response to the fight or flight response and securing those muscles rigidly for long periods of time can lead to pain.3 Another symptom of anxiety is dizziness or lightheadedness. This could be due to a fast heart rate, hyperventilating, or the combination of both. It can also be an indication of a serious medical problem such as heart disease, which is why it's important to get checked out by your physician. You might also feel weak in the arms or legs, which can be another indication of anxiety. This is because your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline which aids in responding to a threat by speeding up the heartbeat and preparing your entire body for a potential attack. In time, however these hormones can have the opposite effect on your health and may cause you to feel weak, shaky or weak. You may also feel dizzy, weak, or weak. There are times when you may experience more symptoms if you're anxious and have difficulty sleeping. Relax before going to bed and adhere to a routine. This will help you get more sleep. Exercise can also be helpful. Exercise can also aid. If you still have difficulty sleeping, speak to your doctor about options for treatment. 2. Stomach issues Anxiety can cause your body to become tense and long-term anxiety can lead to persistent pain. Your muscles could hurt or your stomach may be irritable, or you may develop diarrhea. Your gastrointestinal system can also be affected by the constant release of stress hormones which can cause constipation, bloating, or IBS. People with panic disorders have greater chance of developing stomach problems. Panic attacks are sudden sensations of fear or dread that can occur in certain situations or without explanation, according to the American Psychiatric Association. You might feel as if you're having an attack of the heart or that you're unable to breathe, or you might experience chest pain or a rapid heartbeat. Chronic anxiety can also increase your risk of developing other health issues. The hormones that cause anxiety symptoms allow us to respond to a danger however, if we're always on high alert, our immune system can be affected. This could increase your risk of contracting the common cold, as well as other ailments. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by doing a physical exam and interviewing you about your symptoms. They will rule out other reasons, such as thyroid or heart problems prior to determining you have anxiety. A mental health professional will also be able to offer you support and help manage your symptoms. They can assist you in learning relaxation techniques and work through any traumas or negative experiences that may have caused anxiety. They can also help you in locating the best treatment 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 racing pulse and a hand that is jittery are indications of anxiety. However, they don't know that chronic muscle tension can be an indication of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder panic disorder, and certain phobias. If someone is experiencing these symptoms frequently they could lose their range and experience persistent pain in their neck, back and shoulders. Tense muscles are a common symptom of anxiety disorder because the body's fight-or flight response triggers a chain of bodily reactions that cause us to physically react to perceived threats. In moderate levels of anxiety, we trigger these responses as part our instinctual survival instinct, but they can cause long-term problems with muscles when they are frequent or over a prolonged period of time. When there is a real danger your adrenal glands pump out hormones that increase how fast your heart beats, so that it can pump more blood to the big muscles in your arms and legs in the event that you need to escape or fight the danger. Those increased heart rates also boost how quickly your lungs fill with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation could cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, however your body isn't able to return to its normal state of relaxation between stress-related responses. You are constantly stressed all the time because of your anxiety disorder, which is why you keep your sympathetic nervous system on alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this could lead to chronic muscle tension and lasting pain. It can also affect your digestive system, causing stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome. 4. Dizziness You may be shaky or unbalanced when you are stressed. The reason is to relate to the nervous system's response to anxiety. When you are worried or anxious your body tightens and then it relaxes. If you are experiencing these symptoms often and your anxiety is persistent it could be that you suffer from an anxiety disorder. If you're constantly stressed frequently, it can be hard to focus 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 an influence on your menstrual cycles. It's because it could cause you to skip or have irregular menstrual flow because it affects the release of hormones that induce ovulation, according to the American Psychological Association. You can be more susceptible to anxiety if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. It is important to manage these medical conditions to decrease your risk. If you're suffering from any of these conditions, be sure to tell your therapist. A traumatic experience like a car accident or surgery can also increase your anxiety risk. Anxiety can be triggered by chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or asthma, or a recurring medical condition. The good news is that there are solutions that can help with anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy or talk therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can be helpful. CBT teaches you how to change negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger anxiety to positive ones. You can also learn how to use relaxation techniques, like meditation or deep breathing. In addition, there are supplements you can take to help calm 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 beat faster and your stomach ache, as well as your muscles tense. Most of the time, these feelings aren't enough to cause anxiety disorder, but when they're ongoing and become out of control. There are also sweating, chills and other physical symptoms that require medical assistance. Sweating is a typical physical 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 the fight. The increased 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 Medicine. Dyspnea is the feeling that you are unable to breathe. This could be a sign that your anxiety has become too intense to handle. Your doctor will test your anxiety disorders by looking at your symptoms and how they interfere with your daily life. You'll be asked about your past experiences as well as current concerns. They might also conduct tests to identify other health issues that could be causing them, such as imaging scans and blood tests. In panic anxiety disorder , they may recommend medications to relieve your symptoms. These include powerful antiperspirants that contain aluminium or other substances that block nerves, or Botox injections to treat sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavior therapy, psychotherapy and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.