Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Everyone feels anxious at times, but when anxiety becomes a condition it can cause physical and emotional symptoms. They can be characterized by a feeling anxiety, muscle tension and stomach issues.

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

1. Headaches

Many people experience anxiety disorders psychology definition from time to times. But it's not the same as having an anxiety disorder, that what is anxiety panic disorder, when the feelings are more frequent or do not go away. Anxiety can also affect your daily routine or cause you to avoid social situations.1

Headaches are a typical physical symptom associated with anxiety. They can range from tension headache2 up to a complete migraine in some individuals. 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

Another symptom of anxiety is lightheadedness or dizziness. This could be caused by a rapid heart rate, hyperventilating or an amalgamation of the two. It can also be an indication of a major medical issue like heart disease, and it is important to be checked out by your physician.

You may be feeling weak, especially in your arms or legs. This can be a sign of stress. This is because your nervous system releases adrenaline and cortisol which help you react to a threat by accelerating the heartbeat and preparing the entire body drugs for generalized anxiety disorder a potential attack. In time these hormones can have a negative impact on your health, making you feel weak, shaky or dizzy.

If you have trouble getting enough sleep due to anxiety, it can cause your symptoms to get worse. Try to take a break before bed and stick to an established routine to get more rest. Exercise can also be helpful. Exercise can also help. If you still have difficulty sleeping, speak to your doctor about treatment options.

2. Stomach problems

Anxiety can cause your body to tighten up and chronic anxiety may lead to persistent pain. Your muscles may ache or your stomach may feel a bit sluggish, or you could get diarrhea. Stress hormones can also impact your gastrointestinal system, causing constipation or irritablebowel syndrome.

You can experience stomach issues with any type of anxiety disorder, but those who suffer from panic disorders are more likely to have them. According to the American Psychiatric Association, panic attacks are sudden, intense feelings or fear of imminent death. They can occur in certain situations or without apparent reason. It could feel like you're having an attack of the heart or that you're unable to breathe, or you may experience chest pain or a rapid heartbeat.

Chronic anxiety can increase your risk of other health issues, too. The hormones that cause anxiety symptoms can help us respond to threats however, if we're always alert our immune system may be affected. This could make you more susceptible to getting the common cold and other diseases.

Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through a physical examination and a conversation about your symptoms. Before diagnosing anxiety, they can determine if there are other causes, such as thyroid and heart diseases. A mental health professional can also provide support and assistance to manage your symptoms. They can help you learn relaxation techniques and help you work through any underlying trauma or negative experiences that might have led to your anxiety. They can also help you find a treatment option that is appropriate for you. Ask your doctor for a referral or look up online directories of therapists to find a therapist who is an expert in anxiety.

3. Muscle tension

While most people know that a racing heart and jittery hands are signs of anxiety, a lot of people don't know that tension in the muscles is a sign of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder dsm 5 anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD) panic disorder, or even specific fears. When a person experiences these symptoms regularly, they may begin to lose their range of motion and suffer from chronic pain 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 trigger us to physically react to perceived threats. A moderate level of anxiety triggers 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.

If a serious threat is present, your adrenal glands churn out hormones that increase how fast your heart beats to ensure it can pump more blood to the massive muscles in your arms and legs in the event that you need to flee or fight danger. The increased heart rates also increase the speed that your lungs fill with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation can cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.

If you have an anxiety disorder your body is unable to return to its normal resting state between stress responses. You feel stressed all the time due to the anxiety disorder, and you keep your sympathetic nervous system on alert. This causes the constant tension of your muscles, which can eventually cause long-term pain, according the American Psychological Association. It can also affect the digestive system, causing stomachaches constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome.

4. Dizziness

You might be shaky or unbalanced in the event of anxiety. This is because of the nervous system's response to anxiety disorders consequences. The body gets tense whenever you think about something that worries or scares you, but then relaxes once the threat passes. If you are experiencing these symptoms frequently and your anxiety is chronic it could be that you suffer from an anxiety disorder.

If you're stressed frequently, it can be hard to focus or sleep enough. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can also cause your body to suffer and you could gain weight. Anxiety also has a major impact on your menstrual cycle. That's because it can cause you to skip or experience irregular menstrual cycles by affecting the release of hormones that trigger ovulation, as per the American Psychological Association.

You are more prone to anxiety if you suffer from high blood pressure or heart problems. It's important to control these medical conditions to reduce your risk. Talk to your therapist if suffer from any of these ailments.

Traumatic experiences such as a car crash or surgery may also increase your risk of anxiety. Anxiety can be caused by a chronic illness, such as diabetes or asthma or a recurring medical health condition. There are treatment options for anxiety disorders. They include psychotherapy or talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you turn negative anxiety-inducing thoughts and behaviors into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing. Additionally, there are supplements you can take to 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 become tight. These feelings alone are not enough to trigger anxiety disorder, but when they become chronic, they can cause problems. You might also experience chills, sweating and other physical symptoms that cause you to seek medical attention.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health, sweating is a frequent physical sign of anxiety disorders. When your body's fight or flight response is activated, it increases the speed at which your blood circulates to prepare you for battle or escape. The increased heart rate can cause you to 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 cause the feeling of not being able to breathe, which is called dyspnea. It's an indication that your anxiety is getting too intense to manage.

Your healthcare provider will determine if you suffer from anxiety Disorder levels disorders by analyzing your symptoms and how they affect your daily routine. They'll begin by asking you about your experiences in the past and current concerns. They may also run tests to identify other health issues that may be causing them, like bloodwork and imaging scans. In some cases they may suggest medications to ease symptoms. These include strong antiperspirants with aluminium in them or other substances that block nerves and Botox injections in the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.