Your Worst Nightmare Concerning Anxiety Disorder Physical Symptoms Come To Life
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder Although everyone experiences anxiety from time to time If anxiety develops into a disorder it can cause physical symptoms, as well as emotional ones. These include a feeling of restlessness, muscle tension and stomach issues. A psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist will employ screening tools to determine if you suffer from an anxiety disorder. They will also ask you about your medical history and run tests to rule out any other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms. 1. Headaches The majority of people experience anxiety at times. But it's not the same as having an anxiety disorder that is, when the feelings are more frequent or do not disappear. Anxiety can also affect your daily life or cause you to avoid social situations.1 Headaches are a common physical symptom of anxiety. They can range from the normal tension headache2 up to a complete migraine in a few people. This is due to the fact that many people tighten their muscles in response to the fight or flight response, and holding those muscles in a rigid position for long periods of time can cause pain.3 Lightheadedness or dizziness is another physical symptom of anxiety. It could be due to a rapid heart rate, hyperventilating or the combination of both. It could also be a sign of a serious medical condition like heart disease, and it's important to get checked by your physician. You might be feeling weak, especially in your arms or legs. This can be a sign of stress. This is because the nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline, which help you respond to a threat by increasing your heart rate and getting your body ready for a potential attack. As time passes, these hormones can have a negative impact on your health, causing you feel weak, shaky or dizzy. If you have trouble getting enough sleep because of anxiety, it could make your symptoms worse. Relax before going to bed and adhere to a routine. This will allow you to get more sleep. Exercise can also be helpful. Exercise can also aid. If you are still having difficulty sleeping, speak to your doctor about treatment options. 2. Stomach problems Anxiety can cause your body to tighten up and long-term anxiety can lead to persistent pain. There may be stomach discomfort, muscle pain or diarrhea. Stress hormones can also impact your gastrointestinal system, causing constipation or irritablebowel syndrome. You can experience stomach issues when you suffer from any anxiety disorder, but people who suffer from panic disorders are more likely to have these issues. Panic attacks are sudden feelings of fear or imminent doom that can occur in certain situations or for no reason according to the American Psychiatric Association. You may feel as if you're experiencing a heart attack or that you cannot breathe. You might also experience chest pains, and an intense pulse. Long-term anxiety increases your risk of other health issues as well. The hormones that trigger anxiety symptoms can help us respond to a danger however, if we're always on high alert our immune system may be affected. This could make you more prone to contracting the common cold and other ailments. 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 thyroid or heart problems. A mental health professional can provide support and assistance to manage your symptoms. They can help you learn relaxation techniques and work through any underlying negative or traumatic experiences that could have triggered your anxiety. They can also aid you in finding the right treatment for you. Ask your doctor for a referral or browse online therapist directories to find an anxiety specialist. 3. Muscle tension Although most people are aware that a heart racing and hands that feel jittery are signs of anxiety, many don't know that muscle tension can be a physical sign of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder, or specific fears. If a person is experiencing these symptoms frequently they may lose their range of motion and feel constant pain in their back, neck and shoulders. Tense muscles can be an indication of anxiety disorder s as the body's fight or flight response triggers a sequence of responses that cause us to physically react when we sense danger. In moderate levels of anxiety, we trigger these responses as part of our natural survival instinct, but they can cause long-term problems with muscles when they are frequent or over a long period of time. When there is a real danger the adrenal glands crank out hormones that accelerate the rate at which your heart beats to ensure it can pump more blood to the massive muscles in your arms and legs in case you need to flee or fight danger. These increased heart rates also boost how quickly your lungs fill with oxygen. The combination of increased tension and hyperventilation could make 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 reactions. You feel anxious all the while because of your anxiety disorder, so you keep your sympathetic nervous system on alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this could lead to chronic muscle tension and long-term pain. It can also affect your digestive system, causing stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome. 4. Dizziness You might be shaky or unbalanced when you are stressed. This is because of the nervous system's response to anxiety. When you are anxious or anxious your body begins to tense and then it relaxes. If you experience these symptoms often and you feel your anxiety is chronic, you may have an anxiety disorder. It can be difficult to fall asleep or concentrate when you're constantly stressed. panic anxiety disorder affects your body, and could cause you to gain weight, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety can also have an impact on your menstrual cycles. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you to skip your menstrual cycle or experience irregular menstrual cycles by affecting hormones that induce ovulation. You may be more prone to anxiety if you have high blood pressure or heart issues. It's important to control these medical conditions to reduce your risk. Talk to your therapist if suffer from any of these ailments. Other factors that increase the risk of anxiety are traumatic experiences such as being involved in a car crash or having surgery. Anxiety can be triggered by a chronic illness like asthma or diabetes, or a recurring medical illness. There are solutions for anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy or talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) can be helpful. CBT teaches you how to transform negative behavior patterns and thoughts that cause anxiety to positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing. In addition there are supplements available to relax your body and mind. 5. Sweating Anxiety is a term that encompasses a wide range of feelings that can cause your heart rate to rise and your stomach to ache and your muscles to get tighter. Sometimes, these symptoms don't constitute an anxiety disorders, but if they're persistent they can get out of hand. You may also experience sweating, chills and other physical symptoms that cause you to seek medical treatment. 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 begins, it boosts the speed of blood circulation to prepare you for fight or escape. This increase in heart rate can cause you to feel dizzy and out of breath. 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 a feeling of not breathing. It's an indication that your anxiety is becoming too severe to control. Your doctor will determine if you have an anxiety disorder by looking at your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. They'll begin by asking you about your previous experiences and your current concerns. They may also conduct tests to identify other health problems that could be contributing to your symptoms, such as imaging scanners and blood tests. In some cases they may recommend medications to relieve symptoms. These include powerful antiperspirants containing aluminium and other drugs that block nerves and Botox injections around sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavior therapy, psychotherapy and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.