Anxiety Body Symptoms 101: The Ultimate Guide For Beginners
Anxiety Body Symptoms
Everyone experiences anxiety at times in particular when faced with fears or worries. But constant anxiety can lead to an increase in physical symptoms.
Fright or stress triggers the fight-or-flight response that causes your heart rate and breathing to speed up. Blood and fuel flood the muscles in case you have to escape danger.
Tingling
The nervous system triggers an anxious response when you feel an imminent threat. It releases hormones and chemicals like adrenaline to increase blood circulation, improve oxygen levels, and help you respond faster and more effectively. This is the body's normal reaction to situations that could end your life, and it's designed to safeguard you (Chand, 2021). A lot of us are worried about things that do not really threaten us or even could be beneficial. The constant rise in stress hormones, along with other physical symptoms associated with anxiety can be physically and mentally draining.
Tingling throughout your body is one of the most common symptoms of feeling anxious. You may feel it in your legs, arms, chest, or feet. It could also extend toward your head and trigger a headache. It can also occur when you sit, lie or stand in the same place for an extended period of time. It can be caused by nutritional deficiencies or nerve damage. compression such as a compressed spine cord or pinched nerve system.
The sweating is a common indication of anxiety. Your body is working overtime to pump extra water to your sweat glands when anxious or stressed according to NIMH. This can cause you to feel cold in your hands and feet because the body pulls blood away from those areas to help protect its main organs.
The constant feeling of fatigue and exhaustion are frequently related to anxiety. It could be due to that ongoing fight-or-flight stress response or if you're having trouble sleeping. A physician or mental health specialist can offer suggestions on how to get a better night's sleep, such as staying away from caffeine and alcohol at night and practicing good habits.
Weakness
Your body's fight-or-flight response may kick in when you feel anxiety or fear. That's when your brain signals the sympathetic nervous system to release hormones, such as adrenaline. This increases your heart rate and enables blood to flow faster to your muscles, ensuring you can escape or fight off an attack. In the long run however, this constant state of heightened anxiety and stress can cause your body to feel weak, especially as it wears on your muscles.
Muscles that are tight and painful can lead to headaches or aches and pains and other physical problems. For instance, when you're stressed or nervous, your body tenses up, and if this happens repeatedly it could lead to tension headaches. The tightness of the shoulder and neck muscles can also trigger migraines.
A tummyache could be a sign you are anxious. The digestive system of your body is directly related to your emotions. People with anxiety are more likely than other people to suffer from digestive issues like stomachaches and constipation.
Weakness is also a symptom associated with anxiety, as it can affect the immune system and make you more susceptible to infections. A prolonged period of high levels of stress hormones, like those experienced by people with anxiety, can lower the immune system's capacity to battle germs.
Dr. Barsky says that the first step to identifying and managing anxiety is to stop, assess your situation, and take action. If you recognize that your physical symptoms stem from a constant state of anxiety and stress, you can take steps to end the cycle. "Distract yourself," says the expert noting that even something like watering plants or putting a jigsaw puzzle together can help.
Lightheadedness
Anxiety can make you feel dizzy, off balance or feel like the world is spinning. This can be a very uncomfortable feeling and can prevent you from being active or engaging in activities you are enjoying. Dizziness due to anxiety is sometimes referred to as Vertigo but it could be a sign of a disorder that affects the inner ear, such as Benign Peripheral Persistent Dizziness (BPPV).
Stress response, also known as "fight or flee" in the body releases chemicals and hormones to prepare you for risk. This can increase the heart rate and breathing, as well as changing the amount of oxygen that is being circulated to the brain. This can cause a feeling of lightheadedness. That is why it could occur prior to giving speech or enter the midst of a crowd. However, if your anxiety gets worse and you begin feeling this way without explanation it could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
This type of nausea triggered by anxiety can last all day or even for a longer period of time. It is also known as Chronic Subjective Dizziness or Persistent Perceptual-Postural Dizziness (PPPD). If you suffer from a medical condition that causes this, you must consult your doctor for the proper diagnosis.
If you have no health concerns and feel dizzy when anxious, you can try to calm yourself by taking deep breaths or by looking at the same spot. Many ballet dancers who suffer from this type of dizziness experience relief when they do this while performing. If this doesn't help, you can always call a friend or family member to talk to them about your anxiety and how they can assist you. This can help alleviate your symptoms and prevent them from spiraling out of control.
Mouth dryness
When you are feeling anxious it is likely that you will experience changes in your heart rate and breathing. In the fight-or-flight response, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which increase the rate at which you breathe to get more oxygen into your bloodstream, allowing you to respond to a threat. But, if your anxiety is persistent the constant release of stress hormones can have long-term effects on your health. For instance, it can cause your digestion to change in ways that affect you physically such as stomach pains, bloating and diarrhea.
In addition to affecting your heart rate and blood pressure, stress hormones can cause you to feel sluggish or out of breath. This can occur in high-stress situations, for instance, when you're preparing an important event or in the midst of an anxiety attack. It could also happen when you feel anxious often and without any reason.
These feelings can make you feel nauseated or sick to your stomach, and it's normal for those suffering from anxiety to have digestive issues. According to the APA those who suffer from these symptoms frequently should seek out a mental health professional.
The most important thing to remember is that anxiety can be very hard on your body, and you're not the only one. If you're worried about how you're feeling consult an GP or therapist. They can help you determine if your symptoms are related to a particular issue or if you have an anxiety condition. They can also provide details and suggestions on how to manage anxiety. This could include recommending certain therapies or medications, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Be active and get enough rest. You can also perform exercises for relaxation such as guided visualization or deep breathing to help reduce your symptoms.
Tension
Anxiety can make the body feel tense and uncomfortable. It can be even painful. The brain sends signals that signal other parts of the system to prepare for a fight-or flight scenario. This can lead to a knot in the stomach muscles, and a feeling of stomach pain. This isn't something you should avoid as it can cause serious digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome or ulcers in the stomach lining, also known as ulcers.
Another symptom that is often associated with anxiety is heart palpitations which are characterized by rapid and irregular heartbeats. This happens when the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released into the bloodstream. These hormones increase the speed of heartbeat and increase the quantity of oxygen circulated around the body. The body doesn't have to be alert all the time. If it is, it'll become tired and weak.
Anxiety can also cause sweating, cold legs and hands and lightheadedness. This is due to an increase in blood flow towards the major organs and muscles. This is a part of the fight or flight response, which helps prepare the body for a dangerous situation. It can be triggered by actual dangers or simply thinking about them. The amygdala, a region of the brain that manages emotional responses, may also react to fearful thoughts and trigger physical sensations.
Fast and shallow breathing can also exacerbate anxiety. This is referred to as hyperventilation. It disrupts the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, according to the U.S. anxiety body symptoms Iam Psychiatry of Medicine. This can contribute to dizziness and tingling of the feet and hands.