Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Everyone feels anxious at times however when anxiety turns into a condition it can cause physical and emotional symptoms. They can be characterized by a feeling tension in the muscles, restlessness and stomach issues.

A psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist will use screening tools to determine whether you suffer from anxiety disorders. They will also inquire about your medical history and run tests to rule out other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

1. Headaches

Most people feel anxious from time to time. However, this is different from 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 associated with anxiety. They can range from your typical tension headache2 to full-blown migraine in some people. This is because many people tense their bodies as part of the fight-or-flight response and securing those muscles rigidly for long periods of time can cause pain.3

Dizziness or lightheadedness is another physical sign of anxiety. This can be due to rapid heart rate, hyperventilating or a combination. It could also be a sign that you have an illness that is serious, such as heart disease. Consult your doctor to find out.

You may be feeling weak in your arms or legs and arms, which could be a indication of anxiety. This is because the nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline which allow you to respond to threats by speeding up your heartbeat and preparing your body for a potential attack. Over time the hormones can have a negative effect on your health, causing you feel weak, shaky or dizzy.

If you're having difficulty getting enough sleep due to anxiety, it can cause your symptoms to get worse. Try to relax before bed and follow a regular routine so that you can sleep better. Exercise can also be helpful. Exercise can also aid. Talk to your doctor if you are still struggling to sleep.

2. Stomach problems

The body tenses up in response to anxiety, and if you have chronic anxiety it can cause chronic pain. Your muscles could hurt or your stomach may feel a bit sluggish, or you could get diarrhea. Your gastrointestinal system can also be affected by the constant release of stress hormones and this can lead to constipation, bloating, or irritable bowel syndrome.

People suffering from panic disorders are at greater risk of stomach problems. According to the American Psychiatric Association, panic attacks are sudden feelings or fear of imminent doom. They can happen in specific situations or without any reason. You may feel as if you're experiencing a heart attack or that you cannot breathe. You may also experience chest pains, and an intense pulse.

Chronic anxiety increases your risk of other health problems, too. The hormones responsible for fighting or flight that cause the symptoms of anxiety help us respond to a threat however, if you're in high alert all the time your immune system may be affected. This could increase your risk of contracting common colds, and other illnesses.

Your doctor is able to diagnose anxiety disorders with a physical examination and a conversation regarding your symptoms. Before diagnosing anxiety, they'll determine if there are other causes of anxiety disorder like thyroid or heart problems. A mental health professional will be able to offer you assistance and support in managing your symptoms. They can also teach relaxation techniques and assist you to deal with any trauma or negative experience that could have triggered anxiety. They can also help you determine the best treatment option that is suitable for you. Ask your doctor for a referral, or look up online directories of therapists to find an anxiety specialist.

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 muscle tension is a physical indicator of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as social anxiety disorder (cheaperseeker.Com) (SAD), panic disorder, or specific fears. If a person suffers from these symptoms frequently they may lose their range of motion and experience persistent pain in the back, neck, and shoulders.

Tense muscles are a typical manifestation of what does anxiety disorder look like disorder since the body's fight or flight response triggers a chain of responses that cause us to physically react to perceived threats. Moderate anxiety levels elicit these reactions as part of our instinctual survival instinct, but they can cause long-term problems with muscles when they happen frequently or over a prolonged period of time.

When there is a real danger, your adrenal glands churn out hormones that accelerate the rate at which your heart beats, so that it can pump more blood to the massive muscles in your legs and arms in case you need to flee or fight threat. These increased heart rates also increase the rate that your lungs fill up with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.

When you have an anxiety disorder, however your body isn't able to return to its normal state of rest between stress responses. You are constantly anxious all the while because of your anxiety disorder, which is why you keep your sympathetic nervous system on alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this can cause chronic muscle tension and long-term pain. It can also affect your digestive system, which may cause stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome.

4. Dizziness

You may feel dizzy or out of balance if you are anxious. The reason for this is to be due to the nervous system's response to anxiety. The body gets tense when you think about something that scares or worries you, but then relaxes when the threat is gone. If you experience these symptoms often and you feel your anxiety is chronic it could be that you suffer from an anxiety disorder.

It can be difficult to fall asleep or concentrate when you are always worried. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can also cause your body to suffer and you may gain weight. Anxiety can also have a major impact on your menstrual cycle. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you to miss your periods or have irregular cycles by altering hormones that trigger ovulation.

A high blood pressure or heart disease may make you more prone to anxiety, so it's important to get these medical problems under control to decrease your risk. Talk to your therapist if have any of these conditions.

Experiences that are traumatizing, such as a car crash or surgery may also increase the risk of anxiety. A chronic medical condition such as asthma or an ongoing health issue, such as diabetes, can also cause anxiety. There are solutions for anxiety disorders anxiety. They include psychotherapy, or talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which teaches you to turn negative anxiety-inducing thoughts and behaviors into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing. You can also take supplements to help calm your mind and body.

5. Sweating

Anxiety is a term that encompasses an array of emotions that can cause your heart to race, your stomach to upset and your muscles to tighten. Oftentimes, these feelings don't constitute an anxiety disorder, but when they're ongoing they can get out of hand. You may also experience chills, sweating and other physical symptoms that cause you to seek medical care.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health sweating is a typical physical manifestation of anxiety disorders. When your body's "fight-or-flight" response kicks in it increases the speed of blood circulation to prepare you for battle. This increase in 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.

This imbalance can also lead to a feeling of not being breathing properly or breathe, which is known as dyspnea. It's a sign that your anxiety has become too intense to manage.

Your doctor will evaluate you for an anxiety disorder in light of your symptoms and the way they affect your daily activities. They'll start by asking you about your past experiences and current concerns. They might also conduct tests to check for other health problems that could be the cause of your symptoms, such as imaging scanners and blood tests. In some cases they may suggest medications to ease the symptoms. These include powerful antiperspirants with aluminium in them and other drugs that block nerves, or Botox injections in the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga.