Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Although everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, when anxiety becomes an illness, it can trigger physical symptoms as well as emotional ones. These include a feeling of anxiety, muscle tension and stomach problems.

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

1. Headaches

The majority of people have anxiety from time to times. But that's different from being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which is when the feelings are more frequent or do not go away. Anxiety can also interfere with your daily routine or cause you to avoid social situations.1

One of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety is headaches. They can range from the typical tension headache2 to complete migraine in a few people. This is because many people tense their bodies in response to the fight or flight response and securing those muscles for prolonged periods of time can lead to pain.3

Lightheadedness or dizziness are another physical symptom of anxiety. It can be caused by rapid heart rate, hyperventilating, or an amalgamation of both. It could be a sign you have an illness that is serious, such as heart disease. Talk to your doctor to find out.

You might also feel weak, especially in your legs or arms. This could be a sign of stress. This is because your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline, which helps you respond to a threat by speeding up your heartbeat and preparing the entire body for an attack. As time passes the hormones can have a negative impact on your health, causing you feel weak, shaky or dizzy.

There are times when you may experience more symptoms if you're stressed and having difficulty sleeping. Relax before bed and stick to a routine. This will allow you to get more sleep. Exercise can also be beneficial. Exercise can also help. If you are still having difficulty sleeping, speak to your doctor about options for treatment.

2. Stomach issues

Anxiety can cause the body to become tense and chronic anxiety may cause pain that persists for a long time. There may be muscle aches, stomach discomfort or diarrhea. Stress hormones can also affect your digestive system, leading to constipation or irritablebowel syndrome.

You can experience stomach issues when you suffer from any anxiety disorder, but people with panic disorders are more likely to experience these issues. Panic attacks are sudden sensations of terror or impending doom that occur in specific situations or for no apparent 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 or an intense pulse.

Long-term anxiety can increase your risk of other health issues, too. The hormones that trigger anxiety symptoms help us respond to danger, but if you're on high alert throughout the day your immune system may suffse increased heart rates also boost how quickly your lungs are filled with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation can cause you to feel lightheaded or dizzy.

If you suffer from an anxiety disorder your body isn't able to return to its normal state between stress reactions. Your anxiety disorder causes you to feel constantly anxious, so your sympathetic nervous system remains on high alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this can lead to chronic muscle tension and long-term pain. It can also affect the digestive system, causing stomachaches constipation, diarrhea or irritable-bowel syndrome.

4. Dizziness

You may feel dizzy or off-balance when you are stressed. The reason is to do with the nervous system response to anxiety disorders in women (Minecraftcommand.science). If you are stressed or scared your body tightens and then relaxes. If you are experiencing these symptoms often and you feel your anxiety disorders in adults is persistent it could be that you suffer from an anxiety disorder.

When you're worried often, 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 may gain weight. Anxiety also has a major effect on your menstrual cycle. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you skip periods or experience irregular menstrual cycles by altering hormones that cause ovulation.

Having high blood pressure or heart disease can make you more prone to anxiety, so it's important to get these medical issues under control to reduce your risk. If you suffer from these conditions, make sure to inform your therapist.

Traumatic experiences such as a car crash or surgery can increase your risk of anxiety. A chronic medical condition such as asthma or an ongoing health issue, such as diabetes, can trigger anxiety. The good news is that there are treatments for anxiety disorders that can ease anxiety issues. They include psychotherapy or talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that teaches you to turn negative dsm anxiety disorders-inducing thoughts and actions into positive ones. You can also learn how to use relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or meditation. You can also take supplements to calm your mind and body.

5. Sweating

Anxiety is a term that covers many different feelings that can cause your heart rate to rise and your stomach to ache and your muscles to tighten. Oftentimes, these feelings aren't enough to constitute anxiety disorder, but when they're ongoing and get out of hand. You may also experience sweating, chills and other physical symptoms that prompt you to seek medical treatment.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health sweating is a typical physical sign of anxiety disorders. When your body's "fight-or-flight" response kicks in it boosts the speed of blood circulation to prepare you for the fight. This increased heart rate could cause you to feel dizzy or 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 best medicine for anxiety disorder.

Dyspnea is a feeling that you are unable to breathe. This is a sign that your anxiety has become too intense to manage.

Your doctor will determine if there is an anxiety disorder by evaluating your symptoms and how they impact your daily routine. They'll begin by asking about your experiences in the past and your current concerns. They may also conduct tests to determine if you have any other health issues that may be causing your symptoms, like imaging scanners and blood tests. In certain instances, they might prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms. They can recommend strong antiperspirants with aluminium in them or other substances that block nerves and Botox injections to treat sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavior therapy, psychotherapy, and techniques for relaxation such as yoga or meditation.