3 Reasons You're Not Getting Anxiety And Physical Symptoms Isn't Working (And How To Fix It)
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Chronic anxiety can trigger physical symptoms and keep our bodies on alert.
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Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety could result in heart problems or other medical issues. Discuss with your doctor ways to manage these symptoms, for example, cutting down on caffeine consumption and avoiding alcohol and street drugs that are recreational.
Muscles that are tight
Anxiety is usually accompanied by muscle tension. It can cause stiffness or pain in your neck, shoulders, back, chest and hands. The stress caused by anxiety can affect your posture and breathing.
Muscle tension is typically short-lived and is gone after the trigger event or circumstance is over. For some, the tension in their muscles is persistent and can lead to chronic health issues if it is not addressed.
The tight muscles are a sign of anxiety. The fight-or-flight response triggers your body to prepare by supplying more oxygen to the muscles. This increases their strength, allowing them to escape a physical threat. This increase in blood flow is the reason your heart beats faster and it's also why you breathe faster when you're stressed.
In an anxiety attack the increased blood flow and speed of breathing can temporarily increase your immune system's ability to help you deal with a perceived stress or threat. If you are experiencing anxiety regularly, this heightened alertness can become a regular part of your life, resulting in persistent, chronic symptoms like muscle tightness and breathlessness.
A lot of the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as fatigue, achy muscles and joints, are the result of your body's release of a flood of chemicals and hormones into your system as it prepares to defend itself or flee from any perceived threat. This continuous state of high alertness can cause you to feel worn out, as though you always have a headache or walking around with a stomachache.
Changes in your heart rate
Anxiety can cause your heart to race, causing chest pain and shortness in breath. This is because a person's stress response causes the adrenal glands to crank out hormones, such as cortisol or adrenaline, which raise the heart rate and blood pressure. This is a helpful response in emergency situations, when you need to pump more blood into your muscles to ensure you can flee or combat a threat. But it can be harmful when it happens all the time, because it increases the risk of heart disease and other health issues.
You might also notice that your stomach becomes more agitated when you're stressed. The body's fight or flight response can keep you alert and impact digestion. This can result in symptoms like constipation diarrhea, abdominal discomfort or irritable bowel syndrome. People who are anxious may also experience sleep problems or have difficulty sleeping because they're constantly on edge. Stress hormones can cause the immune system to weaken, increasing the risk of catching an infection or cold.
Talk to your doctor If you have these physical symptoms. They can test for medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms, for instance a thyroid problem. It's an excellent idea to locate an expert in mental health who can assist you in learning strategies to manage your anxiety to ensure that physical symptoms cease. They may recommend treatments like psychodynamic psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, which will teach you how to replace negative thoughts with more positive ones. It's also a good idea to avoid taking your pulse, since it can fuel the feelings of anxiety.
Tingling in your hands and feet
A feeling of tingling in your hands or feet could be an indication of anxiety. Tingling is also known as paresthesia and is a sign of anxiety-related stress. During a panic or other intense feeling your body releases hormones such as adrenaline or cortisol to shield your body from danger or harm. These hormones cause a number of physical reactions, such as changes in your blood circulation.
As part of the fight or response to flight your body directs blood flow away peripheral areas and toward major muscle groups that might need help with potential physical actions. This could result in decreased blood flow to the feet and hands, which can lead to tingling. The sensation of tingling will be more noticeable when you are stressed or anxious, and will fade when the tension has subsided.
If you are experiencing persistent tingling it is best to consult your doctor. They can help you manage anxiety, and reduce the tingling sensations in your feet and hands.
While tingling in your feet or hands can be an indication of a serious medical condition, it is most often caused by anxiety. To alleviate these feelings, try exercising regularly to increase blood flow or practicing relaxation techniques. A good night's sleep is vital, as anxiety could influence your sleep habits. Limiting your caffeine and alcohol intake can also help. Contact an FastMed Urgent Care to speak with a medical professional about your symptoms if there is the sensation of tingling or numbness in your hands or feet.
Dry mouth
If you're stressed, your body may start to change the way it produces saliva. This is referred to as dry mouth, and can be a sign that you are suffering from anxiety. It is a possible side-effect of certain medications such as antidepressants and antipsychotics.
It is important to see your doctor if you experience dry mouth. They can determine if there are any medical issues that could be causing it. If your doctor concludes that you have anxiety, they can recommend treatments.
Anxiety can cause dry mouth because of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol which are released when you are anxious or scared. These hormones can boost heart rate and breathing to aid in running or fighting against threats however, they also disrupt your digestion and cause other physical symptoms.
It is also possible to experience a feeling of dry mouth if under stress or take medication that reduces saliva production. For instance, SSRIs, that are typically prescribed for anxiety may cause dry mouth. These drugs interfere with the action of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that is involved in involuntary movements and bodily functions such as salivation, digestion and urination.
If you're experiencing a dry mouth, it's important that you consume plenty of fluids and practice relaxation techniques to relieve your anxiety symptoms. If your anxiety is severe, a mental health professional may suggest other options for treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure response prevention, and other complementary health practices like meditation and yoga.
Shortness of Breath
Whether you feel short of breath during exercise or at other times during the day, this sensation could indicate that you're experiencing anxiety. This symptom can be associated with any anxiety disorder, which includes generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorders. Anxiety can often cause muscle tension, which leads to a feeling that you are out of breath, particularly in the shoulders or back region. These tensions could result in a cycle that may aggravate physical symptoms.
This and other physical reactions can be triggered by anxiety because of the body's fight or flight response. This response is required in order to react to threat, but it could be detrimental if chronic anxiety triggers it.
When you feel anxious and stress, your body is unable to tell that you're not in danger, or that this isn't really the main reason behind your anxiety. This can make you feel that you are always in danger, even if you're not. That's why it's so important to consult with mental health experts.
If you're stressed your body releases a number of stress hormones. These hormones trigger your body to feel as if you're in danger. This can lead to feeling short of breath. This is a normal reaction however it is difficult to distinguish from other diseases and conditions that could trigger this symptom. It could be due to heart disease, a clot of blood in the lung or pneumonia. You should consult with your doctor to run tests and determine whether you have a underlying problem which could be the cause of the feeling.