mclambhodge182315

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Although everyone experiences anxiety at times If anxiety develops into a problem, it can cause physical symptoms, as well as emotional ones. This can include a feeling of restlessness, muscular tension, and stomach problems.

A psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist will employ screening tools to determine if you have an anxiety disorder. They will also inquire about your medical history, and will run tests to rule out other medical conditions that could cause similar symptoms.

1. Headaches

The majority of people experience anxiety at times. An anxiety disorder occurs when these feelings become persistent or more frequent. Anxiety can also affect your daily life or cause you to avoid social situations.1

Headaches are a common physical symptom that is associated with anxiety. They can range from tension headache2 to a full-blown, migraine for some people. Many people tighten their muscles in a fight or flight response, and holding them rigidly for a long period of time can cause pain.

Another physical sign of anxiety is dizziness or lightheadedness. It could be due to rapid heart rate, hyperventilating, or an amalgamation of the two. It could be a sign you suffer from a serious medical condition like heart disease. Consult your physician to find out.

You may be feeling weak in your legs or arms this could be another indication of anxiety. This is because the nervous system releases adrenaline and cortisol which aid in responding to threats by speeding up your heartbeat and getting your body ready for a potential attack. In time these hormones can have a negative effect on your health, causing you feel weak, shakey or dizzy.

You may experience worse symptoms if you are stressed and having difficulty sleeping. Try to relax before bed and follow your routine to rest better. Exercise can also be beneficial. Exercise can also aid. Consult your physician If you're still having trouble sleeping.

2. Stomach problems

The body is tense when you are anxious, and if you have chronic anxiety it can cause chronic discomfort. You may experience muscle aches, stomach discomfort or diarrhea. Stress hormones can also impact the digestive system, leading to constipation or irritablebowel syndrome.

People who suffer from panic disorders are at a higher chance of developing stomach problems. Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror or impending doom that occur in specific situations or for no reason, according to the American Psychiatric Association. You may feel as if you are having a heartattack or that you are unable to breathe. You might also experience chest pains, and an extremely rapid pulse.

Long-term anxiety can increase your risk for other health issues also. The hormones responsible for fighting or flight that cause the symptoms of anxiety help us respond to danger and if you're constantly in high alert all the time your immune system could suffer. This could make you more susceptible to common colds, and other ailments.

Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through a a physical exam and interviewing you about your symptoms. They can rule out any other reasons, such as thyroid or heart problems before determining that you suffer from anxiety. A mental health professional can also offer support and help you manage your symptoms. They can also teach relaxation techniques and help you deal with any trauma or negative experiences that could have triggered your anxiety. They can also help you find a 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 heart racing and hands that are jittery are indicators of anxiety, many people do not realize that muscle tension is a physical sign of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD) panic disorder, or certain phobias. If someone is experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, they may begin to lose their range of motion and suffer from persistent pain in the neck, back, and shoulders.

Tense muscles are a common sign of anxiety disorders because the body's fight-or-flight response triggers a series of responses that trigger us to physically react to perceived threats. In moderate levels of anxiety, we trigger these reactions as part of our instinctual survival instinct however, they can also cause long-term problems with muscles when they happen frequently or over a long period of time.

When a real threat occurs your adrenal glands pump out hormones that speed up the speed at which your heart beats so that it can pump more blood to the massive muscles in your arms and legs in case you have to flee or fight the threat. The increased heart rate can increase the speed that your lungs fill with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation could cause you to feel lightheaded or dizzy.

img width="352" src="">
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder,, your body can't return to its normal state of relaxation between stress reactions. You feel anxious throughout the day because of the anxiety disorder, and you keep your sympathetic nervous system on high alert. This leads to the continuous tensing of your muscles and could eventually result in long-term pain, according the American Psychological Association. It can also affect your digestive system, which may cause stomach pains, constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome.

4. Dizziness

If you're an anxious person you may feel dizzy and out of balance. This is because of the nervous system's response to anxiety. If you are stressed or anxious, your body tenses and then it relaxes. If, however, your anxiety is persistent and you experience these symptoms frequently you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

It is difficult to fall asleep or focus when you are constantly stressed. It also wreaks havoc on your body, and could cause you to gain weight, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety also has a major effect on your menstrual cycle. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you to skip your menstrual cycle or have irregular cycles due to altering hormones that cause the ovulation.

You may be more prone to anxiety if you suffer from high blood pressure or heart problems. It is important to manage these medical conditions to lower your risk. If you're suffering from any of these conditions, be sure to inform your therapist.

Other factors that increase your risk of anxiety are traumatizing experiences such as being involved in a car crash or having surgery. A chronic medical condition, such as asthma or an ongoing health issue, such as diabetes, can cause anxiety. The good news is that there are solutions that can ease anxiety issues. Talk https://notes.io/whz5T or psychotherapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can be helpful. CBT teaches you how to transform negative thoughts and behaviors that cause anxiety into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing. You can also take supplements to calm your mind and body.

5. Sweating

Anxiety is an umbrella term for a range of frightening feelings that could make your heart race, your stomach upset and your muscles tense. Oftentimes, these feelings aren't enough to constitute anxiety disorder, but when they're ongoing they can become out of control. You might also experience sweating, chills or other physical symptoms that prompt you to seek medical assistance.

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 begins, it boosts the rate that your blood circulates to prepare you for battle or escape. This boost 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 may cause an uneasy feeling that you are not breathing properly or breathe, which is known as dyspnea. It's a sign that your anxiety has become too overwhelming to manage.

Your doctor will evaluate you for an anxiety disorder based on your reported symptoms and how they impact your daily life. You'll be asked about your past experiences as well as current concerns. They may also run tests to look for other health issues that could be causing the symptoms, such as bloodwork and imaging scans. In some instances they may recommend medication to alleviate your symptoms, such as powerful antiperspirants that contain aluminium, nerve-blocking drugs, or botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections around the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.