Anxiety Body Symptoms

Everyone experiences anxiety at times, especially when faced with anxiety or fear. However, constant anxiety can trigger a chain reaction of physical neurological symptoms of anxiety.

Fright or stress triggers the fight-or flight response that triggers your breathing and heart rate to increase. Fuel and blood flood the muscles in the event that you have to flee from danger.

Tingling

The nervous system triggers an anxious response when you feel an imminent threat. It releases a plethora of chemicals and hormones, including adrenaline, to increase blood flow, boost oxygen and help you respond quickly and efficiently. That's the body's normal reaction to real life-or-death situations and is designed to protect you (Chand 2021). A lot of us are worried about things that don't really threaten us or even could be beneficial. The constant rise in stress hormones as well as other physical signs of anxiety can be physically and mentally draining.

Tingling throughout your body is one of the most frequent indicators that you are anxious. You might feel it in your legs, arms, chest, or feet. It can also move up to your head and cause headaches. It can also occur when you are sitting or lying in the same position for a long period of time. It can result from nutritional deficiency or nerve damage. It can also be caused by compression, such as a compressed spinal cord or pinched nerve system.

The sweating can also be an indication of anxiety. According to NIMH, your body pumps out more fluids to the sweat glands during times of anxiety or stressed. This can cause you to feel cold hands and feet because the body pulls blood away from these areas to help protect the organs that are most important to it.

Persistent feelings of tiredness and exhaustion are also often connected to anxiety. You may be suffering from anxiety because of a constant fight-or-flight response or perhaps you are experiencing difficulties sleeping. A physician or mental health expert can provide suggestions on how you can get better sleep, such as practicing good habits and avoiding alcohol and caffeine at night.

Weakness

In times of fear or anxiety the body's fight or flight response may start to activate. Your brain is signaling the sympathetic nervous system to release hormones, such as adrenaline. This increases your heart rate and allows blood to flow faster to your muscles, ensuring you can escape or fend off an attack. Over the long term however, this continuous state of stress and worry can cause your body to feel weak, especially when it strains your muscles.

Tight muscles can be painful and result in a range of physical ailments, such as headaches, aches and pains. For instance, when you're anxious or agitated your body starts to tense up when you're stressed, and if it happens repeatedly, it can lead to tension headaches. Muscles in the neck and shoulder that are tight can also cause migraines.

If you're experiencing stomach pain it could be an indication of anxiety as well. Your gastrointestinal system is directly related to your mood. People with anxiety are more likely to suffer from digestive issues like constipation and stomachaches.

In addition, weakness can be a sign of anxiety because it can affect the immune system, which in turn increases your vulnerability to infections. A prolonged period of high levels stress hormones, like the ones experienced by people suffering from anxiety, can reduce the immune system's capacity to fight bacteria.

Dr. Barsky says that the first step to identify and managing anxiety is to stop, look at your situation, and take action. If you can identify that your physical symptoms stem from a constant state stress and worry you can take action in order to break the cycle. "Distract yourself," says the expert noting that even something as simple as watering your plants or putting a jigsaw together can help.

Lightheadedness

Anxiety can make you feel dizzy, off-balance or as if the world is spinning. This can be a distressing feeling, and it can hinder you from exercising or engaging in activities you are enjoying. The anxiety-related dizziness is sometimes referred to as Vertigo but it could also be a symptom of a condition in the inner ear like Benign Peripheral Persistent Dizziness (BPPV).

Stress response, also known as "fight or flee" in the body, releases hormones and chemicals to prepare you for the possibility of danger. This increases the heart rate and breathing as well as changing the amount of oxygen being delivered to the brain. This can trigger a short-term feeling of lightheadedness. That's why you might feel it before giving a speech or being in a busy room. If your anxiety is chronic and you experience this feeling without any apparent reason, then it could be an indication of an anxiety disorder.

The anxiety-induced dizziness can last for a whole the day or more and is known as Chronic Subjective Dizziness or Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD). Consult your physician if you also have a medical condition that can cause this.

If you do not have any health issues however you feel dizzy when you're anxious and stressed, you can settle down by focusing on a fixed point or breathing deeply. Many ballet dancers who suffer from this type of dizziness find relief when they do this when they're performing. If this doesn't help you, you can always contact a friend or family member to discuss your anxiety symptoms in women and how they can help you. This will alleviate your symptoms and stop them from spiraling out-of-control.

Mouth dryness

Whenever your anxiety is intense you're likely to experience changes in your heart rate and breathing. In the fight-or-flight response the body releases stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which increase your heart rate to get more oxygen into your bloodstream to enable you to respond to threats. If your anxiety is chronic and you are constantly releasing stress hormones can cause long-term health effects. It can affect digestion in a manner that is physically harmful, including stomach pains, bloating and diarrhea.

In addition to affecting your heart rate, these stress hormones can cause you to feel breathless or short of breath. This is often the case when you're in a high-stress situation, such as during an anxiety attack or when you're preparing for a big event. It can also happen when you feel anxious often and for no reason.

It's not uncommon for people who suffer from anxiety issues to develop digestive issues. According to the APA, people who suffer from these symptoms often should seek out an expert in mental health.

You're not the only one to experience anxiety. Speak to a GP when you're concerned about your anxiety. They can tell if your feelings are related to a specific issue or if anxiety is a condition. They can also give you information and guidance to help manage anxiety. This might include recommending certain treatments or medications like cognitive therapy for behavioural problems (CBT). Keep active and take plenty of sleep. Relaxation exercises like guided imagery and deep breathing can help to reduce symptoms.

Tension

Anxiety can cause the body to feel tense. It can be even painful. The brain sends signals that tell other parts of the system to prepare for a fight-or flight scenario. This can lead to a knotting of the stomach muscles and the sensation of a stomach ache. This is not something to ignore since it could 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 that are fast and irregular heartbeats. This happens when the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released into the body. These hormones can increase the rate at which the heart beats and also increase the quantity of oxygen circulated throughout the body. The body doesn't need to be alert all the time. If it is, it will eventually become tired and weak.

Anxiety can also trigger sweating cold hands and legs 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 potentially dangerous situation. It can be triggered either by actual dangers or just thinking about them. The amygdala, an area of the brain that controls emotional responses, can respond to fears and cause these physical sensations.

Rapid and shallow breathing can also increase anxiety. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine it is referred to as hyperventilation. It can disrupt the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the bloodstream. This can contribute to dizziness and tingling in the hands and feet.