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Why Nobody Cares About Anxiety Disorder Physical Symptoms
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

While everyone feels anxious from time to time When anxiety becomes an illness, it can trigger physical symptoms as well as emotional ones. This can include a feeling of agitation, muscle tension and stomach issues.


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

1. Headaches

Many people have anxiety from time to time. But that's different from having an anxiety disorder, that is, when the feelings are more frequent or do not go away. Anxiety can also impact your daily life and cause you to avoid social situations.

Headaches are a common physical symptom associated with anxiety. They can range from an normal tension headache2 up to a full-blown migraine in some people. This is because a lot of people tense their bodies in response to the fight or flight response, and holding those muscles in a rigid position for long periods of time can cause pain.3

Another physical symptom of anxiety is lightheadedness or dizziness. It can be caused by a fast heart rate, hyperventilating or a combination of both. It could also be an indication of a major medical problem such as heart disease, and it is important to be examined by your doctor.

You may be feeling 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 danger by speeding up the heartbeat and preparing your entire body for a potential attack. In time, these hormones can have a negative impact on your health, causing you feel weak, shakey or dizzy.

If you're having difficulty getting enough sleep due to anxiety, it could cause your symptoms to get worse. Relax before going to disorders anxiety and follow a routine. This will allow you to get more rest. Exercise can be beneficial. Aerobic exercise can release brain chemicals that cut stress and boost your mood, and it can aid in falling asleep more easily. If you still have difficulties sleeping, consult your doctor about options for treatment.

2. Stomach problems

Anxiety can cause your body to become tense and long-term anxiety can cause chronic pain. Your muscles could hurt and your stomach may be irritable, or you may get diarrhea. Stress hormones can affect your digestive system, causing constipation or irritablebowel syndrome.

People suffering from panic disorders are at an increased chance of developing stomach problems. Panic attacks are sudden feelings of fear or dread that can occur in certain situations or without explanation according to the American Psychiatric Association. You may feel like you're having an attack of the heart or that you can't breathe, and you might have chest pain and a rapid heartbeat.

Long-term anxiety can increase your risk for other health issues as well. The hormones that trigger anxiety symptoms help us to respond to threats however, if we're always on high alert, our immune system can be affected. This could make you more prone to the common cold, and other illnesses.

Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through a a physical exam and interviewing you about your symptoms. Before diagnosing anxiety, they can determine if there are other causes like thyroid or heart problems. A mental health professional can also provide assistance and support to manage your symptoms. They can assist you in learning relaxation techniques and help you work through any negative or traumatic experiences that may have caused your anxiety. They can also assist you to find a treatment option that is appropriate for you. Ask your doctor for a referral, or browse online therapist directories to find a therapist who is an expert in anxiety.

3. Muscle tension

While most people know that a heart racing and jittery hands are signs of anxiety, a lot of people don't know that muscle tension is a physical sign of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD) or panic disorder, or certain phobias. If a person is experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, they can lose their range and suffer from chronic pain in their neck, back and shoulders.

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

If a real risk is present, your adrenal glands produce hormones that increase the speed of your heartbeat to ensure that more blood can be pumped to your muscles that are large in your legs or arms in the event that you need to run away or fight. These increased heart rates also increase the rate that your lungs fill with oxygen. This combination of increased stress and hyperventilation could cause you to feel lightheaded or dizzy.

If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, however, your body can't return to its normal state of relaxation between stress responses. You are constantly stressed all the time due to your anxiety disorder, which is why you keep your sympathetic nervous system on high alert. This leads to the continuous tension of your muscles, which may eventually lead to 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

You might be shaky or unbalanced if you are anxious. This is due to the nervous system's response to anxiety. Your body tenses up when you think about something that scares or worries you, but then relaxes when the threat is gone. If you are experiencing these symptoms frequently and your anxiety is chronic, you may have an anxiety disorder.

If you're stressed often, it can be hard to concentrate or get enough sleep. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can also cause your body to suffer and you could gain weight. Anxiety also has a big effect on your menstrual cycle. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety can cause you to miss your periods or have irregular cycles by affecting hormones that induce the ovulation.

You are more prone to anxiety if you have high blood pressure or heart issues. It's important to control these medical conditions to lower your risk. Tell your therapist if you suffer from any of these ailments.

Traumatic experiences like a car crash or surgery may also increase your anxiety risk. Anxiety can be triggered by chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or asthma or a chronic medical health condition. The good news is that there are solutions that can help with anxiety disorders. Talk therapy or psychotherapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can be helpful. CBT teaches you how to change negative thoughts and behaviors that cause anxiety into positive ones. You can also learn how to use relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. Additionally there are supplements available to help calm your mind and body.

5. Sweating

Anxiety is a term that refers to an array of emotions that can cause your heart to race and your stomach to ache and your muscles to become tight. Sometimes, these symptoms don't constitute an anxiety disorder--but when they're chronic, they can become out of control. You may be experiencing chills, sweating and other physical symptoms that cause you to seek medical attention.

The habit of sweating is a common manifestation of anxiety disorders according to the National Institute of Mental Health. When your body's fight or flight response is activated, it increases the speed at which your blood circulates to prepare you for fighting 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.

Dyspnea is a feeling that you are unable to breathe. This could be a sign that your anxiety has grown too severe to handle.

Your doctor will evaluate you for an anxiety disorder based on your reported symptoms and the way they impact your daily life. They'll begin by asking you about your past experiences and your current concerns. They might also conduct tests to identify other health issues that may be causing the symptoms, such as bloodwork and imaging scans. In certain instances they may recommend medication to alleviate your symptoms, including strong antiperspirants made of aluminium, nerve blocker medications or botulinum toxins type A (Botox) injections that target the sweat glands. Alternative treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.

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