Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety can cause real physical symptoms, like stomach pain, headaches, and muscle tension. It can also trigger breathlessness, fear or a sense dread.

Feelings like this may occur at times, but it is important to talk to your doctor if you are experiencing persistent symptoms. You may need an primary care physician, psychologist or psychiatrist. Therapists can be found using directories online.

Headaches

People with anxiety disorders feel constant, uncontrollable worry and fear that affects their everyday activities. The anxiety-related feelings are not proportional to the risk and are difficult to manage. They can persist for a long period of time. If they are not addressed, they can lead to problems such as heart disease and depression. Stimulants like caffeine, certain substances, and certain medications can cause anxiety symptoms to become worse.

Most people experience nervousness or anxiety from time to time. If someone experiences this kind of anxiety, it's often because they are worried about something specific, like how they will perform at work or a family gathering. For those suffering from anxiety disorders, the constant anxiety makes them avoid situations or places where they will be worried about.

When you encounter something that scares you, your brain sends out a signal to your body to prepare to fight or run. This causes your heart to be a thumping and blood pressure rise and your muscles tense. This is a normal response but if it happens frequently, it can make it difficult to live a normal life.

While there's no medical test that diagnoses anxiety, there are many tests a doctor or mental health professional could use to rule out other conditions that may be the cause of your symptoms. They will inquire about your emotional and physical symptoms, the length of time you've been suffering from them, and how they affect your daily life. They will want to know if you are taking any drugs or substances that could make your symptoms worse.

A psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist can assist you to discover and modify unhealthy emotions and thoughts that contribute to your anxiety. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help you deal with your anxiety and find relief from your symptoms. The most popular method of talking therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT which helps you identify and change the thinking patterns that cause anxiety. Medications such as antidepressants and antianxiety medicines such as SSRIs (escitalopram and fluoxetine) and beta-blockers (used to treat high blood pressure) can also help with anxiety symptoms.

Muscle Tension

One of the most frequent physical symptoms of anxiety disorders is tension in the muscles. People with anxiety experience tension more often than others. They also feel it in more parts of their body than those who do not suffer from anxiety. They may experience it in areas of their body that are not related to the cause of stress such as their stomachs, eyes or heads.

A moderate level of fear, anxiety or panic are a normal component of our survival instinct when something or someone is perceived as a threat. When someone is anxious and stressed, their bodies release hormones that help them fight or flee from the threat. This can cause the heart to beat and hands to shake, and the body to become sweaty. These responses can be helpful in certain situations, but if they are frequent or without cause it is not a good idea.

If the person's fears are connected to a particular situation like flying or being in crowds, they may have an anxiety disorder known as social crippling anxiety symptoms or phobias. These people have a deep fear that they will be embarrassed or humiliated in certain situations. They will try to avoid these types of situations.

A generalized anxiety disorder is a different kind of anxiety. This involves excessive worry on a daily bases regarding issues related to money, family, health or work issues. These anxieties can cause other physical symptoms, such as muscle tension and sleep problems.

Patients suffering from these disorders can seek treatment from their primary care physician or a mental health professional. They will use tools to determine whether the symptoms are physical and suggest psychotherapy or stress management. Some people find that support groups, whether in person or online can be beneficial. These groups can help people understand that they're not alone, and offer a safe place to talk about the symptoms. Reducing the amount of caffeine they consume and getting some exercise such as a strenuous cycle or walk can help.

Belly Pain

Anxiety can affect the digestive system causing stomachaches and a loss of appetite. It can also trigger the fight or flight stress response which causes the body to release hormones and chemicals like adrenaline that increase blood pressure and heart rate in preparation for a stressful situation. These short-term effects may be helpful in a dangerous situation, but exposure to these chemicals could lead weight growth, high cholesterol levels and heart disease, as well as other health issues.

If you're experiencing a lot anxiety and fear it's time to talk to your doctor about it. You may be referred by your doctor to a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental healthcare professional who can diagnose the problem and help determine treatment options. The first step is to rule out physical causes for your symptoms, like an illness or a medications you are taking. The doctor will then assist you create a plan, which could include psychotherapy or medications.

There's no single test that can diagnose anxiety disorders. A doctor will require an in-depth medical history to determine whether your symptoms may be related to a medical issue. The doctor will then conduct tests and use different tools to assess the level of anxiety. These include questionnaires and physical examinations.

After a doctor has ruled out any physical cause of your anxiety, they'll help you find the right treatment. They may prescribe antidepressants or antianxiety medications, such SSRIs (escitalopram fluoxetine paroxetine), and SNRIs, (duloxetine, and venlafaxine) that alter the brain's chemical chemistry and improve mood. Other medications that are used to combat Anxiety Disorder physical symptoms include benzodiazepines that are used to treat symptoms in a short-term manner and anxiolytics like buspirone.

Treatment can ease symptoms and improve the quality of life for people suffering from anxiety disorders. In addition to medications you can also try lifestyle changes. Exercise can release brain chemicals that cut stress can also help. Eat well and avoid caffeine, which can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Connecting with family and friends is crucial. Self-help groups or support groups are a great opportunity to share your experiences with others and receive assistance.

Sleep Issues

Sleep deprivation can make anxiety worse and create a vicious cycle. Sleep deprivation can increase cortisol levels which can anxiety cause symptoms of heart attack increase anxiety. Anxiety can also prevent you from falling asleep, which increases the levels of stress and cortisol.

People suffering from anxiety disorders might have difficulty falling and staying asleep due to the arousal, dread or anxiety they experience about their safety, job performance or relationships. They also may struggle to concentrate, which can further limit their ability to sleep peaceful sleep they require.

Sleep issues can be caused in many ways, including by a medical condition such as high blood pressure heart disease, a medication (such as amphetamines, steroids and some antihistamines) or substances such as nicotine and caffeine as well as long-term stress. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder you are more likely to suffer from these problems than others.

Anxiety is a natural protective feeling that occurs in response to real or perceived threats. It's a normal reaction to ensure that we are safe in situations and should go away once the threat has passed. However, anxiety symptoms of anxiety and depression become an issue when they persist and become a problem with daily life.

If you suffer from anxiety disorders, the symptoms can be mild or severe. At the extreme you may experience an outright panic attack, with symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, chest pain or feelings that resemble a heart attack, along with extreme fear and anxiety. There are some mild signs such as feeling sweaty, shaky and uncomfortable. You could also be experiencing frequent worries about your social or professional performance.

It's important to realize that you're not the only one. Anxiety is a very common affliction, and there are many ways to manage it. This includes treatment and medication. Find a doctor who can diagnose and treat your anxiety. This could be a primary care provider or an expert in mental and behavioral health specialist. Then, you'll be able to collaborate with your physician to develop a treatment plan which includes cognitive-behavior therapies and sleep management strategies.