Its no secret that anxiety can do weird things to your mind.
What kinds of symptoms, you ask?
Lets dig into them.
The physical symptoms of anxiety can cause wide-ranging effects on the body.
There are varioustypes of anxiety disordersthat are characterized by their own unique symptoms.
They all can really disrupt a persons life.
How does anxiety affect the body?
But why does it happen?
The physical effects of anxiety all have to do with your bodys fight-or-flight response.
(So yeah, anxiety would have been 100% expected.)
And its those hormones that trigger a domino effect of physical symptoms of anxiety.
These symptoms typically subside once the anxiety-causing threat has passed.
What physical symptoms are due to anxiety?
Remember how your sympathetic nervous system controls your heart rate?
Oxygen is circulated around your body via your bloodstream.
Again, that might be helpful if you better outrun anactualthreat.
National Library of Medicine.
Thats why we often talk about belly breathing or diaphragmatic breathing, says Dr. Potter.
The racing thoughts that can come with anxiety are no recipe for great sleep, either.
To make matters worse, the problem can often turn into a vicious cycle.
According to the APA, your muscles tense up as part of your stress response.
This can include your everyday tension headache4and range to a full-blownmigraine5in those who are susceptible.
Anxiety really hits the G.I.
system hard, says Dr. Potter.
Gassiness and bloating can become regular physical signs of anxiety as well, per the APA.
If youre already grappling with anxiety, the thought of sweating profusely may just make it worse.
Who wants to worry about pit stains or wiping their palms when theyre already feeling worried and on edge?
Unfortunately, sweating is a common physical symptom of anxiety disorders, per the NIMH.
Hormones like adrenaline tend to shut down appetite when your fight-or-flight response is raging, according toHarvard Medical Schoolexperts.
(Because who has time to stop and snack when theyre about to be pounced on by a tiger?
Evolution, remember?)
Trying to anticipate unknown threats is a common feature of anxiety.
Hit with a weird sensation of not being able to swallow?
National Library of Medicine.
You feel like you cant get enough air, says Dr. Potter.
Really, its just a hormone clusterf*#%.
When do physical anxiety symptoms overlap with panic attack symptoms?
Its a truly frightening and debilitating experience.
That terror is an integral part of having a panic attack.
But theres no one-size-fits-all description for how long anxiety-fueled symptoms will stick around.
What can you expect from anxiety treatment?
When you address whats going on psychologically, youll usually find that you end up feeling better physically too.
But a diagnosed anxiety disorder calls for some professional help too.
Ultimately, the best course of anxiety treatment is different for everyone and will depend on your specific symptoms.
If you have access to them, a blend of therapy and medication helps the most.
However, many experts argue thatcognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)is considered the current gold standard of psychotherapy10.
Beyond that, ourAnxiety Centeris full of helpful, expert-recommended tips to make living with anxiety a little easier.
