Worry is defined as a sense of unease or distress over an actual or potential difficulty. Anxiety goes even further, however. Sometimes to the point where anxious thoughts don’t seem to go away at all.
Suppose you struggle with distressing thoughts that won’t disappear, and you’re starting to have uncomfortable physical symptoms. In that case, you may be experiencing anxiety rather than the chance worry that everyone has now and then. You may also wonder if it’s time to seek help.
Thankfully, there are several forms of care that have proven very useful in the treatment of anxiety. With the proper treatment, you can have every reason to hope for a complete recovery from anxious thoughts and the physical symptoms of anxiety.
What is Anxiety Disorder?
It’s normal if you feel anxious or nervous now and then, especially in a stressful situation. It’s also not uncommon to have anxious thoughts or feelings about an upcoming event. However, a person with an anxiety disorder often experiences anxiety.
So much so that it can affect their ability to:
- Focus on school
- Perform well at their job
- Relax during downtime hours
- Fall and stay asleep
- Maintain good relationships with others
- Refrain from obsessing over an object or situation
- Maintain a functioning immune system
Sometimes those with anxiety may begin to avoid certain situations that seem to trigger their negative thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms. If you find yourself avoiding certain cases, this can lead to more anxiety and stress. Especially if you feel you’ve lost your ability to participate in the events you usually enjoy.
How Does Anxiety Affect the Body?
Along with anxious or fearful thoughts, it’s not uncommon for physical symptoms to be a part of anxiety. Some of the effects of anxiety on the body are subtle. Other symptoms are more pronounced and are difficult to ignore. Sometimes anxiety symptoms are so severe that they make it difficult to remain calm and relaxed, even in perfectly safe surroundings.
Subtle Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Increased Blood Pressure — Chronic anxiety can elevate a person’s blood pressure. People with an anxiety disorder may not even realize they have elevated blood pressure until they go to the doctor for another health issue.
Headaches — Some people may experience chronic headaches. Headache sufferers may assign their pain to some other reason besides anxiety because they never make the connection between their anxious thoughts and their repeated headaches.
Chronic Muscle Tension — When a person is in a frequent state of anxiety, they may not realize they’re also tensing certain muscles simultaneously. Jaw, neck, and shoulder pain are frequently found in people who suffer from anxiety. Back pain is also common in those with an anxiety disorder.
Troublesome Symptoms of Anxiety
It’s easy to assign headaches and issues with tense muscles to something besides anxiety. However, some symptoms aren’t that easy to ignore. Even so, if you have one or more unusual symptoms, you may not be sure if they’re due to anxiety. But you know that something isn’t right.
Some of the more pronounced symptoms of anxiety disorders include:
- Heart palpitations or chest pain
- A recurring and chronic feeling of tightness in the chest
- Shortness of breath and the inability to take a deep breath
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- A frequent dry mouth
- Feeling tired a lot
- Cold, clammy, or sweaty hands
- Repeated bouts of diarrhea
If you’ve been experiencing a number of the above symptoms and thought you should see your doctor, you’re not alone.
Severe Symptoms of Anxiety
Sometimes a person with anxiety may experience sudden and severe symptoms and wonder if they have a medical emergency. They may even go to the nearest emergency room to be evaluated.
Severe symptoms of anxiety may include:
- Intense feelings of fear and panic
- An intense feeling of dread and thinking you’re dying
- A feeling of detachment from your current surroundings
- A feeling of losing control
- Severe dizziness
- Vomiting, intense nausea
- Visible trembling and sweating
- Feeling as if you’re choking
- Feeling like your heart is beating out of your chest
If you ever experienced sudden and severe symptoms like these and you went to the ER, the doctors who treated you may have diagnosed you with a panic attack.
It’s also possible to experience less severe episodes of anxiety that include less intense versions of these symptoms. In other words, even though it may not be a full-blown panic attack, can your anxiety cause dizziness alone, or can anxiety make you throw up? Yes.
Sometimes a person may experience brief but repeated moments of mild dizziness simply from underlying anxiety. Other people may have recurring nausea, which may or may not develop into an occasional episode of vomiting.
The Good News
While it’s uncomfortable to experience some of the more severe symptoms of an anxiety disorder, the good news is that a great deal of help is available.
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health disorders today. Many treatments have been developed to help you understand why you have anxiety.
There are also tools to help you develop coping skills that you can use while symptoms occur. Last but not least, there are effective treatments and techniques that can help you dispel your anxious thoughts and physical symptoms for good.
Find Help for Anxiety With Acera Health
At Acera Health, we help our clients recover from anxiety through various proven treatments. Some of these treatments include psychotherapy techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has proven to be very effective in helping people to cope with and eventually overcome their anxiety.
We offer a compassionate and welcoming setting where our clients feel comfortable and understood. Our treatment plans for anxiety disorders are tailored to each one of our clients. Let us help you develop a new sense of inner strength by equipping you with all the tools you’ll need to face life’s challenges.Are you ready to take the first step? Contact us.
