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Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder While everyone feels anxious from time to time If anxiety develops into a disorder it can cause physical symptoms, as well as emotional ones. These include a sense of restlessness, muscular tension, and stomach problems. A psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist utilizes screening tools to determine if you have anxiety disorder. They will also ask about your medical history, and will run tests to rule out other health conditions which may cause similar symptoms. 1. Headaches Many people feel anxious at times. But that's different from having an anxiety disorder, which is when the feelings are more frequent or don't disappear. Anxiety can also affect your daily routine and make it difficult to participate in social situations. The most frequent physical sign of anxiety are headaches. They can range from a tension headache2 to a complete migraine for some people. This is because a lot of people tighten their muscles in response to the fight or flight response, and holding those muscles rigidly for long periods of time can cause pain.3 Lightheadedness or dizziness are another symptom of physical anxiety. This can be caused by rapid heart rate, hyperventilating or the combination of both. It could be a sign you suffer from a serious medical condition like heart disease. Consult your physician to determine. You might be feeling weak in your arms or legs, which can be another sign of anxiety. This is because your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline, which helps you respond to a threat by speeding up your heartbeat and preparing the 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. You might experience more severe symptoms if you are stressed and having difficulty sleeping. Relax before going to bed and adhere to your routine. This will allow you to get more rest. Exercise is also helpful. Exercise can help. Talk to your doctor if you are still having trouble sleeping. 2. Stomach issues The body is tense in response to anxiety, and if you suffer from chronic anxiety, it could cause chronic pain. There may be muscle aches, stomach discomfort or diarrhea. Your gastrointestinal system can also be affected by the constant release of stress hormones which can cause constipation, bloating or irritable bowel syndrome. People who suffer from panic disorders are at an increased risk of having stomach issues. According to the American Psychiatric Association, panic attacks are sudden sensations or a fear of imminent death. They can occur in certain situations or without a reason. It could feel like you're experiencing an attack on your heart or you're unable to breathe, or you might have chest pain or a rapid heartbeat. Long-term anxiety can increase your risk for other health issues also. The fight-or-flight hormones that cause anxiety symptoms assist us in responding to threats, but if you're on high alert all the time, your immune system can suffer. This could make you more susceptible to getting the common cold as well as other illnesses. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by doing a physical exam and interviewing you about your symptoms. They can rule out other causes, such as thyroid issues or heart disease, before diagnosing you with anxiety. A mental health professional can also provide assistance and support to manage your symptoms. They can help you learn relaxation techniques and help you work through any underlying negative or traumatic experiences that could have triggered your anxiety. They can also help you determine the best treatment option that is suitable for you. Ask your doctor to refer you to one or search online directories for an anxiety specialist. 3. Muscle tension While the majority of people know that a racing heart and jittery hands are signs of anxiety, many don't know that muscle tension can be 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 suffers from these symptoms frequently they could begin to lose their range of motion and experience persistent pain in the back, neck and shoulders. Tense muscles are a common sign of anxiety disorders because the body's fight or flight response triggers a series of responses that trigger us to physically react to perceived threats. Moderate anxiety levels elicit these reactions as part of our natural survival instinct, but they can cause long-term problems with muscles when they happen frequently or over a long period of time. When a real danger is present, your adrenal glands produce hormones that boost the speed of your heartbeat so that more blood can be delivered to your muscles that are large in your legs or arms in the event you need to run away or fight. These increased heart rates also increase the rate that your lungs fill up with oxygen. The combination of stress and hyperventilation can cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. If you suffer from an anxiety-related condition your body is unable to return to its normal state between stress reactions. The anxiety disorder causes you to be constantly anxious which means that your sympathetic nervous system stays in high alert. According to the American Psychological Association, this can lead to chronic muscle tension and long-term pain. It can also affect your digestive system, causing stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome. 4. Dizziness You might be shaky or unbalanced in the event of anxiety. The reason for this is to do with the nervous system response to anxiety. Your body tenses up when you think about something that worries or scares you, but then relaxes after the threat has passed. If you are experiencing these symptoms often and your anxiety is persistent you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder. If you're constantly stressed often it can be difficult to concentrate or get enough sleep. It also wreaks havoc on your body and may cause you to gain weight, as per the Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety also has a major influence on the menstrual cycle. This is because it can cause you to skip or experience irregular menstrual cycles because it affects the release of hormones that trigger ovulation, as per the American Psychological Association. High blood pressure or heart disease may increase your risk of anxiety, and it's essential to get these medical problems under control to reduce your risk. Talk to your therapist if suffer from any of these ailments. Other things that could increase the risk of anxiety are traumatizing experiences such as being involved in a car crash or having surgery. Anxiety can be triggered by a chronic illness such as diabetes or asthma or a recurring medical health condition. There are solutions for anxiety disorders. Talk therapy or psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help. CBT teaches you how to change negative behavior patterns and thoughts that cause anxiety into positive ones. You can also learn relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing. You can supplement your diet with supplements to relax your mind and body. 5. Sweating Anxiety is a term that covers a wide range of feelings that can cause your heart to beat and your stomach to ache and your muscles to get tighter. Most of the time, these feelings don't constitute an anxiety disorders, but if they're persistent and get out of hand. You may also experience chills, sweating and other physical symptoms that prompt you to seek medical attention. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, sweating is a common physical sign of anxiety disorders. When your body's fight-or-flight response kicks in, it increases the speed at which your blood circulates to prepare you for battle or escape. This increased heart rate may make you feel dizzy or 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 can't breathe. It's a sign that your anxiety has become too intense to manage. Your doctor will determine if you suffer from an anxiety disorder by looking at your symptoms and how they affect your daily routine. They'll start by asking you about your previous experiences and current concerns. They may also conduct tests to determine if you have any other health problems that could be the cause of your symptoms, like imaging scanners and blood tests. In certain instances, they might prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms. They can recommend strong antiperspirants containing aluminium and other drugs that block nerves and Botox injections around sweat glands. Alternative treatments include cognitive behavior therapy, psychotherapy and techniques for relaxation such as meditation or yoga.