Anxiety And Its Physical Symptoms: 5 Effects Of Anxiety On The Body
What are the physical symptoms of anxiety? What effects does anxiety have on our body? Discover how anxiety affects our body and its long-term consequences.
Anxiety doesn’t just affect our mental health. In many cases, this disorder ends up affecting both the mind and our body. In fact, there are many physical symptoms of anxiety that can help us detect that we are facing a problem that we must treat. Physical anxiety symptoms can include digestive problems as well as alterations in the cardiovascular, urinary and respiratory systems. So, what are the effects of anxiety on our body?
Anxiety causes both physical and psychological symptoms. In fact, the anxiety It happens because people anticipate threats that could arise in the future, in such a way that our body prepares for a ‘fight or flight’ moment as if we were facing an imminent danger. Therefore, our body activates the heart, lungs and muscles so that they are ready to give this response.
This is the reason why physical symptoms of anxiety They are intense and persistent when we identify this disorder. Although there are several types of anxiety disorders and therefore the manifestations of anxiety can be different from one another, there are a series of physical symptoms that are usually common.
Muscle tension: Muscle tension usually means experiencing discomfort in both the back and neck. This type of tension associated with physical symptoms of anxiety It does not decrease even though the person does not perceive themselves as anxious at the moment; in fact, they can persist even in moments of relaxation and tranquility.
Digestive problems: The intestines also reach the effects of anxiety These physical symptoms of anxiety can take the form of an upset stomach, as well as nausea, constipation, or diarrhea. Digestive problems can end up having a lot of impact on your daily life.
Headache and dizziness: The chronic worry typical of this disorder can turn into a very persistent headache. These physical effects of anxiety They can invalidate the person who suffers from it, causing this vicious circle around thoughts and the anxiety associated with them to intensify even more.
Nervousness: Another of the physical symptoms of anxiety The most common is nervousness. This can also be translated as irritability or tremors.
Fatigue: Chronic worry can be very exhausting for those who suffer from it. In fact, experience anxiety Along with its physical and psychological symptoms, it ends up resulting in a feeling of permanent fatigue. Furthermore, another effect of anxiety is that this disorder ends up affecting the sleep of people who suffer from it.
Difficulty breathing: He general discomfort from anxiety It may also involve an increased heart rate, which may also mean experiencing some difficulty breathing.
These are some of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety If you think you are experiencing many of these signs along with other psychological symptoms of this disorder, it is important that you see a mental health professional.
What are the effects of anxiety on the body?
Long-term anxiety, as well as its physical and psychological symptoms, may increase the risk of developing chronic physical conditions. This happens because our body, when responding to anxiety, releases adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that participate in the feeling of stress that we experience when faced with danger. In many cases, if this effect happens punctually, it can be a useful response. But when these effects persist long term, they can affect many parts of our body. Among them, we can highlight the following.
respiratory changes: During the symptoms of distress and anxiety, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, which in psychology and medicine is called hyperventilation. This type of breathing allows our lungs to absorb much more oxygen and it is transported more quickly throughout the body. When a person experiences it recurrently, they may experience dizziness, a feeling of lightheadedness, tingling, and weakness.
Effects on the cardiovascular system: The physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety can cause changes in heart rate. In fact, this increases, which implies that blood circulation is faster. When this happens it ends up resulting in our blood vessels narrowing, which also affects our body temperature. In this way, the body sweats to cool itself and people often feel colder than normal. By experiencing these long-term effects of anxiety, people may end up having a higher risk of heart disease.
Impaired immune function: Short term, somatize anxiety It can affect our immune system. This happens because cortisol, the hormone related to the symptoms of stress and anxiety, prevents the release of substances that cause inflammation, which translates into turning off aspects of the immune system that fight against the infections we may suffer. In this way, another long-term effect of anxiety is that people who suffer from it may have more colds, flu and other types of infections due to this disorder.
Changes in digestive function: Cortisol also blocks those processes in our body that are not considered essential in ‘fight or flight’ situations in the face of imminent danger. Among them, digestion is one of the most affected by this. As a result, people with anxiety symptoms They may experience nausea, diarrhea, among other digestive conditions.
Urinary response: The symptoms of anxiety and stress They can also increase the need to urinate. In fact, these types of anxiety effects tend to be more common in those people who suffer from phobias.
Physical and psychological consequences of anxiety
If anxiety does not receive effective treatment and ends up being chronic, the person may be affected in the following ways due to its effects.
Depression
Digestive problems
Insomnia
Experiencing chronic pain
Difficulties with school, work, or socialization due to the effects of anxiety
Loss of interest in sex
Substance abuse disorders
Suicidal thoughts
As we can see, the effects of anxiety They can end up affecting many areas of our daily lives. Therefore, if you identify with the physical symptoms of anxiety, as well as the psychological ones, it is vital to consult with a mental health professional.
