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One of the most debilitating parts of anxiety is the physical symptoms that you can experience on a daily basis. They aren't always as recognised and spoken about, but can have a detrimental impact on your life.
Many symptoms are often difficult to explain, or come out of nowhere and it's hard to understand why you're feeling that way.
They can be distressing to deal with and I hope this article will explain some of the most common physical symptoms, and the reasons behind them, to reassure you that you're not alone and that they can be managed and dealt with. Keep your eyes peeled for a follow up article, looking at some of the ways you can manage these symptoms (I am not a medical professional, so what I will be discussing are based on personal and anecdotal remedies that individuals have found to be helpful)
1. Nausea - This is a very common symptom of anxiety and just a really unpleasant sensation. It can often come about out of nowhere, with no warning and can leave you looking for the closest bin or plastic bag. If you're wondering why you're feeling nauseous with anxiety, it is because our brains and digestive system are more connected than we think. It is believed that our vagus nerve, which sends messages from the gut to the brain and vice versa) plays an important part. When we're feeling anxious, chemicals are released, many to our digestive tract. These can then play havoc on our guts, causing issues such as nausea and an upset stomach.
2. Dizziness / Lightheadedness - That horrible dizzy feeling is familiar to us all, at some point or another in our lives. Those with anxiety can experience it on a regular basis and it can be scary to go through. Typically, when we're anxious, we tend to breathe quicker than normal, taking in deeper breaths. This reduces the level of carbon dioxide in our blood, which in turn results in that light-headed/ dizzy feeling. It can also be explained by our fight or flight kicking in. Our body prepares for the danger it thinks we're in, leading to a rush of adrenaline and subsequent dizziness.
3. Heart palpitations - Ever had that feeling that your heart is pounding or have that skipping sensation? Heart palpitations are a common symptom of anxiety, and although are often temporary and infrequent, can be scary and unnerving at the time. Again, our fight or flight is responsible here, increasing our heart rate to prepare for what our brain is telling us is a dangerous situation.
4. Tiredness - Feeling like you could fall asleep anywhere? Constantly yawning in public? Dealing with physical symptoms of anxiety can be exhausting. It can often be associated with the lack of sleep or quality rest you get due to your symptoms, those racing thoughts at night and inability to switch off can really take it out of us. Chemical changes in your body from anxiety can also leave you feeling knackered. "Post-anxiety crash" may sound familiar to some of you. During an anxious episode, when your body is preparing to fight or flee, it is pumped with energy to respond. At some point, the adrenaline runs out, causing your body to "crash", leaving you feeling drained.
Despite all these symptoms being characteristics of anxiety, there could be other explanations. It is important to seek professional medical advice from your GP to confirm the causes and get the appropriate treatment.
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