Perhaps you, a loved one, or someone you know have experienced something similar to the following scenario. 

One day, you’re going about your normal routine, and nothing seems out of the ordinary, until suddenly, out of nowhere, your chest starts hurting and your heart starts pounding so hard, you feel as though it may pound right through your chest. At the same time, you find yourself gasping for breath, feeling dizzy and nauseous. The thought hits you that you’re having a heart attack. You go to the emergency room, the doctor checks you out, runs some tests and comes back with the news that you are perfectly healthy.

“You seem to have suffered a panic attack,” The doctor says. “Have you ever considered therapy?”

You may feel insulted. “Therapy?! You think I made these symptoms up, doc?! I don’t need therapy! I need life-saving heart medication so that this never happens again!”

I’ve heard several clients share experiences similar to this one, which is sometimes what prompts them to come into my office. While it may not always be a physical experience for everyone, anxiety can certainly be a physical experience for some people. Sometimes, we may not even be aware we have anxiety until our bodies alert us in very scary ways.

So, what are some ways anxiety can manifest physically even if we aren’t currently feeling stressed out or anxious?

First, it’s not uncommon for people experiencing a panic attack to believe at first that they’re having a heart attack, especially if it’s accompanied by chest pain or difficulty breathing.

For those who suffer from more persistent anxiety, common physical symptoms include rapid heart rate, fast breathing or hyperventilation, sweating, shaking, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, digestive issues, nausea, feeling too hot or too cold, and chest pain (Leonard, 2018).

People with anxiety tend to perceive threats in their environment that may or may not be present, and/or may or may not be as threatening as they believe them to be. When we perceive a threat, our body activates into a flight, fight, or freeze response to protect itself and ward off danger. An example of a physical “fight” response might be difficulty falling or staying asleep, particularly if our body feels unable to relax for fear of losing control or being overtaken by a perceived threat. An example of a “flight” response might be difficulty concentrating or feeling like we’re detached from ourselves, as if detaching our body from our emotions will help us survive the perceived threat. An example of a “freeze” response could be experiencing numbness so as to not feel the perceived threat.

What is actually happening inside of us during these moments?

When our bodies tell us to fight or flee—even during moments when we are not actually in physical danger, we only perceive that we are in danger—our body responds by releasing the hormones, adrenaline and cortisol. According to Jayne Leonard (2018) of Medical News Today, cortisol “turns off aspects of the immune system that fight infections, impairing the body’s natural immune response.” If our immune system is compromised, this can increase our chances of catching the flu, common cold, and other types of infections. Cortisol is also known to block digestion, while adrenaline is known to reduce blood flow and relax stomach muscles, which could lead to nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Anxiety can also impact heart rate and blood circulation. 

Reading about all of these physical symptoms can itself produce anxiety! Before you quit reading in despair, please know that there is GOOD news!

Anxiety is highly treatable. It’s the most common mental health disorder in the U.S., and there are several evidenced-based treatments that have been found to be effective in treating anxiety. I practice one such form of treatment, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, or ACT, for short. You can read more about ACT here, but in this mode of therapy, we focus on creating a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably comes with life. We do this by focusing on what is most important to us and practice living fully aware in the present moment. We evaluate and work to change our relationship with our thoughts and feelings so that they don’t get in the way of living the life we want to live. 

Medication, support groups, physical activity, and meditation have also been found to be helpful treatment options. It’s important to note that these symptoms are only considered associated with anxiety if they’re not better explained by another medical condition. Therefore, in order to determine the true cause of your physical symptoms, it would be most beneficial to consult with both a mental health professional and a medical professional to determine their true cause (Glasofer, 2019). 

It is possible to live a full and healthy life despite experiencing anxiety. I’ve written more about living life to the fullest despite having anxiety here and here. If you’d like to chat further about addressing your own anxious symptoms, give me a call at (314) 392-2895.

References

Glasofer, D. (May 18, 2019). The physical symptoms of anxiety. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/physical-symptoms-of-anxiety-1393151

Leonard, J. (July 18, 2018). The effects of anxiety on the body. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322510.php