You might notice symptoms such as nausea, headaches, or muscle pain from time to time. Sometimes, these are not caused by a physical illness but by your emotions. It happens because of your autonomic nervous system, a part of your body that works automatically without you thinking about the condition. It controls things like your breathing, heart rate, and various other basic functions. It also triggers your “fight or flight” response when you feel stressed or in danger.
When you are anxious or under stress, the system can become overactive. It can lead to real physical symptoms like nausea, headaches, shortness of breath, shakiness, or stomach pain. Doctors usually see it as a person’s experience of real discomfort, even though there is no underlying physical illness causing it.
What Are The Physical Signs of High-Functioning Anxiety
Shakiness
Your body produces a stress hormone known as cortisol. When you feel threatened, even if there is real danger or it’s just in your mind, your cortisol level increases. It tells your body to release more sugar (glucose) into your bloodstream to give you energy to respond. These changes in your blood sugar can even make you feel shaky or nauseous.
However, shaking is not always caused by anxiety. It can also occur due to various other reasons, like Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, or even too much caffeine. If you notice frequent shaking, even if you are not anxious or stressed, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor to know the other possible causes.
Rapid Heartbeat
Have you ever noticed your heart racing when it’s a stressful moment? That happens because your nervous system can control how fast your heart beats. When you feel stressed, your body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. It sets off a chain reaction.
Check out the Role of Cortisol in Anxiety-Related Stomach Discomfort.
Like your heart starts beating faster, more blood is then sent to your muscles, and your body gets ready to react as quickly as possible. The response is actually useful in real danger, mostly when you are facing a wild animal. However, it is not so helpful when you are just stressed, like before making a difficult phone call.
Digestive Issues
Stress and anxiety don’t affect your mind, but they can also upset your stomach. Instead of feeling just butterflies, it can sometimes feel much worse. When you are stressed, your body focuses on handling the immediate situation. It slows down things that are not urgent, like digestion.
As a result, your digestion can slow down or stop. You might experience constipation, diarrhea, or stomach pain. These digestive problems can feel uncomfortable and stressful at the same time, creating a cycle. Your anxiety affects your stomach, and your stomach issues make you feel even more anxious.
Learn How Anxiety Can Slow Digestion and Cause Stomach Upset.
Unsatisfying Sleep
Do your thoughts keep racing at night? Anxiety can make you feel restless. It becomes hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. At the same time, when you don’t get enough sleep, it can make your anxiety even worse, creating a cycle that is hard to break. In fact, most people who struggle with their ongoing sleep problems, such as insomnia, are more likely to develop anxiety issues.
Read about Anxiety and Sleep Disorders: How Are They Related
Tense, Achy Muscles
The same stress response that prepares your body to react also causes your muscles to tighten. It is even helpful in real danger, but if there is no actual threat, it can leave your muscles feeling sore and stiff. As a result, you sometimes experience tension headaches (a tight, band-like feeling around your head) and pain or stiffness in your shoulders, jaw, and neck. These symptoms are very common in people who deal with anxiety.
Sweating
Stress and anxiety can make you stress more than usual, especially on your face, palms, underarms, and even feet. It usually happens when your body releases stress hormones when it senses danger.
When you start to feel worried, your heart rate increases, which causes your blood vessels to tighten. As a result, your body temperature increases, and your body sweats to cool down. This type of sweating is usually known as “nervous sweating.”
When To Get Help For Anxiety
When you feel anxious, it is sometimes normal. But if your anxiety starts to affect your daily life or becomes hard to manage, it is important to get help. See a doctor to rule out any other health issues that can be causing your symptoms.
If it turns out to be anxiety, you can talk to our experts without feeling judged. We are located in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, Miami, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, and West Palm Beach, Florida. Visit us anytime if you have anxiety-related symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Anxiety Affect The Physical Body?
You experience heart palpitations and rapid breathing patterns when you are anxious. The continuous stress response at high levels of anxiety can cause high blood pressure and coronary problems, such as heart disease or a heart attack.
Can Anxiety Make You Feel Physical Symptoms That Are Not There?
Anxiety can also cause physical symptoms. Most of these reactions are not only unpleasant but can also make your anxiety worse.
Am I Physically Ill or Is It Anxiety?
You may have health anxiety if you constantly worry about your health, check your body for illness, such as tingling or pain, and are always asking for reassurance from people that you are not ill.