Anxiety: The Physical Symptoms

By: Dyami Efroimson

Living with an anxiety disorder is often accompanied by experiencing persistent feelings of worry and panic over miniscule events in one’s life that are difficult to control. Alongside these feelings of worry, a variety of physical symptoms can also be experienced. Although the direct causes of anxiety are unknown, it is explained by the interaction of several factors such as genetics, the chemical makeup of the brain, and the environment.

                Some of the physical symptoms that one may experience during anxiety attacks are heart palpitations, muscle aches and pains throughout the body that have no apparent cause,  dizzy spells, and shortness of breath. These symptoms come in varying degrees of severity and can interfere with everyday life. But why do these physical symptoms occur?

                As stated before, the direct causes of anxiety have yet to be discovered; however, some symptoms can be explained. Muscle aches, for example, are a result tensing the muscles during times of heightened panic. This tensing can lead to a buildup of lactic acid that results in muscle pains almost anywhere in the body. Another result of this state of tension is ‘tension headaches’, which are pains in one’s head that are caused by heightened tension in the body.

                Commonly, those with anxiety experience pains in their chest, heart palpitations and painful tingling in their extremities. Heart palpitations occur when one becomes hyperaware of the quickness or aggression of their own heartbeat. These symptoms are most likely the result of the hyperventilation that occurs during severe anxiety attacks. Rapid breathing results in decreased blood flow, and can lead to a tingling sensation in one’s hand and feet as well as pains in the chest and change in the rate of one’s heartbeat.

                Another physical symptom experienced by those with anxiety is hypersensitivity. This is the tendency to be hyperaware of how different parts of the body feel, so the pains and discomforts that those without anxiety may be able to deal with, are exasperated. The anxious individual pays more attention to these little aches and pains, causing them to become increasingly severe and difficult to ignore.  Muscles may be tender to the touch and individuals can experience chronic pain that doctors may fail to link to a psychiatric disorder

                Living with anxiety does not simply mean feeling nervous, as some may believe. It is a disorder that affects one’s entire body, and interferes with the ability to perform day to day tasks that come easily to others. However, these symptoms can be treated with psychotherapy, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), and medication.

If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety or their mental health please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961

https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/signs/aches-and-pains#:~:text=Furthermore%2C%20muscle%20tension%20can%20also,The%20back

https://www.healthline.com/health/hyperventilation#:~:text=Low%20carbon%20dioxide%20levels%20lead,and%20tingling%20in%20the%20fingers.