Anxiety and the body
Most people with anxiety first go to their GP to ask for help with a body symptom. This is no surprise as the body signs are often the ones you are most aware of. The body reacts to anxiety in a vast number of ways. You may find that you are more prone to certain ones while never getting others. You might see your symptoms change over time. You might get some symptoms but never others.
These symptoms are not pleasant and you may become afraid of them. We call this 'a fear of fear'. You start to worry about them and you may avoid doing things to try to stop them. So if you fear your heart racing, you might not run for a bus as you know this will push up your heart rate. You may put your hand up to your face to try to hide signs of blushing.
You may find that the symptoms appear out of the blue when you least expect them. This may make you feel that you are cracking up or that you have a serious illness. This is common.
Important points:
- Anxiety can have very strong effects on your body.
- Your body can seem to be on a hair trigger. So signs can appear quickly.
- The symptoms do go away. The body can only stay in an anxious state for so long. It will calm down again
Anxiety affects two main parts of the body:
Muscles
- tight chest
- pain at the back of the neck
- aches and pains
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
- heart racing
- feeling breathless
- sweating
Both parts are involved in the 'Fight/Flight' response that is closely linked to anxiety.
Common body signs
| Palpitations | Rapid heart rate |
| Missed heart beats | Dizziness |
| Faintness | Headaches |
| Numbness | Chest pain / tightness |
| Shortness of breath | Stomach pains |
| Choking sensation | Muscle aches / pains |
| 'Butterflies' | Tiredness |
| Shakiness | Sweating |
| Sleeping problems | Problems swallowing |
| 'Jelly legs' | Trembling |
| Bladder weakness | Diarrhoea |
| Loss of appetite | Pains in head |
| Craving for food | Pins and needles |
| Flushing / chills | Feeling unreal |
| Nausea | Dry mouth |
| Blurred vision | Clammy hands |
| Voice tremor | 'Freezing' |
