| Anxiety can cause a variety of physical and mental | | | | simply cannot get enough oxygen to your lungs. Your |
| symptoms. Seek the advice of your health care | | | | chest may feel tight and unable to expand to |
| professional if these symptoms are affecting your | | | | accommodate the air your body needs. It may even |
| daily life. Here are a few of the most common anxiety | | | | feel as though you are being smothered. Try to relax |
| symptoms. | | | | and remember that this is only a sensation caused by |
| Chest Pain | | | | anxiety, you are actually getting plenty of air to your |
| Chest pains are a frightening symptom of anxiety, and | | | | lungs. Sit down and concentrate on taking slow, deep, |
| one that should not be taken lightly. If you are at all | | | | and regular breaths. |
| unsure about the cause of your chest pains, seek | | | | Weakness or Tingling in Extremities |
| medical attention immediately. However, it is | | | | When a stressful situation occurs, the body responds |
| sometimes possible to tell the difference between the | | | | with a number of physical symptoms. Anxiety causes |
| chest pains associated with anxiety and those of a | | | | changes in the circulation, blood oxygen and blood |
| heart attack. The chest pain of a heart attack is a | | | | carbon dioxide levels, and muscle tension. This |
| knifelike pain that usually does not start in the chest. It | | | | combination of physical changes can cause a feeling |
| may be possible to diminish the chest pain from | | | | of weakness in the extremities. When blood carbon |
| anxiety with deep breathing exercises or a massage. | | | | dioxide levels are altered, it may accumulate in the |
| Neck, Face, and Shoulder Pain | | | | extremities, causing a tingling sensation. Light exercise |
| Muscle tension and contraction can cause intense pain | | | | may help to alleviate these anxiety symptoms. |
| in the neck and shoulder area. This pain can often be | | | | Sleep Disorders |
| relieved by relaxation exercises or massage. | | | | Insomnia, difficulty staying asleep, and recurrent |
| Difficulty Swallowing | | | | nightmares are common yet distressing symptoms of |
| Sometimes, anxiety causes the muscles in the throat | | | | anxiety. It is important to try to maintain a regular |
| to contract making it feel as though you cannot | | | | sleeping schedule and to practice relaxation and |
| breathe or swallow. It is important to remember that | | | | breathing techniques to attain a better night's sleep. |
| this is merely a reaction to anxiety and not a symptom | | | | Heart Palpitations |
| that will cause you any real harm. It may feel | | | | When the body is faced with a stressful situation, |
| unpleasant, but if you can calm down and practice | | | | adrenaline is released to prepare for a physical |
| taking slow breaths through your nose, this symptom | | | | response. This chemical causes the heart to race and |
| will soon dissipate. | | | | feel as if it is missing beats (heart palpitations.) Again, |
| Indigestion and Digestive Disorders | | | | this is a common symptom and it is unlikely to lead to |
| With the release of adrenaline that accompanies | | | | any actual cardiovascular distress. |
| anxiety, the blood races through the system and is | | | | Pale Complexion |
| diverted away from certain areas of the body, such | | | | Anxiety causes the blood to be diverted to the |
| as the digestive tract. This slows the digestion and | | | | muscles and away from other areas of the body, |
| causes the muscles around the stomach to tense up. | | | | such as the face. When the blood vessels in the face |
| This can cause indigestion, heartburn and diarrhea or | | | | receive a reduced blood flow, the skin appears to lose |
| constipation. | | | | some of its color, or rosy glow. This symptom of |
| Sweating | | | | anxiety is not dangerous and will usually dissipate as |
| Sweating is your body's way of reducing an increase | | | | the body's other physical reactions return to normal. |
| in body temperature. When adrenaline is released into | | | | Depression |
| the system, the heart begins beating faster and the | | | | Depression is a common symptom for people who |
| body heats up (similar to exercising.) This symptom will | | | | experience anxiety disorders. People who are clinically |
| soon pass as the anxiety subsides and the body's | | | | depressed have a chemical imbalance that may cause |
| other physical responses return to normal. | | | | or be a side effect of anxiety. You should seek help |
| Dry Mouth | | | | from a qualified medical professional if you feel a |
| Dry mouth often goes along with the other physical | | | | persistent feeling of anxiety. |
| symptoms that are caused by anxiety. This symptom | | | | Headaches |
| can be alleviated by taking a drink of purified water. | | | | Spasmodic muscle contractions and muscle tension |
| Shaking | | | | can cause discomfort, headaches or even migraines. |
| Shaking is a normal reaction to fear or a decrease in | | | | Tension in the muscles that surround the skull may |
| body temperature. When the muscles are tense, they | | | | make you feel as though you have a tight band |
| may spasmodically contract and cause friction | | | | wrapped around your head. Also, the reduced blood |
| between the muscles and other body tissues. | | | | flow to the head and brain can cause pain in the eyes, |
| Shortness of Breath | | | | face, and jaw. |
| Anxiety can often make you feel as though you | | | | |