Did you know that over 30% of Americans experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime?
There are different severities and types of anxiety, and the effects of anxiety can have disastrous consequences for the body. Although anxiety is a psychological disorder, being in a prolonged and heightened state of awareness can turn your issues physical.
Do you think you might have anxiety? Or perhaps you’re seeking anxiety treatments? Either way, it’s worth learning how your mental health could impact your physical health.
Read on to find out more.
1. Fatigued Muscles
People with anxiety often struggle with aching muscles. When anxious, many people tense up without realizing, holding tension in the neck, back, and shoulders.
This tension and aching can further increase anxiety symptoms in a self-perpetuating cycle.
Massage, meditation, and yoga can help people release tension from their bodies when suffering from anxiety.
2. Chronic Headaches
Headaches and migraines are common symptoms of anxiety. Although healthcare professionals can prescribe drugs to alleviate these symptoms, it’s best to address the route cause.
If your anxiety reduces your quality of life because of headaches or other symptoms, you should seek professional guidance. There are many myths surrounding when and who should have counseling; you can learn more about this from Collective Counseling Solutions.
3. Increased Heart Rate
If your mind is racing with intrusive thoughts such as ‘can anxiety kill you?’ and ‘can anxiety give you heart disease?’ there’s good news and bad news.
The good news is that you won’t suddenly drop dead from anxiety; even when you’re having an anxiety attack, you will not die from this.
However, it can give you a chronically raised heart rate. Constantly being in the ‘flight’ state from fight or flight causes your heart to work overtime.
This puts you at an increased risk of having heart problems in later life.
4. Chronic Fatigue
Finally, anxiety can make you feel tired all the time. Many people think that people with anxiety are hyperactive, but in truth, you can be jittery and exhausted at the same time.
As with any mental disorder, the constant stream of heightened emotions can lead to fatigue. However, anxiety is extremely bad for racing thoughts and overthinking situations; it’s understandable that you’d be exhausted after a day of such intense stimulation, let alone living in that state.
To prevent anxiety-related fatigue, you need to prioritize relaxation every day and take up mindfulness practices to try and slow your thought processes.
Deal With the Effects of Anxiety Today
That’s everything you need to know about the physical effects of anxiety. If you’re still wondering, ‘do I have anxiety?’, it’s time to book an appointment with your healthcare provider to talk things through.
Remember, you’re not alone, and your physical symptoms are simply temporary (although uncomfortable) symptoms of your psychological state.
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