In many cases it might take years for your anxiety disorder to be diagnosed, this is why it is highly advisable to seek an immediate doctor’s assistance if you experience some of the symptoms listed in this article. Contrary to the popular belief, anxiety disorders and panic attacks are quite common and it is estimated that two out of five people experience mild anxiety attacks in their lives and this is why early diagnosis is vital for successful treatment.What are the most common physical symptoms of anxiety?
Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Duspnea can be a symptom indicating various conditions and illnesses like asthma, heart attack, chronic bronchitis, lung disease, etc. However, people with anxiety quite often experience difficulty breathing as well.
Difficulty when swallowing (dysphagia)
This symptom might also be associated with pain, again can be caused by several physical conditions like diffuse spasm, esophageal tumors and neurological disorders, including anxiety.
Chest pains
If you experience chest pains (quite sharp at times) combined with shortness of breath and disorientation, then there is a good chance that it is caused by anxiety. This kind of chest pains are experienced by large number of anxiety sufferers (up to 70-80%) and can be located in the left area of your chest, in the center, or the pain might even “move around.”
Palpitations
Also known as racing, or pounding heart, can be quite normal in many cases such as during exercising or when a person is in a stressful situation, and can be caused by the intake of too much caffeine or some medications, but in rare cases can indicate a serious illness as well. However, if cardiac diseases are ruled out by your doctor, then this might be an anxiety symptom.
Perspiration
This is normal during exercising, or in a hot summer day and sweating is actually necessary for the normal functioning of one’s body. However, it can be caused by various medical conditions, including anxiety.
Dizziness
If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, off-balance, or you might pass out in the next few moments, then this can also indicate anxiety. However, it might be caused by inner ear or other viral infection – make sure to consult a physician if these symptoms persist.
Hot or cold sensations (flashes)
This can also be caused by emotional distress (anxiety) and it is observed that most people with anxiety experience hot flashes rather than cold ones. During a hot flash usually the person feels its upper body getting warmer and this is often accompanied by profuse perspiration. In some cases a hot flash is followed immediately by a cold one.
Constant fear of dying
This condition is also experienced by many anxiety sufferers. Some people report “thinking about dying all the time” and even being scared going to bed due to that fear, for others the sensation is actually associated with the other anxiety symptoms like nausea, palpitations, sweating, even though these are symptoms that do not represent immediate danger.
Trembling or Shaking
This is normally associated with high emotions like anger, rage, and extreme fatigue. If you experience trembling or shaking quite often, then you are better off consulting a doctor. Finding the cause will help you treat and control these symptoms.
Stomach aches (abdominal pain)
Many organs are in the abdomen, which makes adequate diagnosis of the stomach pain quite difficult since it can be caused by many different conditions, one of which is anxiety as well.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting can be caused by conditions raging from early pregnancy to seasickness, but in some cases are associated with anxiety and fear as well. In most cases these symptoms are experienced only occasionally and tend to disappear when the person learns how to better manage their stress levels and anxiety.
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The fear of an anxiety attack by itself can trigger an attack. This is true as reported by many anxiety disorder patients and after resolving the “meta” fear, most reported an immediate cessation of anxiety attacks.