What are the Physical Symptoms of Anxiety?

Over the last 19 years, as I have worked in the counseling field, I have seen so many different physical symptoms of anxiety in the individuals and families I encounter. The differences are almost as distinct as the client facing me. I am going to do my best to narrow these down for you and find the most common ones people can experience!

Gastrointestinal:

• Nausea
• Diarreah
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Indigestion

Cardiovascular:

• Racing heart
• Palpitations
• Chest tightness
• Pain
• Shortness of breath

Musculoskeletal:

• Muscle tension
• Tremors
• Aching
• Stiffness
• Fatigue

Neurological:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Headache
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling overwhelmed and jittery

Other:

• Sweating
• Dry mouth
• Numbness or tingling
• Increased sensitivity to noise or light
• Difficulty sleeping

If you are experiencing any of these, it is important to stop and take note of what is going on in your body. It is important to build your toolkit of ways that your body can respond or cope with stress and anxiety that works for you. It is helpful to realize that anxiety is not just emotional and can have a very physical presence in our lives. Oftentimes, this fact can lead to powerful feelings about our feelings and the way our body is coping or not coping with stress and anxiety. Sometimes it can even feel like our body is letting us down or failing us during these times. As we work through and recognize our stress, anxiety, and the physical ways this is showing up for us, we can come up with helpful strategies to challenge and reduce these stress responses.

Additionally, it is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, and if you think you might be experiencing physical anxiety symptoms, please reach out for support and help! We would love to help you ease symptoms of anxiety and stress as we go into the holiday season!