I Didn't Know Anxiety Did That to My Body

​I Didn’t Know Anxiety Did That to My Body
 
People are often surprised and dismayed by their anxiety symptoms. Regularly, clients will report to me physical symptoms that are concerning and confusing to them. It is commonplace for people struggling with anxiety to sometimes be unaware of having anxious thoughts until an uncomfortable physical symptom presents itself. 
 
Physical Manifestations of Anxiety to Look For
 
Physical, or somatic anxiety symptoms can be subtle or scary. Below you will find a list of common symptoms. I have heard descriptions of these plus others.
 

• Vibrating in your arms, legs, chest, ears, or head
• Dizziness
• Racing/Pounding heart
• Sweating 
• Trembling
• Tight muscles
• Tightness in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Upset stomach/indigestion
• Urgent need to urinate
• Cold chills
• Vision changes
• Headaches

 
When Anxious Body Triggers Anxious Mind and Anxious Mind Triggers Anxious Body
 
Physical anxiety symptoms can be a frustrating cycle in which you may feel one or more of the above symptoms and then experience anxious thoughts. Your mind may run away with these anxious thoughts and then your body may become more physically uncomfortable which spirals into a repetitive cycle. All of this can leave you confused and scared wondering if what you are experiencing is real. Thankfully, there are things that you can do in your everyday life that can help reduce anxious thoughts as well as somatic anxiety. Here are some techniques that could help you cope with the symptoms listed above:
 

• Deep breathing
• Cardiovascular exercise
• Yoga
• Aroma therapy
• Talking about it with a friend or loved one
• Being aware of your thoughts and anxiety triggers
• Meditation
• Doing an activity that you enjoy
• Spending time with a pet
• Journaling
• Being in Nature
• Singing, yawning, gargling, laughing, humming
• Staying hydrated
• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Practicing Self-compassion

 
Find a Therapist You Trust to Explore Different Counseling Modalities
 
Try some of the above techniques, but it’s also a good idea to seek out a mental health professional for further support. There are many different types of therapists and approaches for treating anxiety including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR. CBT helps you identify your thoughts, challenge negative thoughts, and then replace them with more helpful thinking. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), works by weakening the effect of negative thoughts with eye movement. These are just two approaches and there are others for those who struggle with the all too common symptoms physical and otherwise of anxiety.