How anxiety affects the body?

We all experience anxiety at some level in our lives. The difference in how we respond to anxiety depends on the event that triggers the anxiety in the first place. Anxiety is our body's way of triggering a stress response system to protect ourselves in a dangerous situation. This is called the fight or flight response. This is how our body naturally prepares us to deal with stressful events.

When the body senses any danger, it responds in a way to prepare you to fight. The adrenaline in your body starts to increase. You may feel your heart rate increasing, your hands may start to sweat, your breathing rate increases, and you may start to feel shaky.  These are all normal responses when we are put in a dangerous situation. Once you’re in a safe place, your body will calm down, and these symptoms will subside.

Anxiety can also cause serious physical symptoms. If you are feeling anxious or nervous about a specific event or situation, it can make you feel sick to your stomach, shaky, dizzy or lightheaded, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, an increase in your heart rate and breathing, and tension in your muscles.

For some, anxiety can cause us to have a panic attack. Those symptoms can feel like you have a heart attack. You may feel like your chest is very tight, you may experience some numbness in your limbs, it can feel like you are choking or can’t breathe, which can cause people to hyperventilate. You may feel dizzy and lightheaded, and like you’re going to pass out, most people feel like they will die.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful life events. However, if your body is in constant fight or flight mode and impacting your daily life, it can cause long-term health problems. Our body is not meant to have constant adrenaline running through it.  It Is important to understand the difference between normal anxiety and when it interferes with your day-to-day functioning. If you are experiencing an increase in your anxiety, and you feel like it is impacting your overall emotional and physical health, it is important to reach out to your doctor or talk to a therapist about healthy ways to cope and understand your anxiety.