Physical symptoms of anxiety?

 

Normally anxiety is common among humans. But, chronic anxiety will affect the quality of life and can have physical symptoms on the body as well.

What is anxiety?

1. Anxiety is the body's natural response to stress. 
2. Whenever we are in certain situations that we have not faced or are yet to face, there will be a certain degree of fear, nervousness and apprehension. Eg: First day at school, attending a first job interview, giving a public speech, moving to a new place, a new relationship, etc. 
3. Normally it will not last very long. It will ward off when we come out of the situation.

What happens during anxiety?

1. It will boost up all the functions of the body to perform a particular task and achieve goals. 
2. It will trigger the fight or flight mechanism and release a flood of chemicals like adrenaline.
3. The pulse rate, the breath rate, blood flow and the oxygen supply to the brain and other parts of the body increases.

But over a period of time after the task is done or the prevailing conditions for anxiety has vanished, the body has to come back to its original physiological state.

Physical symptoms of anxiety?

When it does not go back to its original state and sustains for a longer duration, the body will start over-heating just like a phone which needs battery replacement. It can lead to the following problems:

1. It can create a sense of doom and uneasiness.
2. It can lead to panic attacks. Panic attacks can lead to heart palpitations, chest pain and light headedness.
3. Frequent headaches, irritability and depression.
4. Can cause shortness of breath.
5. Can cause stomach pain and nausea.
6. Can decrease the sexual desire.
7. Fatigue, muscle pain and high blood pressure.

How to control anxiety?

1. Realising that the situation is not permanent.
2. Practising regular exercise, yoga and dhyana.
3. Keeping the mind engaged in a pleasurable activity which brings happiness.
4. Focussing on the qualitative aspects of life like nutrition, weight, body-mind complex relaxation, happiness, etc.
5. Learning new things and enjoying the learning.
6. Being more concerned about the present moment instead of wasting time over a futuristic thought which may or may not happen.

If you are not able to do anything right now, then just inhale and exhale deeply. Let the inhalation and exhalation time be same. Do 5 deep inhalations and exhalations and observe the thoughts slowing down.