Many people have a wide range of bodily manifestations of their anxiety. Some people feel intense discomfort, numbness, weakness, hot flashes, or excessive diarrhoea.
In spite of their perplexing appearance, the bodily manifestations of anxiety are entirely normal and natural. Moreover, having a better understanding that these symptoms as a part of your anxiety can help you cope with it more effectively.
Why does this happen when anxiety hits us? If you are someone who is finding it hard to make sense of why you are feeling this way, you just came to the right page!
In this post, we will help you understand about
- The autonomic nervous system and anxiety
- How can anxiety make you feel sick?
- How to cope with it?
The Autonomic Nervous System and Anxiety
Your autonomic nervous system gets activated when you're feeling stressed or anxious, and it might manifest itself in a variety of physical symptoms. Your heart rate, respiration, urine, and sexual function are all governed by this system in your body, which you do not consciously control. It is also the system that responds when you are threatened.
As a result, anxiety can hurt your stomach and head, make you nauseous, or experience other physical symptoms.
How Can Anxiety Make You Feel Sick?
There are several potential factors why anxiety can make you feel sick. These include:
The fight-or-flight response.
It is the work of your autonomic nervous system that lets you have the ability to defend yourself or flee from danger.
Nausea, along with other common symptoms of illness, is thought by scientists to have its origins in the body's default stress response, which involves activating the "fight or flight" mechanism and releasing stress hormones like cortisol.
Pressure in the Stomach and the Gut.
Muscle tension brought on by anxiety can also put a strain on the digestive system. It's likely that the pressure alters how your stomach feels, making you feel ill.
Minor Illness
Each day, your immune system works to stave off infections. Having a weakened immune system makes you more susceptible to getting sick.
Stress can reduce the body's supply of natural killer cells necessary for the immune system to combat illnesses. Recent immunology research has demonstrated that this can impair the body's anti-inflammatory response, resulting in persistent infections.
We get concerned when we are feeling sick. Some people experience severe nausea and vomiting, preventing them from participating in their usual activities. As a result, the physical repercussions of anxiety can induce more anxiety, resulting in a cycle.
Anxiety can cause a wide range of symptoms, not just nausea, in some people. Some exhibit other signs and symptoms that are comparable to the common cold or flu. Or, they can have symptoms like a sore tongue or swollen glands. Some may experience lightheadedness, indigestion, or colds.
How To Cope Up?
Anxiety has the power to cause physical manifestations. It's scary when stress causes you to experience physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, or a shaking body.
It can be so unsettling that you may experience anxiety over anxiety symptoms. The more you think about it, the more worried you'll get, and the worse your symptoms will go. Things can quickly spiral out of hand, to the point where you may be unable to do more than worry.
Knowing the bodily manifestations of anxiety can help alleviate some of the worries that put you in a heightened state. It's possible to get so preoccupied with the physical consequences of your anxious condition that you don't know why you were anxious in the first place.
How can you determine if your symptoms are, in fact, due to anxiety? What can you do to feel better if such is the case? If you want to break the pattern, consider the following advice.
Take a break and assess yourself.
Take a moment to pause and pay attention to how your body is feeling. Consider whether the sensations you're having are the result of an emotional reaction or a rational response to a stressful situation. If your symptoms occurred after a stressful incident or period, these emotions might have provoked them. Muscle tension is another indicator of a stress reaction, so keep an eye out for it.
Do something to take your mind off things.
Distraction can be helpful if you think anxiety is the cause of your physical symptoms. It helps to have a variety of strategies at your disposal to take your mind off your physical health.
Doing low-effort activities such as assembling a puzzle or watering the plants can have a positive effect. This has the potential to break the vicious cycle of rising anxiety and the onset of physical manifestations. It's common to feel better after you divert your attention away from your symptoms and engage in something new.
Each individual has their own unique set of sources of distraction. Find out what brings you peace of mind by trying out a variety of activities.
Alleviate anxiety-induced nausea
If you're feeling sick, try these:
- Try nibbling on a few dry crackers or slices of plain bread.
- Sip clear, cool water slowly.
- Drop the restrictive garment and switch to something more comfortable.
- Breathe deeply and slowly to help calm down
If you're feeling sick, try to stay away from these:
- Junk food, especially the fried, sugary kinds
- Combining cold and hot foods
- High-intensity physical activity
If your nausea causing you to vomit, try doing these.
- Take small sips of water or other clear drinks.
- Rest and avoid strenuous physical exercise.
- Do not consume any solid food till it has passed.
We advise that you should consult your doctor if you often require over-the-counter nausea medications or if you vomit frequently.
How can I reduce anxiety naturally? Click here to learn more.
Are you feeling anxious and sick?
Anxiety can contribute to digestive issues and adrenaline-related changes in the stomach, all of which can lead to feelings of illness. Whatever the cause, reducing anxiety is the only long-term, reliable way to get rid of sickness.
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