SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND OUR BODY’S RESPONSE TO ANXIETY Our body’s response to anxiety is natural because it is instinctively protecting us from danger. It only becomes a worry when we aren’t able to perform everyday tasks and perceive things as dangerous (giving our bodies the ‘need to worry’ experience), when they actually aren’t. Usual symptoms of anxiety include (although not exclusive to) sweating, heart palpitations, stomach upset, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, shortness of breath, trouble concentrating, irritability, apprehension or overwhelming panic. The following are reasons are bodies behave why they do: Sweating cools the body and makes the skin more slippery and difficult for an attacking animal or person to grab hold of you. Heart palpitations means your body is preparing for action. Blood and oxygen run to the major muscle groups and essential organs, preparing you for ‘fight or flight’ when there is danger. Stomach upset happens because the body shuts down natural systems that are not needed for survival (digestion). It then directs energy to functions that we need for survival; hence stomach upset/nausea. Tight chests occur as your muscles tense because your body prepares for danger, so large breaths can feel painful. Heavy legs sensation happens as the legs prepare for that ‘fight or flight’, we have increased muscle tension and increased blood flow to those muscles. Feeling light-headed. As with stomach upsets and the bloody and oxygen going to the major muscle groups, this means we experience faster breathing (which helps the oxygen go towards those muscles). This in turn can cause hyperventilation, giving you a feeling of light-headedness, and the very slight decrease of blood to the brain, which can make your dizzy. If you experience anxiety, how does it affect you? Are there methods you have found that help you cope?
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 09:00:13 +0000
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