4.6% of Canadians have an anxiety disorder. It’s one of the most common mental health issues in the country. It’s even more common if you have other mental health disorders, and treating one provides relief from the others.
Have you ever wondered, “what is anxiety?” The simplest answer is that it’s a consistent, excessive reaction to stress. It’s caused by changes in the brain and body that create a fight-or-flight response.
Common anxiety symptoms include a racing heart, excessive rumination, and digestive issues. Knowing how the condition affects your mental and physical health helps you decide what type of treatment to seek out.
Read on to have anxiety explained and learn the most common mental and physical symptoms it causes.
What Is Anxiety?
Understanding anxiety can be difficult because it’s a varied and complex issue. It includes a range of disorders such as:
Agoraphobia
Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Selective mutism
Separation anxiety
Social anxiety
Phobias
Substance-induced anxiety
They all have different characteristics but also share major symptoms. Knowing them helps you determine what type of treatment you need.
What Are the Most Common Mental Anxiety Symptoms?
Anxiety comes with a range of physical symptoms. It can affect almost every area of your body, from your stomach to your hands and feet. One of the most common reasons for this is a hormonal imbalance.
Cortisol regulates the body’s response to stress. High levels over a long period are a common cause of physical anxiety symptoms.
The hormone tells the body that it needs to move quickly because there’s danger nearby, even if there’s not. It can make your breathing faster and shallower and cause your heart to beat faster.
It increases your appetite and cravings for unhealthy foods. It also affects the gastrointestinal tract, triggering conditions such as IBS and symptoms such as:
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Diarrhea
Constipation
Cramps
It affects the skin, causing flare-ups in patients with eczema. It can also cause rashes, hives, or pimples. Certain perfumes, lotions, or fabrics may begin to irritate your skin.
It can even cause your body’s core temperature to go down by moving your blood flow away from your extremities and towards your organs. Your hands and feet may start to tingle, and you may begin to shiver.
Where Can I Get Anxiety Treatment In Edmonton?
Anxiety disorders are plentiful but difficult to understand. The best defense is to pay attention to how they affect you. Once you do, seek the necessary treatment as soon as possible
Anxiety symptoms affect the mind and body. You may notice an inability to focus or think about anything other than what makes you anxious. You may also have an increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, or an upset stomach.
Relief from the symptoms of anxiety is possible. Contact Dr. Gary J. to schedule online therapy in Edmonton today.