When someone experiences anxiety for the first time, it can be a bewildering experience. And even if you’ve struggled with anxiety for a long time, it often remains just as torturous. Being familiar with the physical symptoms of anxiety is important for several reasons. It helps to be aware of the source of the overwhelming responses in your body.

Anxiety isn’t just in your mind. It’s also experienced in the body. This is because fear, whether real or perceived, actives a part of the brain that’s responsible for protecting you. When you feel afraid or threatened, you experience the three Fs: fight, flight, or freeze. A flood of biochemicals, including adrenaline are released into your bloodstream. The physical symptoms you experience as a result are your body’s way of trying to help you survive whatever it is that’s making you feel afraid.

These biochemicals will affect most, if not all, of the organ systems in your body: circulatory, respiratory, excretory, nervous, digestive, skin, and muscle.

Racing, Pounding Heart

Anxiety often provokes a greatly increased heart rate. You’ll notice as your pulse quickens and your heart pounds. Your body is pumping more blood into your muscles to prepare it for faster movement in response to threats.

In fact, it’s common for people who experience anxiety to believe they are experiencing heart problems. They often go to the emergency room as a result and are baffled to be told that they are experiencing an anxiety attack.

Shortness of Breath

Along with a racing heart comes shortness of breath during anxiety. This is because the lungs are rushing to move more oxygen into the lungs as it prepares to fight or flee.

Flushed Face

When you’re anxious, your face will often become flushed and red. This is a sign of increased blood flow as well.

Sweating

The body often sweats when under stress or pressure. It’s no different with anxiety. This can be a result of your increased heart rate and breathing as well.

Dizziness

Dizziness is another physical symptom that can be created by increased blood flow and breathing rate from anxiety.

Nausea

In response to fear, you also may experience a sense of nausea. This is also due to biochemicals like adrenaline. When they reach the digestive system, the natural balance of the stomach and intestines is upset and causes you to feel ill.

Diarrhea

Because your body wants to direct its resources to survival when afraid, it often causes diarrhea. This is because the body doesn’t want to “waste” resources on digestion when it believes more important things (like protection) are a priority. So food is expelled quickly to bypass the intense digestion process. Again, adrenaline plays a role in this.

Muscle Tension

Your body holds anxiety in the muscles as well. It’s your body’s way of being prepared to fight or run away from perceived danger. But muscle tension can really hurt and leave you with aches and pains.

Trembling and Shaking

Again, a sense of fear manifests itself in a number of physical reactions. The surge of adrenaline in your body can also create uncontrollable trembling, especially when you are extremely anxious or frightened. This is also related to muscle tension.

Insomnia

It’s probably no surprise that insomnia can be a physical symptom of anxiety. After all, if your entire body is on high alert, it’s going to be hard to go asleep.

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It’s also important to note that your physical symptoms of anxiety can vary based on what type of anxiety you experience. Short-term anxiety often produces much more intense physiological responses. With long-term anxiety, the effects may be more subtle but create dangerous health threats with time: immune disorders, high blood pressure, chronic insomnia, digestive disorders.

No matter what kind of anxiety you’re experiencing, it’s very important to seek anxiety treatment help. A counselor can guide you toward healing and effective coping techniques.