Yes: anxiety can cause very real physical symptoms.
If you’ve ever experienced a racing heart, dizziness, tightness in your chest, shaky hands or a strange feeling in your body and wondered,
“Why do I feel like this when nothing is actually wrong?”
Anxiety could be playing a part.
Anxiety isn't just something that happens in your mind.
When your brain senses a threat, your body can respond too, preparing you to deal with danger.
Even when there is no immediate physical danger, your nervous system can still switch into a state of alert.
This can create a wide range of physical sensations that can sometimes feel frightening in themselves.
What does physical anxiety actually feel like?
Physical symptoms of anxiety can vary from person to person. Some of the most common include:
A racing, pounding or noticeable heartbeat
Feeling short of breath or unable to take a satisfying breath
Tightness in the chest
Dizziness or feeling light-headed
Shaking or trembling
Muscle tension, particularly around the neck, shoulders and jaw
Feeling hot, cold or flushed
Sweating
Butterflies or discomfort in the stomach
Nausea
Tingling or pins and needles
Headaches
Feeling restless or unable to relax
Feeling tired or drained
A general feeling that something isn't quite right
These sensations can be uncomfortable and sometimes the symptoms themselves can trigger more anxiety.
Please be sure to always get physical symptoms checked out first by your GP, before thinking they may be related to anxiety.
Why does anxiety affect the body?
When your brain perceives a threat, it can activate your body's fight, flight or freeze response.
This is designed to help keep you safe.
Your heart may beat faster, your breathing may change, your muscles can tense and your stomach may start churning.
The important thing to understand is that your body isn't necessarily doing something wrong.
It may simply be responding as though it needs to prepare for something.
When anxiety continues for a long time, you may become more aware of physical sensations that you would normally barely notice.
What can you do when physical anxiety appears?
Try not to fight the sensation, focusing on making it disappear can sometimes make it feel stronger.
Instead, gently acknowledge what you’re experiencing.
Pause. Breathe. Notice.
Take a slow, comfortable breath.
Allow your shoulders to drop and notice where you’re tense in your body.
Bring your attention back to what’s happening around you rather than repeatedly checking the sensation.
You might say to yourself:
“This will pass and I will be okay.”
The aim isn’t to force yourself to feel calm instantly, it’s to help your brain and body learn that you can feel these uncomfortable sensations and still be okay.
You are not imagining it
Physical anxiety symptoms are real and are sometimes referred to as "health anxiety".
This doesn't mean you're imagining the symptoms or that they're “all in your head.”
Could hypnotherapy help?
If anxiety has become a regular part of your life, you don't necessarily have to simply put up with the physical symptoms.
Solution-focused hypnotherapy can help you develop a different relationship with anxious thoughts, feelings and physical sensations,
while focusing on the changes you want to make, rather than continually analysing what's gone wrong.
The aim is to help you feel calmer, more confident and more able to respond differently when anxiety appears.
Want to understand and manage your physical anxiety?
Coming soon....My Physical Anxiety Guide offers simple, practical strategies to help you understand the connection between anxiety and your body and learn techniques to help you feel more in control.
💜 Looking for personalised support?
If anxiety is affecting your everyday life and you'd like some one-to-one support, you can find out more about my solution-focused hypnotherapy sessions here:
Share this post: