Anxiety disorder physical pain

As people's work pressure increases, more and more people have greater fluctuations in their emotions, especially the number of people suffering from anxiety disorders is increasing, but such mental illnesses are often easily overlooked. In fact, anxiety disorder can cause physical discomfort, that is to say, the phenomenon of physical pain caused by anxiety disorder is very common. People with this problem must not take it lightly, but should change their living conditions in time and face work and life positively.

Anxiety disorder, also known as anxiety neurosis, is the most common type of neurosis. It is characterized by the experience of anxious emotions. However, for many patients, the onset of the disease is not emotional, but mainly in a certain part of the body, such as feeling shortness of breath, pain in the limbs, palpitations, diarrhea, etc.

What are the main physical symptoms of patients with anxiety disorders?

Respiratory symptoms

The main symptoms are subjective feelings of insufficient air intake, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Sighing-like breathing and even a feeling of suffocation are very likely to occur.

Cardiovascular symptoms

The heartbeat increases and the blood pressure rises; some patients experience pain in the precordial area, which may be stabbing, dull, or vague. These symptoms may last for several hours and are accompanied by local tenderness; some patients may experience panic and palpitations.

Digestive symptoms

People with anxiety disorders may also experience dry mouth, loss of taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, indigestion and constipation. At the same time, they may feel discomfort in the upper abdomen but cannot describe the specific feeling.

Urinary symptoms

Urgent urination, erectile dysfunction, and loss of sexual desire; female patients may experience menstrual disorders and dysmenorrhea.

Autonomic symptoms

During acute attacks, there are often symptoms of autonomic dysfunction such as profuse sweating. The reason for physical anxiety is closely related to the function of the autonomic nervous system. Anxiety itself is an emotional response and will be affected by the autonomic nervous system. Studies have found that when the autonomic nervous system functions abnormally, such as hyperactivity, the organs controlled by it will experience somatic reactions.

Musculoskeletal system symptoms

Muscle tension in the face, limbs and other parts of the body causes contraction or compression headaches, which are more obvious in the forehead or occipital area. In addition, the neck, shoulders, waist, and back may feel stiff and painful, and in severe cases, tremors and convulsions may occur.

Therefore, when patients experience physical symptoms, they often do not think that they have anxiety disorder, and they will definitely not go directly to the psychosomatic or neurology departments for treatment. They usually go to the department where they have physical problems, which inevitably delays their treatment. Experts say that if there are no major problems after examination in the department, it is recommended that patients go directly to the psychosomatic department or neurology department, which may be of great help to them.