What Are the Physical Signs of Anxiety?

Anxiety, a mental disorder, can manifest in several physical ways, sometimes mimicking serious health problems.

Heart Attack?

• As anyone with anxiety issues can attest to, a full-blown anxiety attach can mimic a heart attack. The heart pounds, with chest pain and sweating.

Upset Stomach

• Ever hear the term "I have a knot in my stomach?" People suffering from anxiety often feel a stomach upset because the body is under stress, creating stomach acid, which can cause nausea or diarrhea.

Insomnia

• People with anxiety often have trouble sleeping. Chances are they can't stop their minds from overworking during an anxiety attack and are unable to sleep.

Fatigue

• When people can't sleep well because of anxiety-induced insomnia, they become fatigued from a lack of rest.

Headaches

• Sometimes people under extreme stress and anxiety get headaches thought to be caused by muscle tension in the head, face and neck. Anxious people may not realize they're tensing up their muscles until they start to feel pain.