Stress & Anxiety Symptoms

Anyone can have stress and anxiety. In small doses, it can be OK; however, too much stress and anxiety can be harmful to your health and interfere with daily life. Stress is defined as any situation or thought that results in frustration, anger and anxiousness, while anxiety is the overwhelming feeling of apprehension or fear. When there is an unmanageable amount of stress or anxiety in your life, you may develop heart disease, depression, overeating, or abuse alcohol and/or drugs.

Causes

• Many things can cause stress and anxiety. If you have too much going on every day and don't have an outlet, it is possible for too much stress to build up. Also, recent events, such as a death or losing your job, can increase the severity of stress and anxiety. In addition, a poor diet can attribute to symptoms. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can contribute to stress and anxiety; overeating also can add to already existing stress.

Physical Symptoms

• Physical symptoms that can arise from anxiety are twitching or trembling of the limbs, muscle tension, headaches, sweating, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing and abdominal stress. Abdominal pain may be the only physical symptom you experience, especially among children. You may find that you exhibit only one symptom, or a combination of a few.

Accompanying Symptoms

• Other signs of stress that accompany anxiety include dizziness, rapid or irregular heart rate, rapid breathing, diarrhea, frequent need to urinate, fatigue, irritability and the loss of your temper, sleeping difficulties and nightmares, decreased concentration and sexual problems. Since these are additional symptoms for stress and anxiety, they could signify a greater level of anxiety that should be addressed.

Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety disorders, which interfere in your daily life to the level in which you are unable to function normally, are classified into different categories. These are generalized anxiety disorders, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders and social phobias. After a traumatic event, such as a sexual assault or combat-related experience, you can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients with PTSD experience severe anxiety symptoms.

Drug Side Effects and Withdrawals

• Some drugs can lead to anxiety symptoms as either a side effect or during withdrawal. The drugs that can produce these symptoms include ADHD medications, alcohol, amphetamines, bronchodilators, caffeine, cocaine, cold remedies, decongestants, diet pills, nicotine, thyroid medications and tricyclic antidepressants. If the side effects or withdrawals become disruptive, see a doctor, and discuss your medications.