- [Presenter] Have you ever experienced physical symptoms
and not known why?
It could be that you're experiencing anxiety
without realizing it.
So what exactly is anxiety?
Experiencing occasional moments of anxiety is normal,
such as when facing a problem at work
or before taking an exam where you may feel
your heart beating rapidly, sweaty palms or nausea.
But these symptoms of nervousness dissolve over time.
While you may have experienced these symptoms at some point,
anxiety is more than temporary worrying or stress.
Worries and stress arise from external triggers
such as an upcoming deadline
or an argument with a loved one.
Anxiety on the other hand is persist worry
in the absence of stressors.
The American Psychology Association defines it as
an emotion characterized by apprehension
and somatic symptoms of tensions
in which an individual anticipates impending danger,
catastrophe or misfortune.
Aside from its mental symptoms,
anxiety also produce a roster of physical symptoms
such as insomnia, fatigue and muscle tension.
Most people pay more attention to the physical symptoms
as they're easy to identify,
and as a result tend to treat the symptoms
rather than the underlying cause.
So with that said, here are six symptoms of anxiety
that can help you discern if it's an illness or anxiety.
Number one, irritability.
Yes, this symptom may seem vague because when you're unwell,
who wouldn't be a bit irritated?
However, if you find yourself getting worked up
over the slightest things, that could be a sign of anxiety.
Anxiety triggers our fight flight or freeze response.
It also makes you believe that you're constantly in danger
which reduces your tolerance to stress.
As your stress tolerance decreases
you become more susceptible to snapping at someone.
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Number two, depersonalization or derealization.
Another sign that your physiological symptoms
are the result of anxiety and not a sickness
is if you experience frequent bouts of derealization
or depersonalization.
Both symptoms disrupt how you perceive yourself
and the world.
Derealization is a sensation of being outside of your body
and is a frightening thing to experience.
One minute you can be walking down the street
and suddenly everything feels two dimensional or unreal.
Depersonalization is usually described
as an out of body experience.
Most times you feel like you're watching
and hearing yourself in real time,
but your actions feel distant
like you're not the person doing them
and your limbs or body can appear distorted
and foreign to you.
Reports show that stress and anxiety are the primary causes
of derealization and depersonalization
because your fight or flight response to stress floods
your brain with adrenaline which redirects blood
from the brain to the larger muscle groups and core.
Because your brain has less blood
you may feel more lightheaded,
and as a result you may experience derealization
and depersonalization.
If this happens to you, it helps to breathe.
The adrenaline usually takes two to three minutes
to metabolize but you may take 20 minutes
to calm down physically and mentally.
Number three, phobias and coping mechanisms.
Another sign that you're experiencing anxiety
and not a physical illness is if you notice
that you've developed new and unexplainable phobias.
We all have phobias whether they developed during childhood
or are the result of a bad experience.
Phobias are our brain's way of trying to keep us from harm.
However, some phobias are the results of anxiety
and can become obstacles in your daily life.
Technically phobias are categorized as anxiety disorders
and fall into two group; specific and complex.
Specific phobias usually stem from a bad experience,
but complex phobias stem from mental or emotional distress.
Specific phobias usually don't need treatment
but complex phobias, like a agoraphobia,
the fear of being in busy places and social phobia do.
These phobia opioids can make you feel more alone
and can also affect your self-esteem.
Number four, attacks, trouble breathing.
A telltale sign of anxiety is experiencing a panic attack
or anxiety attack.
Though both terms are used interchangeably,
they're different.
A panic attack is a sudden overwhelming surge of emotion
such as fear and discomfort.
You may feel your chest tighten
as your breathing has stopped.
You may also feel dizzy or lightheaded.
While anxiety attacks have similar symptoms,
they're a bit different as they're the result of symptoms
that have been gradually building up.
Number five, gastrointestinal disruptions.
Gastro intestinal issues are another sign of anxiety
but can also arise independently of your mental health.
While anxiety and gastro illnesses are mutually exclusive,
there is research supporting the theory
that anxiety causes gastrointestinal disorders
such as irritable bowel syndrome
and studies have shown the comorbidity
between anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome.
There's lots of research that treatment
for some gastrointestinal disorders may involve therapy.
And number six, physiological strangeness.
A final sign that you're experiencing anxiety
is if you feel tingling or numbness
usually in your face and limbs,
which is the feeling of blood rushing to your extremities
as your fight or flight response kicks in.
While blood rushes to our extremities,
other areas of your body can feel weak.
Tingling and numbing can also be caused by hyperventilation
which indirectly happens when you're anxious.
Along with the symptoms listed in this article,
there are other ways anxiety can manifest itself.
Despite its symptoms, anxiety is manageable.
Please reach out to a medical health professional
or a therapist for help.
Do you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself?
Let us know when the comments below.
And remember to like and share this video
with who might benefit.
As always, the references and studies used
are listed in the description below.
Take care and thanks for watching.
See you next time.