The Physical Signs of Anxiety That Are Easy To Miss
Anxiety is something that affects more people than you think, hint: it is the most common mental health condition in Australia1, Beyond Blue reports that over 2 million Australian suffer from anxiety each year. Despite all of this, there are plenty of mistaken thoughts and ideas around anxiety, not only what it is but where it comes from and how it appears.
Firstly, when it comes to the signs and symptoms of anxiety your mind probably goes straight to fear, stress and worry the psychological signs that have you imagining a neverending list of internal thoughts and stressors. Yet, the symptoms of anxiety fall into three categories, the most common is psychological but there are also physical or behavioural signs to look out for.
Emergency Department providers estimate that 30 per cent of patients seeking emergency help for chest pain were actually experiencing symptoms of anxiety2. So why are we only just finding out about this now? The physical symptoms of anxiety are lesser known and difficult to diagnose.
In particular, the physical symptoms of anxiety are (1):
- Panic attacks
- Hot and cold flushes
- Racing heart
- Tightening of the chest
- Restlessness1
Statistics by Beyond Blue reveal that one in three women and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage in their life. Anxiety can be managed and treated but it isn’t a one size fits all approach. Organisations such as Beyond Blue, Lifeline and Headspace are tackling the stigma around mental health and want to encourage Australians to speak up and get help. Remember anxiety can be a serious mental health condition that needs to be treated with care, so please consult a medical professional for ongoing support and treatment.
For information, support and guidance from mental health professionals, contact the SANE Help Centre on 1800 187 263 or email helpline@sane.org from 10am-10pm AEST. The SANE Online Forums also provide a safe, free and anonymous online platform offering connection and support.
Sources:
1 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety
2 https://bmcemergmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12873-018-0161-x
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