If you suffer from stress/anxiety, what physical symptoms do you get from it?

[Twoweekcruise]

I have struggled with anxiety for many years but it is the physical symptoms which really incapacitate me and the more I suffer from these then the more anxious/stress I feel.
I have awful, daily digestive issues (gurgling guts, gas up and down, constipation and diarrhoea, acid, bloating etc) I have had endless tests but ‘just’ IBS apparently!, headaches, muscle aches and pains, tight jaw muscles and teeth clenching (have actually buggered up my teeth with this and night time grinding!), weird vision, excessive tiredness, light headed, awful nausea..........
I try lots of things to help like exercise, I listen to hypnotherapy daily, no caffeine, no alcohol, have weekly psychotherapist sessions etc but I still can’t relieve myself from these physical ailments and I am stuck in this cycle of anxiety/stress/physical issues then more stress/anxiety.
I am also almost 49 and very anaemic which I know does not help the issue at all.
How do you cope with the physical symptoms from your anxiety/stress?

Jaw clenching at night. Have been on a soft/pureed diet for the last 18months because of it. Fully sympathise with anyone else experiencing anxiety

I suffer with anxiety and ibs. When younger stress and anxiety would bring on a bout of ibs but this last year I've also noticed times where i feel anxious but I'm aware I've no reason to and I've not actually got anything stressing me and I have a flare up so I'm realising it works both ways

Exercise is one of the best things for me, and more recently I've found reading a book quietly in my own at night while dh watches TV is really good for me. I used to sit with him and scroll on my but I feel so much better just having 45mins reading on my own and being off my phone.

I really feel for you - health anxiety sufferer here too. I find this webpage really useful, it explains the causes of the physical manifestations.

I have had endless and ridiculous [physical symptoms of anxiety... I really feel for you x

Link would be helpful!

www.nomorepanic.co.uk/articles/symptoms

whatsnext2 I believe I’m perimenopausal, I need to look into hrt.
OhLookMoreShit You have very similar symptoms to me. I also get the depersonalisation thing, it’s very weird feeling. And the twitching before sleep, which like you is often broken, leaves me knackered.
DietCokeChipsAndMayo I just can’t tolerate the iron either, leaves me feeling awful.
BritInAus thank you.

I can relate to the physical symptoms of anxiety. It can be so debilitating. I’ve been on Sertraline for a few years now, first went on it for pnd. I tried all the usual well-being/ lifestyle tips but Sertraline has been a total game changer in terms of my anxiety.

@CapitanSandy

I found when I was anaemic my anxiety symptoms were a lot worse, felt a lot better once my ferritin and iron levels increased. My main symptoms chest pain, fast heart rate and uncomfortable stomach.

If you were able to get anemia sorted you would definitely be rid of some of those symptoms. I have been anemic at various times and the palpitations, light-headedness, fatigue etc really trigger anxiety as you feel so awful and it's a vicious cycle. Keeping my iron levels up really eliminated a lot of these symptoms making me feel well mostly. Also a lot of these symptoms can come just before the onset of menopause so that combined with low iron is a recipe for anxiety. I took a supplement from Boots..one a day ..called Complete Women and that plus exercise which for me was circuit training really got me through. All symptoms didn't just disappear but were easier to deal with.

My sister is sick every morning and has tummy ache, the doctors have said it’s anxiety. The sickness and tummy ache has gone by mid morning. My sister has to leave the first lesson each morning becasue she feels so sick.

Has anyone had this, as a family we are at a loss as to how to help her. My sister says she doesn’t feel anxious but doctors believe it is.

This explains in great detail whats going on in your body when it's under stress (and why).

Have you tried ?

@LarryandLeon

I can relate to the physical symptoms of anxiety. It can be so debilitating. I’ve been on Sertraline for a few years now, first went on it for pnd. I tried all the usual well-being/ lifestyle tips but Sertraline has been a total game changer in terms of my anxiety.

I so very much want to try antidepressants as I just can not keep living like this. I have a box of Citalopram and also Nortriptyline in my bedside cabinet but just can not muster up the courage to take one or the other. I am so scared of my digestive issues and so worried that the meds will exacerbate these tummy troubles. I need to man up, I know but the anxiety just stops me.

junebirthdaygurl I really do need to get my iron up, my ferritin is below 4 and I feel dreadful but I have tried so many iron supplements and they really upset my tummy. The only person who has taken me seriously with this is my gynaecologist, she has requested the ablation and iron infusions and I just hope neither appointment will be a long wait.

@Iheartbaby

My sister is sick every morning and has tummy ache, the doctors have said it’s anxiety. The sickness and tummy ache has gone by mid morning. My sister has to leave the first lesson each morning becasue she feels so sick.

Has anyone had this, as a family we are at a loss as to how to help her. My sister says she doesn’t feel anxious but doctors believe it is.

Morning stomach issues are very common. I belong to several IBS support groups on Facebook and many have issues in the morning, it because cortisol levels are at the highest am and obviously this ramps up the anxiety. I haven’t yet found a solution to dampening down my cortisol levels but I imagine antidepressants could really help, just wish I wasn’t so scared of them. I hope your sister finds a solution, it is absolutely horrible to be dictated by something like that.

@Sarahlou63

This explains in great detail whats going on in your body when it's under stress (and why).

Have you tried ?

Thank you. I do listen to gut directed hypnotherapy and progressive relaxation every day. It’s lovely at the time but sadly just doesn’t help me long term.

Panicky trapped feeling, stomach aches, dizziness, racing heart, short of breath, fever, blotchy rash.

When I went for my first Covid vaccination they almost wouldn't do it as they saw the rash on my neck and face and the way I looked and thought I was ill. No, just stressed!

For me, one thing that works is telling myself that I can remove myself from the stressful situation if I need to - and meaning it! Obviously that's a lot easier if it's something like crowded places than something work-related, but I've found that being kind to myself over the smaller stressors has made the bigger ones easier.

I've started eating a big bowl of porridge every day. At lunch if I don't have time in the morning. It has quite a sedative effect and helps a lot with the tummy. Actually now I'm really thinking about it it's made a big difference.

Also caffeine has to come right down. I can have coffee early morning and that's it!! Cutting out pop has helped loads too

I am really interested to see how many people mention IBS, DD’s anxiety started when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer out of the blue. She has had major stomach issues, rashes and blisters on her fingers when it is bad. I feel so guilty but it is so out of my control 😐 I didn’t realise that her IBS is more than likely related.

Flatandhappy Oh bless you both. You definitely have no reason to feel guilt but I totally understand. My ds has somehow either ‘inherited’ my iffy tummy or picked up on my anxiety over it as he too suffers from anxiety and IBS and the rash you describe, it travels from his chest to his neck. As soon as he gets anxious these symptoms all come out especially the tummy ones. My mum and grandad also had bad tummy issues as soon as they were anxious, which was often as we are a very anxiety ridden family!! I really hope you are both keeping well.

Sorry to hear that you everything that you have been through. I have IBS, migraines, Teeth grinding/jaw clenching, neck tension issues.

I was on all sorts of medication for about 15 years also was At the hospital for my jaw issue it just seemed never ended.

What has been a game changer for me was Botox in my jaw and no alcohol, ex husband leaving. Once I wasn’t in contestant pain with tension headaches, my migraines settled down. Then I can sort of maintain (not perfectly) everything else with exercise and Hypnotherapy.

Talk therapy also helped me deal with some issues. But I found being in constant pain blocked me dealing with anything properly

Teeth grinding which has caused damage to one of my molars and I subsequently needed a root canal. Jaw pain as well for similar reasons.
Bruises on my forearm where I grab it.
Extremely painful neck and shoulders because I hold all of my tension there.
Sometimes nausea and indigestion.
Occasional chest pain.
Hair loss although this may be hormonal because I had two babies within 20 months and breastfed back to back, still BFing 16 month old now.

I suffer health anxiety and have done for years. I’m always going to the doctors convinced something is wrong with me.
I get aches and pains in my muscles, stomach hip and back . Tension in shoulders and neck. Horrible reflux/ throat clearing. Palpitations. Snappy and irritable.
im on iron tablets so get very constipated and bloated. Sometimes I take a break from them because it’s horrible.
glad I’m not the only one with these symptoms.

Same as many. Gut issues, terrible intrusive catastrophic thoughts giving that gnawing, pit of stomach feeling, back ache, poor sleep.
So, no alcohol , no caffeine, HRT, propranolol, vit D and magnesium have all helped over the past couple of years. And prioritising sleep massively.