Can anxiety give you cold like symptoms?

[Cloud44]

Does anyone else experience this? I often get a cold or feel like I’m getting a cold before I have something big on either work wise or socialising out of work, and I’m starting to think it could be linked to feeling nervous about whatever the occasion is? And I hate feeling off colour in front of people which makes me feel more worried then I feel worse… I know this sounds mad. Is anyone else the same?!

I think it must just be me?!

Stress is known to depress the immune system, so yes, it is entirely possible that your symptoms are related to stress. When I was a student, I used to get two colds a year - each during the big exam periods.

Yes, just ask Adelaide from Guys and Dolls.

That's so weird, I just came on here to ask this question!
I'm having a really stressful/high anxiety time at the moment and I've had cold/flu symptoms on and off the last few days (achy, shivery, general malaise)... which in turn is making me even more anxious because that's just not what I need right now!

So to answer your original question, yeah, me too

This is exactly how I feel @eandz13 and seem to ahead of anything going on which I feel I can’t be poorly for if that makes sense?!

Perfect sense. Your anxiety about feeling poorly causes stress which depresses your immune system and makes you vulnerable to something which could actually cause you to feel poorly.
A self-fulfilling prophecy if ever there was one.

This is it @ShrubRose , how can I snap out of the cycle?!

You said exactly what I was thinking!

I'm exactly the same! But it feels so real that in the moment I can't tell if it is actually real or psychosomatic... I find out it's the latter the day after the stressful event when I feel fine and no longer need to worry about it! 🙄

It's not easy, but I think it would be good to start by reassuring yourself that you will perform fine, professionally or socially, even if you do feel a bit under the weather.
Commit to taking good care of yourself with sleep and nutrition and tell yourself that if you feel "off" you'll take a paracetamol or a salt-water gargle and carry on. I think after a few experiences like this, you will have a better way of preparing for stressful situations.

Yep @eandz13 this is the same for me!

Thank you for your kind responses @ShrubRose , I think for some reason I have a thing about feeling unwell in front of others that makes me feel extra panicky , I know it’s silly when every other person this time of year has some kind of cold or other but my mind starts to think what if I’m at Xxx and feel worse, I must feel better in time to go and feel fine which again is putting extra pressure on myself which I know won’t help my immune system.

You have a lot of good insights. That will help you correct for them in those situations. Remind yourself, "I tend to feel ... " and realise it's just a feeling. Then you can use coping skills. It takes time, but you've committed to opening this up and exploring it, so it will become more manageable.

Thank you 😀. For example I have a meal to go to tomorrow, I feel like I’m coming down with a cold and getting more snuffly as the day goes on, instead of chilling about it I’m worrying about how I ll feel tomorrow and I want to go but what if I feel worse or get worse when I’m there etc. I don’t want to feel like this, I want to break the cycle!

I’m exactly like this and really wish I wasn’t as it stops me looking forward to things

I know @Agnes12 ! I’m sure I’m worse since covid , I just used to crack on and not think about a cold before that. It’s really annoying

How do you tend to deal with it @Agnes12 ?

Absolutely yes! I do take medication for my anxiety but it makes me feel so unwell at times and even gives me a raised temperature, the shivers and achey bones. I spent 50 years regularly feeling I was " coming down with something " that didn't materialise until my psychiatrist made the connection.

I used to have this often when doing one of my old jobs. I was so stressed and anxious that I got ill (like a cold/very tired) and when the stress released I felt normal. I was even once on a holiday and my mate wanted to go partying on our first night but I couldn't as I was feeling so ill but after sleeping well I woke up feeling amazing.

It’s reassuring to hear it’s not just me, but horrible that others have it too. How did you stop it from happening @Olika ?

Mental health can manifest as a physical illness - I've experienced that myself.

Is there anyway of making it go away for tomorrow?!

DH has anxiety and gets colds far more often than me or the DCs. I have never connected the two before but maybe there's something in it?

I think it’s to do with doubting our ability to cope if we are ill and something else important is happening whereas if the cold materialises we probably will cope. Also maybe just try to distract and “live in the moment”. I’ve got to do a long flight on Monday and I have had a couple of occasions during my lifetime where I have had to do a flight with a cold. Yes it’s not been the best but I have coped and other people do it too and manage. In fact on most flights there are any number of people with hacking coughs and sneezing! I think it’s also part of having a tendency towards perfectionism. This event/holiday must be perfect and a cold will result in disaster, won’t be able to go etc etc. basically expecting the worst case. Keeping busy might help…

You have explained it so well @Agnes12 . I think you are completely right. Good luck for Monday, you will have a brilliant flight even if you aren’t feeling at your best 😀.