How Does Anxiety Affect Your Physical Health?
Suffering from anxiety does not only affect how you go about your daily lives and activities, but it also negatively affects your physical health in more ways than one.
Anxiety affects not only your mental abilities but also your physical well-being. Although different individuals deal with anxiety in different ways, it does not change the fact that suffering from it will affect your physical health at some point.
So, how does (chronic) anxiety affect your physical health?
Lowered Immune System
Your entire body is negatively impacted by anxiety, so if you’re falling sick more often than usual, it may be a sign that your mental health or anxiety is slowly deteriorating or becoming worse. The immune system’s capacity to combat diseases is weakened by it. Your body won’t receive the message to resume proper functioning if you are anxious and stressed frequently or for a prolonged period of time.
Studies show that people with chronic anxiety are more likely to get the flu, a cold, and other illnesses. Due to the fact that chronic anxiety can weaken your immune system, it can also cause an increased spike of stress in your body, which causes the release of the hormone cortisol.
Skin Issues
Your body produces more hormones in response to stress and anxiety, which may stimulate oil production and contribute to acne as well as other skin issues including rashes, hives, and more. Existing skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even rosacea can get worse if you are constantly stressed and anxious. Hives might also appear when you are experiencing an attack.
A dermatologist can be helpful; however, you should also consult a mental health professional if you think your anxiety is contributing to your skin issues.
Body Pains and Aches
There is a frequent association between physical and mental strain, which is why you’ll notice how when you’re stressed, you feel like you are also physically tired. Chronic anxiety can lead to sore muscles, neck and back pain, chronic headaches, stress migraines, and a lot more.
It may seem like your body is bruised in a few, many, or all places if you are experiencing body aches and pains as a result of it. Your body experiences unexplainable aches and sensations.
Sleeping Problems
Sleep problems like insomnia and anxiety are frequently related to one another. This is due to the fact that people with anxiety disorders frequently overthink a lot of things during the night, which keeps them up and prevents them from getting any sleep. Moreover, lack of sleep can also worsen it. This is a vicious cycle of anxiety and insomnia that you should immediately get checked out by a professional before it gets any worse.
Fatigue
A hormonal surge brought on by anxiety might make you feel exhausted and drained. Although the slump is probably just brief, the fatigue persists even after a much-needed rest. Additionally, it can increase your fatigue by disrupting your sleep and causing body aches.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of negative effects that anxiety has on your physical health. Therefore, you should seek professional care right away before your physical health suffers as a result of it.
