Article
Can anxiety cause physical symptoms?
Some women arrive at counseling after months of tests that came back normal. The symptoms were real. The cause was carried, not diagnosed.
The short answer
Anxiety often shows up physically: stomach upset, muscle tension, headaches, jaw clenching, chest tightness, dizziness or fatigue. A medical evaluation should always come first, and when tests are clear, the body may be reporting stress the mind has been overriding.
Why the body speaks first
When you are used to managing your feelings quietly, the body becomes the place where pressure goes. This is not imaginary and it is not weakness. Sustained stress changes muscle tension, digestion, sleep and breathing.
Many women say the physical symptoms were the first thing they were willing to take seriously, because they felt permitted to have a body problem in a way they did not feel permitted to have a feelings problem.
Common patterns
- Stomach trouble before specific events or people.
- Shoulders and jaw that stay tight all day.
- Shallow breathing you only notice when you sigh.
- Headaches that arrive when the week finally slows.
- Feeling wired at night and heavy in the morning.
What to do
See your physician first and take the results seriously either way. If your workup is clear, that is useful information rather than a dismissal.
In counseling the work usually goes two directions at once: calming the body and addressing what it has been holding.
Common questions
Should I see a doctor or a counselor?
Start with your doctor for new physical symptoms. Counseling fits alongside medical care, not instead of it.
Can anxiety really cause stomach problems?
Digestive symptoms are among the most commonly reported physical experiences with anxiety, though your physician should evaluate them.
Will the physical symptoms go away?
Many people notice their body settles as the underlying pressure gets addressed, though timelines vary and no outcome can be promised.
Learn more about counseling for anxiety and depression with Lori, or browse all articles on anxiety and depression.
Written by Lori Rasmussen, LISW, a Licensed Independent Social Worker licensed in the State of Iowa and a Certified Spiritual Director. Lori counsels women and female students in Waterloo, Iowa and online across Iowa. Articles here are meant to help you understand what you may be experiencing; they are not a diagnosis and they do not take the place of care from a professional who knows your story.
Reaching out can be the first step.
You don't need to know exactly what to say, or have anything figured out, before you contact Lori.
Or email rasmussencounselingandsd@gmail.com