The symptoms of anxiety disorders are due to the body's reaction to stress called the fright, fight or flight response. This reaction developed in early human evolution as a means to increase alertness and readiness to react to dangerous stressors, such as the threat of a man-eating predator. When confronted with a stressor, the body's nervous system reacts by releasing the chemical epinephrine, also known as adrenalin. Epinephrine produces effects that make the body better able to physically "fight or take flight" from a stressor. Effects include increased alertness and a more rapid breathing and heart rate, which prepares the muscles with extra oxygen and energy they need to work hard.
In anxiety disorders, the fright, fight or flight response is excessive, and occurs constantly or frequently. This results in symptoms that include severe feelings of panic, dread, distress, restlessness, apprehension, and/or trepidation. Physical symptoms also occur and can include shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, muscle tension, and insomnia. Other symptoms of anxiety disorders can include trouble with concentration, and feeling tense, irritable, and restless.
Anxiety disorders can impact the ability to cope and live a normal life. For example, driving slowly and cautiously on a snowy day is a normal reaction to the stress a slippery road presents. A person with an anxiety disorder can be so anxious about snow that he or she is paralyzed with fear and completely unable to come out of the house on a snowy day. It is also not unusual for anxiety disorders to occur with depression....more about Anxiety disorders »
Anxiety disorders symptoms: Symptoms of anxiety run the gamut from almost unnoticeable, such as a mild elevation in heart rate, to so extreme that they can interfere with the activities of daily living. This can include having anxiety about closed in spaces that is so excessive that a person refuses to use an elevator. The symptoms of anxiety are related to a physiological human reaction called the fright, fight or flight response. This reaction developed in early human evolution as a means to increase alertness and readiness to react to dangerous stressors, such as the threat of a man-eating predator. When confronted with stress, such as danger, the body's nervous system reacts by releasing the chemical epinephrine, also known as adrenalin. Epinephrine produces effects that make our body's better able to physically "fight or take flight" from a danger. These include increasing the breathing and heart rate so the muscles get the extra oxygen and energy they need to work hard.
In today's world people most often experience stressors that cannot be addressed effectively by fighting or running away, such as balancing finances on a tight budget, cramming for a test, going through a divorce, or running late for an important appointment. However, epinephrine still circulates through the body in response to these types of stressors. Large amounts of epinephrine can result in symptoms, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest pain. When physical symptoms such as these are experienced, it is very important not to assume they are due to anxiety. Seek professional medical care immediately....more about Anxiety disorders »
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Anxiety disorders includes the 33 symptoms listed below:
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People with panic disorder have feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. They can't predict when an attack will occur, and many develop intense anxiety between episodes, worrying when and where the next one will strike.
If you are having a panic attack, most likely your heart will pound and you may feel sweaty, weak, faint, or dizzy. Your hands may tingle or feel numb, and you might feel flushed or chilled. You may have nausea, chest pain or smothering sensations, a sense of unreality, or fear of impending doom or loss of control. You may genuinely believe you're having a heart attack or losing your mind, or on the verge of death.
Panic attacks can occur at any time, even during sleep. An attack generally peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may last much longer. (Source: excerpt from Anxiety Disorders: NIMH)
When considering symptoms of Anxiety disorders, it is also important to consider Anxiety disorders as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Anxiety disorders may cause:
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The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Anxiety disorders. This signs and symptoms information for Anxiety disorders has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Anxiety disorders signs or Anxiety disorders symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Anxiety disorders may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Anxiety disorders symptoms.
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