It Gets Tricky. Symptoms of anxiety produce very real physical symptoms: Dizziness, stomachaches, rapid heartbeat, tingling in the hands and feet, muscle tension, jitteriness, chest pressure, and the list goes on. These symptoms
add fuel to the fire
.
Can hypochondria make you feel physical symptoms?
Because hypochondria can activate the “fight or flight” system of the body,
having excessive worries about your health can cause some physical symptoms
. Some common symptoms of anxiety that hypochondria can trigger include: Stomachaches and conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Dizziness.
Can Googling symptoms cause symptoms?
Research literature has associated anxiety and cyberchondria with problematic internet searching for medical information. A study reviewed in Comprehensive Psychiatry shows that
googling symptoms results in an escalation of concerns and excessive worrying about symptoms
.
Why can't I stop Googling symptoms?
You may know this condition as hypochondriasis, and you're probably familiar with the word “hypochondriac.” Even if you're not a hypochondriac,
searching for medical symptoms and illnesses online may add unnecessary worry and a lack of peace of mind to your life
. The internet-age term for this is “cyberchondria.”
How does fear and anxiety affect the body?
Anxiety can trigger your flight-or-fight stress response and release a flood of chemicals and hormones, like adrenaline, into your system
. In the short term, this increases your pulse and breathing rate, so your brain can get more oxygen. This prepares you to respond appropriately to an intense situation.
What is psychosomatic?
Psychosomatic means
mind (psyche) and body (soma)
. A psychosomatic disorder is a disease which involves both mind and body. Some physical diseases are thought to be particularly prone to being made worse by mental factors such as stress and anxiety.
How do you stop health anxiety symptoms?
- 1) Acknowledge how you're feeling. There's no right or wrong way to feel at the moment. …
- 2) Avoid health-related news. This might seem ‘easier said than done'! …
- 3) Stop Googling your symptoms. …
- 4) Manage unhelpful thoughts. …
- 5) Maintain as normal a routine as you can.
Can obsessing over symptoms make them worse?
Hypochondriacs tend to be very aware of bodily sensations that most people live with and ignore. To a hypochondriac, an upset stomach becomes a sign of cancer and a headache can only mean a brain tumor.
The stress that goes along with this worry can make the symptoms even worse
.
What helps with health anxiety?
- Cleaning a room.
- Gardening.
- Doing a crossword puzzle.
- Painting or drawing.
- Going for a hike.
Can anxiety make you sick for days?
Everyone feels sick sometimes, but in some circumstances, a person can feel sick all or most of the time. This feeling can refer to nausea, catching colds often, or being run-down.
A person might feel sick continuously for a few days, weeks, or months due to a lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, or a poor diet
.
Can psychosomatic illness cause physical pain?
Psychosomatic pain has a known physical source
, but psychological issues such as anxiety play a role in how the pain progresses—for example, depression exacerbating an endocrine disorder.
What are psychosomatic symptoms of anxiety?
Some other psychosomatic symptoms include
numbness, dizziness, chest pains, weight loss, ongoing cough, jaw tightness, shortness of breath and insomnia
.
How do I know if my symptoms are psychosomatic?
In addition to the somatic symptom itself (for example, pain or upset stomach), people with psychosomatic disorder often:
Become angry or irritable because they believe their medical needs aren't being met
. Get depressed or anxious. Visit healthcare providers frequently, often jumping from one physician to another.
What triggers health anxiety?
Health anxiety most often occurs in early or middle adulthood and can worsen with age. For older people, health anxiety may focus on a fear of developing memory problems. Other risk factors for health anxiety include:
a stressful event or situation
.
What health anxiety feels like?
Many people with health anxiety are often unable to function or enjoy life due to their fears and preoccupations. They
obsess over bodily functions (breathing, heartbeat), physical oddities (skin blemishes), and physical discomfort (headaches, stomach aches, lightheadedness)
.
How can I stop my body scanning?
Simply
acknowledge their presence, allowing them to be there, then letting go with your attention and focusing back on your breath
. Spend about 1 or 2 minutes doing this. 3) Now expand your awareness to sensing your whole body breathing, being aware of sensations throughout your body.
Can anxiety cause pain that isn't there?
But unfortunately, just like pain can make you feel worse mentally,
your mind can cause pain without a physical source, or make preexisting pain increase or linger
. This phenomenon is called psychogenic pain, and it occurs when your pain is related to underlying psychological, emotional, or behavioral factors.
