why does anxiety cause..

[anxiety860]

Muscle pain? pain in arm/legs? and digestive issues? I'm trying to learn more about why it causes certain things... Why does it cause these two things? anybody know? I get both of them from anxiety... also does anxiety cause actual stomach pain? no feeling nasuess, but actual stomach pain?

[mele48]

Thanks for the additional insight!  It's so good to have a forum where knowledge is shared.

I also saw the "gluten free" poster - I thought that was a bit odd, too.  

Thanks, Paxiled!

[Paxiled]

The fight or flight response, and the chemical here is cortisol, applies to an anxiety attack.  It doesn't necessarily happen to people who are chronically anxious, such as those with GAD or PTSD or OCD.  Scientific research suggests that something is happening in the amygdyla, part of the primitive brain, because extra activity is seen there when people are anxious, but nobody's cracked that nut yet.  So while during a panic attack cortisol is probably overfiring from the adrenals from a signal possibly from the amygdyla, that isn't necessarily so with chronic anxiety which isn't an attack so much as a constant state of mind.  It might be happening, but it isn't as stark as the increased cortisol during a panic attack.  Anxiety is a s likely to cause people to gain as lose weight -- it depends on what you do when you're anxious.  Some people eat, some people lose their appetite.  Obviously, if you eat when you're anxious and you're anxious a lot, you'll probably gain weight.  Unfortunately, nobody knows what causes anxiety or depression.  People get different bodily reactions -- some people do breathe faster, but more often they breathe more shallowly than faster, the opposite of relaxing deep abdominal breathing.  Some will have their blood pressure rise or their heart rate go up, but others won't -- I don't.  In fact, I've been tested during an anxiety attack and my blood pressure was that of an athlete and a person who meditates regularly, which is because I was that at the time I was tested.  Those who get strong physiological reactions actually are easier to treat with relaxation techniques, because they can work on lowering those measures.  For those of us who don't get those symptoms, it's harder, because we don't have something physiological to work on.  Illnesses are tough to decipher.  There's someone on here who's telling everyone they'll feel better if they go off gluten, but that's only true if they have a gluten intolerance, which is usually actually a strong reaction to wheat that spreads.  It's an odd world out there.

[mele48]

I've done a little research, so I can only share what I've learned.  I'm also an EMT, so I know a bit about body systems, but I'm by no means an expert.  So here's what I can share.

The chemical that causes anxiety is the same "fight or flight" chemical that we're wired with to protect us.  It's a "working" chemical - when it gets dumped into our body, our body is wired to DO something - work - to protect us.  It fires all of our systems into a state of action/preparation for action.  Our heart rate may increase to send more blood through our body.  Additionally, that increased blood flow needs to be oxygenated - our breathing may increase - OR we may feel breathless because we're not getting enough in.  If we're not getting enough oxygen, that can lead to dizziness, blurred vision, etc.  

We may feel nausea or GI distress for a few different reasons.  # 1 - when our body is ready to "work", it's only going to focus on the most important body systems.  Digestion isn't one of them.  So our body is going to decide what to do with what's in that system - which may mean get rid of it - in order to focus resources on other body systems.  # 2 - increased heart rate can send a lot of blood into our organs.  That can also cause nausea.  # 3 - there is a giant nerve group that runs down the center of our bodies into our digestive system.  If that nerve group gets over stimulated, that can also lead to nausea/GI distress.

Anxiety will also burn off calories in a single bound.  When our body thinks it's working, it will ask for fast fuel & fluids.  For me, I always crave carbs.  But carbs get burnt rapidly by the body, leaving me depleted with low blood sugar.  I also struggle to tell myself to drink water/fluids.  Low blood sugar/dehydration - you guessed it - ALSO can cause anxiety.  And with all that calorie burning taking place, weight loss can be common.  Caffeinated beverages are also a stimulant, causing higher heart rates & when we're already spooled up, can exacerbate anxiety.

The other thing to keep in mind is that our body is a finely tuned instrument that will do things to try to fix itself.  Anxiety is just a mess - that chemical gets dumped in our body to "fight or flight".  But so often, there's not a threat in front of us to fight or run away from.  That's what makes anxiety so hard.  BUT our body doesn't know there's no threat - it only knows there's a chemical telling it to do something.  If the body isn't responding as programmed, it will dump more chemical in to try and *make* it do its job.  Which, sadly, creates more anxiety.

Paxiled is 100% right - at the end of the day, just the plain stress alone of the anxiety chemical can wreak havoc on every single body system from head to toes.  But, please please know - this has nothing to do with a lack of strength.  It's just our system working against us.  It takes a whole lot of strength and guts and courage to just battle this every day, and to reach out and get help.  Dealing with anxiety needs to be a whole body/self approach - just pills won't help.  Just exercise won't.  Just therapy won't.  That's why each of us needs to find ways that help that work for us.  What works for Mele48 might not work for Mommyju, and vice versa.

These are just my thoughts based on some initial research I've done and things I've discussed with my doctors.  It helped my analytical brain understand a little better, and actually helped validate all the "why's" on why I needed to get help, eat better, etc.  Hope it helps someone on here.

[Mommyju]

Wow! This thing ***** and can surely suck the life out of us!
Like, I just woke up, it's 3:25 am where I'm, I should be asleep but, NO!!! I'm up worrying about my weight loss. I have no pain, no discomfort, my stomach it's not burning, like some nights, but I'm still up. My mind just won't turn off! It's horrible what can anxiety cause to our body. I just wish I was strong enough to take control of it, and stop pretending I'm fine all the time.... =/

[Jennchandler14]

And to mommyju as well, Paxiled knows what's happening. I have suffered since Jr High with anxiety, waking up in the middle of the night frantically running into my parents room not being able to explain what was wrong. Also not knowing at the time my mother had suffered for years our childhood and she still was. Instead of treating the core issues they would load me up and take me to the ER where the Dr would give me a shot and knock me out. Just thought I was sick! Now at 37 it is still hard to comprehend but I have learned that it can and will attack every part of your body.  Especially my stomach and my brain function. I have to force physical activity to know I'm okay and the fear and what I feel like is pain I can gain control of and stop letting it control me!  Keep pushing on. It can bring us down ;)

[Jennchandler14]

Very well said!!!

[anxiety860]

Interesting.. Thanks all. I was always curious.

[Paxiled]

A healthy body is in balance.  Anxiety, pain, etc. are the body's way of signaling it's out of balance.  When we're irrationally anxious that stress on the body is chronic, so the body is chronically out of balance.  Unfortunately, we don't know what causes this so it's hard to put the body back into balance, but we try through therapy, relaxation exercises, a healthy diet and the like to take the pressure off so the body can recuperate.  Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.  When you sprain your ankle, it eventually heals, but in the meantime it can throw off other parts of your body, such as cause plantar fascitis in the foot or pain in the hip, which might not show for years.  It's just how life is.  Where you feel that is where you're most sensitive, such as the digestive system, which works best in a relaxed state, or your muscles, which will hurt when they're tight for prolonged periods of time.  

[Mommyju]

I'm wondering the same thing.... I know anxiety can cause a LOT of things, and I'm struggling with stomach ache for about a month now, it happened right after a very stressful situation and lots of anxiety! It came, it went away, now I'm stressed again, the pain and burning in my stomachs it's back. Just booked an appt with my doctor for next week.... But til them.... Urghhhhh