7 Symptoms You Might Not Realize May Be Caused by Anxiety

When you become anxious, your body undergoes a cascade of preparations in anticipation of a perceived threat. The Sympathetic Nervous System takes over, readying you for a "fight-flight-or freeze" response to allow you to neutralize or escape any threat. The problem arises when we start to have chronic anxiety or develop Generalized Anxiety Disorder, where this response becomes part of our everyday life. You may not even recognize that you are bathing in stress hormones on a nearly constant basis, those hormones taking a toll on your long-term physical health, your happiness, your heart.

With yoga therapy tools, you can learn to develop your awareness of stress and anxiety -and how your body responds to it. The ability to hone this awareness is the first step toward addressing anxiety. As a Yoga Therapist, I introduce coping mechanisms to assist you in responding to anxiety thereby reducing the debilitating effects, allowing for a happier and more fulfilling life.

Many of us are aware of the most common symptoms of anxiety: However, the following are seven unusual symptoms of anxiety you might not recognize. Try to become aware of your body, thoughts, and environment the next time you experience these symptoms.

1. Fever/Temperature Spike

Chronic anxiety may lead to changes in brain function, especially in the brain stem, which is a part of the "reptilian" brain- the most primitive and earliest form of the human brain. The sole purpose of the brainstem is to maintain our survival, and it is responsible for temperature regulation. Anxiety can cause temperature spikes known as psychogenic fever, which is a fever with a psychological cause. Though we commonly experience sweaty palms or armpits due to anxiety, it might not be as obvious that we can experience a rush of warmth, flushing, or even develop a fever if we are feeling pretty anxious. For me, this sometimes manifested as a sensation of feeling suffocated by blankets or a sweater, or even a sudden need to escape the space I was in to get to a cool, ventilated space.

2. A Runny Nose

An anxious brain releases a flood of chemicals to help you combat a threat, including histamine, which many recognize as the substance the body produces in response to environmental allergens like pollen or animal dander. Since anxiety and allergies can cause such similar symptoms, you might need to be aware of when it develops - especially if you haven't recently been exposed to allergens - and note your stress and anxiety levels.

3. Hives/Itchiness

The constant trickle of stress hormones affects the immune system in many ways. Histamine may cause hives and itchiness, unrelated to allergies, and cortisol can also effect the gut, causing it to “leak” bacteria and toxins into the bloodstream, activating the body’s immune response. With time this can even cause chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Hives and itchiness may manifest nearly anywhere on the body, often appearing on the neck, wrists, and elbows. Unconsciously scratching can prolong and worsen the symptoms, and may eventually lead to infection. I notice my daughter's eczema not only seems to flare when she is stressed (finals!), but often noticed her unconsciously scratching at her wrists and elbows when she is in an uncomfortable situation.

4. A Lump in the Throat

Have you ever had the experience of difficulty swallowing due to the sensation that there is a lump in your throat - just to find out that there is “nothing there”? When stressed or anxious (think public speaking, or engaging in a difficult conversation) the muscles of the lower part of the throat constrict, making it difficult to swallow….add a little dry mouth and the sensation is exacerbated. As an introvert, I make certain to have a glass of water nearby, and take a few deep, relaxing yogic breaths before engaging in public speaking or leading those “first” workshop sessions with a new group.

5. Loose Stool

When you become anxious, your blood pressure goes up, your heart rate speeds up, and so does motility in your digestive tract. As an adaptive response, a body under severe stress doesn't need to digest food or retain stool or urine that may impede escape. Hormones released in response to anxiety often lead to loose stool. Changes in bowel movements (frequency and consistency) may be an indicator of anxiety, so if you find yourself suddenly looking for a restroom, look at your anxiety level.

6. Hot Lips and a Burning Tongue

Amongst the fairly common oral symptoms that can accompany anxiety (dry mouth, bleeding gums, sore jaw from clenching or grinding the teeth) is the unusual symptom of “burning mouth syndrome”. Burning mouth syndrome primarily affects the tongue, but may include the lips, cheeks, gums, and palate. Pain, burning, tingling, and swelling of the mouth are the common complaints, and are not able to be associated with any other medical condition, or with any visible changes to the tissues of the mouth. People also sometimes complain of a metallic taste.

7. Sensitivity to Environmental Stimuli

When your brain perceives a threat, it sends your body into a state of hyper-vigilance, preparing you for an encounter or escape. Your vision becomes sharper, your hearing keener, sense of smell heightened. Stimuli become more noticeable and intense. Tactile sensations can feel extreme, lights suddenly brighter, sounds magnified. If stimuli and sensations seem suddenly irritating and intrusive, it can be a sign that you are anxious. You may notice the ticking of a clock, discern conversation from far away, feel a need to dim the lights. It may even cause tinnitus, or aggravate existing tinnitus. I have experienced this as if I were sensing everything through a magnifying glass or binoculars - even textures and colors of surfaces I am sitting or standing on are suddenly vividly apparent.

When you become aware of these unusual and sometimes subtle symptoms as possible indicators of anxiety, you can use the tools you are learning in your yoga practice or yoga therapy sessions to move through them more effectively, reducing anxiety's impact on your life -and your health.

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