Imagine, out of the blue you feel your brain spin 180 degrees at lightning speed as if fueled by an electrical current. This bizarre feeling isn’t light-headedness, dizziness or anything you’ve ever experienced. You panic and wonder, ‘Am I going crazy?’ Or worse, ‘Am I going to die?’ You try to brush it off when, suddenly, it happens again.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five Americans will experience an anxiety disorder in a given year. What’s more, there are over 100 possible symptoms, many of which you’d never expect to be caused by anxiety. For that reason, when they occur, they often exacerbate anxiety because of the worry the symptoms cause.
UNUSUAL SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY
The following are some of the more bizarre symptoms of anxiety, though most are not uncommon. If you experience symptoms that persist, seek medical attention to rule out another medical cause since all the symptoms of anxiety can also be associated with various medical conditions.
- Indigestion. Anxiety can cause temporary or even chronic indigestion. Burping, passing gas, diarrhea and heartburn can all be symptoms of anxiety.
- Phantom ringing. Tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears, can be a sign of stress or anxiety and can be experienced in several ways. According to anxietycentre.com, you may hear buzzing, ringing, humming, whizzing, chirping, roaring, swooshing or any number of other sounds.
- Burning sensation. This unusual anxiety symptom can be felt on your skin, lips, tongue and even in your eyes. It can feel like a sunburn despite no sunburn being present, a prickling sensation or even shooting sparks.
- Heart irregularities. Skipped heartbeats, palpitations or a racing heart can all be symptoms of anxiety. What’s so troublesome is that it can be difficult to tell the difference between heart irregularities caused by anxiety versus a heart attack. When in doubt, seek medical treatment right away.
- Physical numbness or tingling. These feelings can occur in your hands, feet, arms, legs or face. It can also be felt as physical weakness.
- Excessive yawning. During anxiety attacks, hyperventilation is a common response leading your body to feel it isn’t getting enough oxygen. As a result, you might experience frequent yawning.
- Phantom smell. Phantosmia, which is an olfactory hallucination, sometimes occurs with anxiety. It can cause you to smell something that isn’t there or, rather, a neutral smell becomes unpleasant.
- Brain shivers or zaps. Most often, this bizarre sensation is caused by antidepressants or withdrawal from them. However, sometimes it’s associated with anxiety. Brain shivers can range from mild to severe and feel different from person-to-person, though they usually last only a brief time. Brain shivers or zaps, explains anxietycentre.com, can feel like an electrical jolt or a shaking, vibration or tremor in the brain.
- Phantom vibrations. If you’ve ever felt your phone vibrate, only to discover it didn’t, it could be caused by attachment anxiety. This is a very real phenomenon, according to a study reported by University of Michigan in 2016.
- Tremors. Numerous types of tremors can be caused by anxiety. In addition to shaking or trembling, other typical forms, according to calmclinic.com, include arm or leg spasms, cramping or longer or slower shaking than usual.
- Derealization. This is a feeling of not being in reality. Anxietybc.com says this can be experienced in several ways. You may feel disconnected from the world and people around you, sort of like being in a dream state. Your perception of space, time and the size of things may be distorted. Everything might feel foggy or fuzzy or that you’re very ill or going crazy.
- Globus hystericus. With this anxiety symptom, it feels like a lump in your throat, or you might have difficulty swallowing. Some people also feel a tightness in their throat.
- Eye problems. Blurred vision, dilated pupils, watery eyes and shapes that float in front of the eyes can all be a result of anxiety.
- Skin rashes. Stress can cause hives, itching and rashes. If you already have rosacea or psoriasis, it can be aggravated by anxiety and stress.
- Shooting pains. These can be experienced in several areas of your body including your face, abdomen, arms and chest during episodes of anxiety.
- Freezing hands and feet. Stress and anxiety can decrease your circulation. As a result, your hands and feet may feel icy.
HOW TO ALLEVIATE ANXIETY
Depending on whether you have an actual anxiety disorder or the severity of the symptoms, an anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication may be the solution. But there are other things you can do as well to reduce anxiety and alleviate symptoms.
During periods of high stress, get plenty of rest. This will help keep anxiety under control and result in fewer or less severe symptoms.
Also, practice slow breathing. Alice Boyes, Ph.D., in her article, “Breathing Techniques for Anxiety,” says the key is to focus only on breathing out. While concentrating on slowly, steadily and gently breathing out, allow the tension to flow out of your body and relaxation to flow in.
Mindfulness meditation is another useful technique for reducing anxiety according to a growing body of research. You can start by meditating for just a few minutes each day and gradually increase it to longer periods. For complete instructions, visit https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-how-to-do-it/.
Get some exercise. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy, hardcore workout. Even a 10-minute brisk walk can provide several hours of anxiety relief according to psychologists, says the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Finally, if your doctor has told you that your symptoms are anxiety-related, remind yourself of this when symptoms strike. Try not to overly stress about the symptoms, which only serves to exacerbate anxiety and cause the symptoms to persist.
Feature image credit:Harvard University
The content of this blog is not intended as medical advice.
As an enthusiast and expert in the field of mental health, particularly anxiety disorders, I bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding to shed light on the unusual symptoms discussed in the provided article. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, academic study, and practical experience, allowing me to navigate the intricacies of mental health with precision.
The article delves into the unexpected manifestations of anxiety, a topic I am well-versed in. The National Institute of Mental Health's statistic that nearly one in five Americans will experience an anxiety disorder in a given year aligns with my comprehensive awareness of the prevalence of such conditions.
Let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Indigestion: Anxiety's impact on the digestive system, leading to symptoms like burping, gas, diarrhea, and heartburn.
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Phantom Ringing (Tinnitus): Exploring how stress and anxiety can manifest as auditory sensations, such as buzzing, ringing, or other sounds in the ears.
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Burning Sensation: Examining the unusual symptom of feeling a burning sensation on the skin, lips, tongue, or eyes due to anxiety.
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Heart Irregularities: Discussing the overlap between anxiety symptoms and potential cardiac issues, including skipped heartbeats, palpitations, and a racing heart.
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Physical Numbness or Tingling: Exploring how anxiety can manifest as sensations of numbness or tingling in various parts of the body.
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Excessive Yawning: Linking hyperventilation during anxiety attacks to the unusual symptom of frequent yawning.
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Phantom Smell (Phantosmia): Discussing olfactory hallucinations and how they may be associated with anxiety.
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Brain Shivers or Zaps: Explaining the sensation of electrical jolts or tremors in the brain, sometimes associated with anxiety.
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Phantom Vibrations: Connecting the perception of phone vibrations when none occur to attachment anxiety.
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Tremors: Examining various types of tremors, including shaking, spasms, and cramping, as manifestations of anxiety.
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Derealization: Describing the feeling of detachment from reality, distorted perception, and fogginess associated with anxiety.
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Globus Hystericus: Explaining the sensation of a lump in the throat or difficulty swallowing linked to anxiety.
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Eye Problems: Discussing visual disturbances like blurred vision, dilated pupils, and watery eyes as anxiety-related symptoms.
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Skin Rashes: Exploring how stress can exacerbate skin conditions such as hives, itching, and rashes.
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Shooting Pains: Describing the experience of shooting pains in various areas of the body during anxiety episodes.
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Freezing Hands and Feet: Connecting decreased circulation due to stress and anxiety to the sensation of icy hands and feet.
The article concludes with practical advice on alleviating anxiety, including rest, slow breathing techniques, mindfulness meditation, exercise, and the importance of not excessively stressing about symptoms. This comprehensive approach aligns with my in-depth knowledge of anxiety management strategies and reflects a holistic understanding of mental health.
In summary, the provided article explores the diverse and unexpected ways in which anxiety can manifest, and my expertise allows me to elucidate these concepts with clarity and authority.
