By Table of Contents
What Medical Conditions Can Mimic Anxiety?
A few medical conditions can mimic the symptoms of anxiety: Heart-related conditions: A person who is in a considerable amount of pain and is in a panic (which is caused by the pain) may be diagnosed as suffering from anxiety. Treating the pain will then lead to a remission of the anxiety symptoms. Gastrointestinal disorders or nausea: A person may feel anxious and nauseated at the same time. Gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, and gastritis can cause nausea and discomfort, which may lead to anxiety. Treat the gastrointestinal problems and the anxiety symptoms will also disappear. Menstrual cycle: Women may become anxious and irritable before and during their period. This may be due to the hormonal changes in the body. Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels can affect many women’s emotions. The hormones can also affect the brain and body in such a way that women may develop physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and bloating, which can cause emotional distress such as anxiety..
Can anxiety be a symptom of something else?
Yes, anxiety can be a symptom of other things. The presence of anxiety can in no way confirm that its only symptom in the body is the anxiety. It can be just one of the many symptoms in the body that stem from external or internal conditions which are affecting the body adversely in some way. Anxiety is just one of the many symptoms in the body that can be caused by other things..
How do I know if it’s anxiety or something serious?
There is a test to differentiate between anxiety and serious health concerns. Below are the general characteristics of each. If you ever find yourself concerned about your health, consult a physician:.
What medical condition can mimic or cause anxiety and obsessive compulsive symptoms?
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder. It is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions), urges to perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both. The effects of OCD can be severe. Sometimes, people with OCD are unable to control the time they spend to relieve themselves from obsessive thoughts. This can lead to decreased efficiency in their daily work. The person with OCD may end up isolated from family, friends, and work..
Is anxiety neurological or psychological?
There are two major reasons for feeling anxious. These are either psychological or neurological. Psychological anxiety is usually caused by stress, trauma and overthinking. On the other hand, neurological anxiety is caused by certain medical conditions where there is a malfunctioning of the nervous system and the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)..
Why do I have unexplained anxiety?
Most people with anxiety have bipolar disorder. One of the most common anxiety disorders is generalized anxiety disorder. It is defined as the constant and excessive worrying, and is usually undiagnosed and untreated. Other anxiety disorders include: social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder..
What is the 3 3 3 rule for anxiety?
The 3 3 3 rule is a really good anxiety cure, which you can do anywhere, anytime. The rule is very simple. Whenever you feel anxiety coming on, count to yourself in threes, three times, for three minutes. The first time you do it, it will take a couple of minutes to finish counting, but the second and third times it will only take a couple of seconds. This exercise will bring your heart rate down and give you a feeling of relaxation and calmness..
What are the physical symptoms of health anxiety?
Health anxiety is a condition where a person is preoccupied with fears and concerns about their own health. As a result, they tend to worry about many things. They might feel that they have a serious illness and even alter their lifestyle choices based on the perceived illness. They may not attend school and work and avoid social and recreational activities. They might even self-medicate and start taking medications, supplements and herbs without consulting a physician. When left untreated, they might start withdrawing from their loved ones and isolate themselves. When you have health anxiety, you might experience some physical symptoms. Some of them include: Chest pains & palpitations, Feeling out of shape, Shortness of breath, Pain in the neck, shoulder, back and head, Muscle weakness, Fatigue, Dizziness and fainting..
Can you have physical symptoms of anxiety without feeling anxious?
Actually it is not uncommon to have physical symptoms of anxiety without feeling anxious. Common physical symptoms are elevated pulse rate, sweating, difficulty breathing, muscle tension, nausea, fatigue, headache, racing thoughts, dry mouth, trembling, etc. Anxiety is a feeling or emotion, but most of the anxiety disorders are due to physical causes. When your brain perceives a danger, it activates the fight or flight response, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, the pulse rate increases, heart beats faster, energy is mobilized, muscles tighten, difficulty concentrating on one thing, nausea, fatigue, headache, sweating, trembling, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, feelings of unreality, or feeling like you are about to pass out, etc. These are the physical symptoms of anxiety. So you can have physical symptoms of anxiety without feeling anxious..
What is OCD commonly mistaken for?
OCD is short for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and is a mental disorder where a person has uncontrollable and unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors. It is very common for people to be mistaken for the following: 1. A perfectionist: People with OCD strive for perfection and can get overly focused on “getting things done”. However, the difference is that they feel that these thoughts and behaviors are out of their control. 2. A neat freak: People with OCD wash their hands excessively and develop other cleaning rituals. However, this is done because they feel they are contaminated. 3. A loner: People with OCD may seem like they are a loner, but this is because they are in a constant battle with their mental health and the outside world. 4. A calculating person: People with OCD can appear to be calculating by, for example, counting or tapping their fingers, but the difference is that the ritual is performed due to a fear of something happening, which is often related to a fear of harm to oneself or others. In addition, the person knows that the obsession is irrational..
What separates normal anxiety from pathological anxiety?
Anxiety is generally characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, tension, restlessness, and being on edge. It is often accompanied by physiological symptoms, such as sweating, crying, trembling, twitching, nausea, and irregular heart rate. Pathological anxiety refers to anxiety that is so severe that it significantly disrupts a person’s life. It is associated with increased risk of depression, substance abuse, and all types of disease. As of today, there are no objective tests of pathological anxiety, and therefore it is diagnosed based on its symptoms, which are similar to what you would find in general anxiety. This disorder often occurs when there is a combination of familial, environmental, or genetic factors that contribute to it. If you think that you are suffering from pathological anxiety, you should schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor in order to get proper diagnosis, and in most cases, treatment..
