A lot of the questions we receive here on AnxietyConnection  have to do with members wondering if their physical symptoms are caused by anxiety or if they have some underlying medical condition. This is a difficult question to answer even for your doctor. One of the confusing aspects of an anxiety disorder is how many of the symptoms can overlap with medical diseases and disorders. The other thing to remember is that it is very possible to have some sort of medical problem which is exacerbated by anxiety. So it may be very difficult to sort out which symptoms are signs of an untreated illness or disease and which symptoms are primarily caused by an anxiety disorder. I think it is important to figure out what is causing your symptoms so that you can get the appropriate treatment you need.

Anxiety is associated with numerous physical symptoms which may include:

• Fatigue and weariness

• Gastrointestinal problems such as stomach aches and diarrhea

• Gagging or vomiting

• Eating too little or too much

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded

• Muscle aches and tension

• Problems sleeping

• Chest pains or rapid heartbeat

• Hyperventilating or feeling like you can’t catch your breath

• Sweating

• Shaking, trembling, or feeling weak.

This list is long but by no means does it include every possible physical symptom associated with anxiety disorders. So it does get confusing to know what may be causing any particular symptom or constellation of symptoms. I would like to share a personal story about my experience with learning to differentiate between my symptoms of anxiety and those which may indicate an underlying medical problem.

I do suffer from anxiety and I could probably check off most of items on the list above as far as symptoms I have experienced as a result of having an anxiety disorder. In early 2007 I began to have some mysterious symptoms which seemed unexplainable. I was feeling great fatigue, numbness and tingling in my fingers and toes, and a feeling of always being off balance. I did write these off immediately as due to stress and anxiety. The thing was, the more stressed and anxious I felt about these symptoms, the more they persisted. I didn’t want to talk about it with anyone because I worried that they would think I was crazy or making it up. It took me six months to talk about my symptoms with my general practitioner during a routine physical check up. It was then that he ordered medical tests including an MRI. By the fall I was officially diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

I look back on this and it could have easily been the case where I could have waited even longer to get things checked out. I realize now that my anxiety makes me reluctant to discuss medical symptoms because I am afraid that I won’t be taken seriously. Don’t make the mistake I did and wait needlessly. If you are experiencing physical symptoms you can’t explain do see your doctor. I don’t think it is necessary to get an appointment for every little ache and pain but if you have been worried about any particular symptoms for over two weeks, it is time to get things checked out.