Have you heard about the mental paralysis? Have you ever felt that you are stuck or frozen in extremely stressful conditions? This is a paralyzing anxiety, a severe form of anxiety that completely takes control of the minds of individuals. Affected individuals feel immobility and difficulty speaking and think normally. Moreover, they do not understand what’s happening around them. This article provides a complete guide to paralyzing anxiety, symptoms, causes and effective treatment options. So read this article to get a complete insight into paralyzing anxiety.
What is Paralyzing anxiety?
Paralyzing anxiety is a chronic and complex form of anxiety in which individuals face difficulty in carrying out their daily tasks. They feel that they are physically and mentally stuck and unable to move, think, speak and perform any action. Moreover, they feel heaviness in their arms, and an inability to generate words in their mind and say anything in front of others. They are also unable to understand the things that are present around them and remain lost in their thoughts. They even struggle to do the basic tasks of the day.
Although paralyzing anxiety is a type of anxiety disorder, it is more complicated. Unlike other anxiety disorders in which people feel sadness and nervousness, paralyzing anxiety involves the strong sense of being stuck both physically and mentally. Whenever the person gets exposed to any stressful situation, the symptoms of paralyzing anxiety appear. Moreover, the paralyzing anxiety can also occur at home, office or in any social setting.
What are the symptoms of Paralyzing anxiety?
Due to overwhelming stress, paralyzing anxiety occurs. Each exhibits varied responses to paralyzing anxiety based on the mental condition. However, the most common symptoms of paralyzing anxiety are as follows:
1. Physical immobility
Individuals feel difficulty moving anywhere and are unable to show the response.
2. Extreme sense of fear
Due to paralyzing anxiety, individuals feel extreme fear in different social situations and therefore prefer to stay alone.
3. Cognitive abnormalities
This can also lead to distorted thought patterns and the resulting negative behaviour.
4. Avoidance behavior
Individuals with paralyzing anxiety usually avoid those situations that they think can trigger their anxiety.
5. Physical symptoms
Some abnormal physical symptoms also appear including increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, shaking of hands and stomach issues.
6. Irritable behavior
Paralyzing anxiety involves more frustration as compared to other types. Individuals exhibit more anger outbursts and irritability during stressful situations.
7. Sleep issues
Individuals also face difficulty in falling or staying asleep due to persistent stress or anxiety.
8. Rumination
They remain in a persistent state of stress and most of the time get obsessed with different things.
9. Isolated behavior
Individuals feel peace in isolation instead of engaging in any social community.
10. Reduced decision power
With a confused state of mind, they do not make decisions in their life. Due to this issue, the paralyzing anxiety is also called decision paralysis.
11. Muscle stiffness
Due to muscle tension, they feel their arms heavy.
What is the main link between Anxiety and Paralysis?
Most people get confused when they hear about the paralyzing anxiety first time. People usually think that paralysis is just limited to body organs. But the fact is that mental health can also affected when the mind gets stuck or freezes and does not perform its function properly. The body of each individual responds to stress and it is quite normal. However, if the anxiety becomes severe then it can lead to panic attacks or some paralytic effects.
When the brain receives the stress signals, then the body’s autonomic system gets activated which in turn stimulates the flight or fight response with the stimulation of the sympathetic system. This in turn causes the release of stress hormones including adrenaline and epinephrine. Three hormones prepare the body to deal with the stressful situation. When the parasympathetic system gets activated then fear dominates and the person feels the freezing effect on the entire body. Different physical symptoms start to appear which makes a complete sense of feeling of paralyzing anxiety.
Is Paralyzing anxiety more severe than other types of anxiety disorders?
This question arises in the minds of many people whether the paralyzing effect of their anxiety is more dangerous or not. Those individuals who are athletes, speakers or normally do any activity can get more affected by the paralyzing anxiety than others. Moreover, the situation can get worse when the paralyzing anxiety causes some physical issues including gastrointestinal issues. However, any type of anxiety disorder is harmful if not treated on time. Therefore, when individuals feel that their anxiety is getting worse then they should seek professional help as soon as possible.
What are the causes of Paralyzing anxiety?
There is not a single cause of paralyzing anxiety as multiple factors contribute to the development of paralyzing anxiety in a combined way.
1. Genetic factors
Different genetic factors are linked with the development of anxiety disorders. Certain genes are responsible for the onset of paralyzing anxiety and other types of anxiety disorders. Those individuals who have a family history of anxiety are more likely to suffer from the paralyzing anxiety as compared to others. Moreover, if any of your parent or sibling have the genes of anxiety, then there is an increased probability that you can also get paralyzing anxiety at any stage of your life.
2. Chronic stress
If you are taking stress for a longer period, then you become more prone to be a victim of anxiety disorders including paralyzing anxiety. Stress triggers can be found anywhere including the workplace, home or any other social exposure. If a sudden distressing or frightening situation comes, then most of the individuals get paralytic panic attacks which result from their physical and mental paralysis. In most cases, they feel so frozen that they even feel difficulty in seeking help from others.
3. Trauma
Previous life traumas are also one of the major causes of paralyzing anxiety. Those individuals who have experienced any traumatic situations in their early life stages can easily delve into the paralyzing anxiety. Moreover, domestic abuse or sexual abuse in childhood, and professional or personal loss are the main traumatic situations that can induce paralyzing anxiety and paralytic anxiety attacks.
4. Substance abuse
Most of the individuals start drinking alcohol or taking some drugs to deal with their anxiety. However, excessive alcohol intake and substance abuse can increase the severity of symptoms of anxiety disorders.
5. Medical conditions
Certain physical conditions can worsen mental issues including cardiac disorders, respiratory issues, diabetes and some hormonal fluctuations. If you are suffering from any of these physical health issues then you can also suffer from anxiety or depression. However, managing physical issues can assist in getting rid of mental health issues.
6. Behavioral conditioning
If the individual is exposed to stressful scenarios multiple times, the brain retains the memory of the body’s response to the stress. But with time, the learned behaviour can result in paralyzing anxiety or paralytic panic attacks.
What are the treatment options for Paralyzing anxiety?
Paralyzing anxiety can be effectively treated with the help of medications and psychotherapy. Experts recommend medications and psychotherapy based on the severity of the symptoms of paralyzing anxiety.
1. Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the type of psychotherapy that assists individuals in overcoming their stress or anxiety. Moreover, cognitive behavioral experts conduct different sessions of cognitive therapy in which they first evaluate the mental condition of the individual to identify the trigger factors of each individual. Then they guide the individuals that how they can break the undesired bond between anxiety and behavior. With the help of professional guidance, individuals learn what they can do immediately to manage the effects of paralyzing anxiety.
2. Medication
Medications are considered the first line of treatment and are recommended by the experts based on the severity of the symptoms of paralyzing anxiety. With the help of accurate dosage of medications, individuals can prevent the panic attacks that are common in paralyzing anxiety.
3. Antidepressants
Antidepressants are used to deal with the symptoms of depression. However, they only start working after a few weeks of intake. The most commonly used antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They regulate brain activity by the release of some neurotransmitters in the brain including serotonin.
4. Benzodiazepines
These medications are used to get relief from the symptoms of anxiety in the short term. They prevent the development of tolerance and dependency that can occur with long-term use.
What are the Coping strategies or Anxiety management techniques for Paralyzing anxiety?
As your body knows when to show the response against the stress, you should also know the strategies to cope with it. With the help of some significant coping strategies, you can deal with the paralyzing anxiety. Practice the below-mentioned strategies and get rid of your anxiousness.
1. Mindfulness techniques
Mindfulness techniques are considered the best way to relax the mind and soul. By practising mindfulness, individuals learn to make their minds stable during stressful scenarios and avoid responding to them. In this way, individuals can also identify their triggers of anxiety and learn the ways to overcome them.
2. Staying normal
If the individuals think in mind that the current difficult situation is temporary then they can easily deal with it without any complexity. They just have to repeat some phrases in their mind like ‘’ I am the best and I can handle any complex situation’’ or ‘’I am safe’’. With this mantra, you can be master to avoid your stress or anxiety.
3. Body movements
Although paralyzing anxiety restricts your body movements, you should try to slightly move your body. You can also go out for a walk so you can feel fresh, mentally active and healthy. Different studies have reported the positive effects of physical activity on mental health as it can stimulate different brain regions and result in the release of some neurotransmitters in the brain that calm the mind.
4. Deep breathing
Deep breathing plays a significant role in activating brain areas that provide a soothing effect. Whenever you feel stressed, start breathing more slowly and progressively. Inhale and then exhale to free your mind from a tense state. Repeat this multiple times until you feel relaxed.
5. Grounding techniques
Grounding techniques assist individuals to connect with the present moments and reduce stress or anxiety. Individuals utilize five different senses to focus on their surroundings. This technique is also named as 54321 technique as experts ask the individuals to name 5 things that they can see around them, 4 things that they can touch, 3 things that they can hear, 2 things that they can smell and 1 thing that they can touch. By diverting attention to the surroundings, stress and anxiety are reduced to a major extent.
6. Yoga techniques
Yoga helps reduce the anxiety levels and build mental strength. With the help of some yoga poses, blood supply towards the brain regions increases and the person feels calm and relaxed.
7. Self-care
A positive change in life is essential to deal with any challenge. If you want to protect yourself from anxiety then you should priortize the self-care. By adopting healthy habits, you can prevent as well as manage the symptoms of anxiety disorder such as:
- Healthy diet
- Sufficient sleep
- Physical workout
- Journaling
8. Identification of triggers
If you want to manage your anxiety symptoms then you should have an absolute idea regarding the triggers of anxiety. By knowing the triggers, you can make the appropriate plans to overcome your stress or anxiety.
9. Acknowledge your challenges
Instead of feeling down due to your paralyzing anxiety, focus on your emotions and thoughts and accept the mental challenges. Do not judge yourself based on your mental state and think about these strategies that can extract your inner potential so you can face your all fears with courage and confidence.
10. Eye movements
Whenever you feel anxious, start moving your eyes to look around. This is also considered one of the best ways to drop down anxiety levels. When you do this and if there is not any threat around you then your brain receives the signal to stay normal and relaxed.
11. Vocalizations
By controlling the nervous system, you can control your anxiety. There is a vagus nerve whose stimulation is effective for this concern. When you sing or hum, this nerve-stimulated and relaxing hormone is then released into your body.
Last thoughts
Paralyzing anxiety is a serious mental issue that develops a sense of freezing over the entire body. Individuals feel that they can’t move, think and respond in a normal manner. It seems that their mental and physical states are paralyzed. Moreover, symptoms of paralyzing anxiety are diverse as they include both physical and cognitive symptoms. Different genetic, environmental and some factors can contribute to the development of paralyzing anxiety. However, the symptoms can be managed with the help of different treatment options.
Furthermore, if you or know anyone who is suffering from paralyzing anxiety then Brainpower Wellness Institute can help you. We have a professional team of mental health experts who can treat all the common mental health issues including anxiety, depression and all other common mental issues. Our mental health services for anxiety are renowned as they provide effective treatment and mental health counseling so individuals get relief from their mental issues and experience rapid recovery.
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