Have you ever felt the loss of sensation or pins and needles in case of any stressful situation? This is a sign that you are suffering from an anxiety disorder, as numbness is a common physical symptom that can interfere with normal life functioning. Other than numbness, tingling, and a sense of burning, there are also accompanying symptoms of anxiety that can make life difficult for affected individuals. However, the appropriate treatment at the right time can help in preventing anxiety and numbness.
This article is a comprehensive guide to anxiety-induced numbness, symptoms, causes, and useful treatment options. Read now to learn more!
Feeling numb? It might be Anxiety
Anxiety is a common mental illness that manifests physically in multiple ways, such as numbness, tingling, prickling, or sensation of pins and needles in different parts of the body. Numbness is a partial or complete loss of sensation in different regions of the body. Individuals have to struggle more to sense the pressure, touch, or pain in the affected area. It’s more like the feeling of having no skin on your body.
What Does Anxiety and Numbness Feel Like?
Each individual is different and therefore responds to stimuli and feels numbness in varied forms. However, most commonly, individuals feel like:
- Loss of sensation in body parts
- Tingling or a feeling of milder electrical sensations
- Prickling
- Feel of burning
- Weakness or heaviness in different body regions
- Difficulty in moving the affected body area
How does Anxiety cause numbness?
Anxiety-related numbness can occur due to the following main factors:
1. Activation of the fight-or-flight response
It’s quite normal to experience stress from everyday situations. However, if it occurs more than usual, it should be immediately considered. When a person encounters any stressful situation, the body’s sympathetic nervous system gets activated, which develops the stress response. The fight-or-flight response is generated to deal with that situation.
Major stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, are released. Moreover, the blood flow to the muscles and vital organs that participate in the stress response is also increased. Ultimately, this also affects the nerve sensitivity, which in turn results in the sensation of numbness, tingling, or prickling in different body regions.
2. Hyperventilation
Increased anxiety levels can also affect the breathing rate. You might have noticed that when you feel anxious then you start breathing very rapidly or your breathing rate gets irregular. This hyperventilation can result in a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in blood, which in turn produces the effect of numbness, tingling, and other common anxiety symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, and a sense of fatigue or tiredness.
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3. Vasoconstriction
During anxiety, narrowing of blood vessels is also common, which in turn results in reduced blood supply to certain body regions such as hands and feet, and develops a feeling of numbness.
4. Muscle tension
Muscle stiffness is also common when a person is under more stress. Therefore, muscle tension or stiffness can also develop a sense of numbness, tingling, or other associated symptoms.
Some other causes of Anxiety numbness:
1. Side effects of anxiety medications
Although psychiatric medication, including anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers, helps in managing the symptoms, the excessive use of these medications can result in side effects such as numbness. If it happens, then it should be immediately reported to the professional to make necessary adjustments in the schedule of medication intake.
2. Chronic stress
Numbness, tingling, or prickling are also major symptoms of chronic stress. Therefore, it is always advised for individuals to regularly practice deep breathing exercises to overcome chronic stress.
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Which body parts are affected by the anxiety-induced numbness?
Anxiety and numbness affect the skin and muscles of different regions of the body, which include hands, legs, arms, head, face, feet, fingers, stomach, lips, tongue, and mouth. In addition, it can also occur in the neck, scalp, or some other body regions.
However, among all regions, individuals feel more numbness or tingling sensations in the face. There is a large network of nerves present on the face, which results in increased sensitivity when receiving the stress signals. Anxiousness causes the vasoconstriction that results in decreased blood supply to the face and a sense of numbness or tingling.
The feeling of numbness does not restrict to a specific region of the face, as it can also spread to the cheeks and jawline. Likewise, most people also feel numbness around their nose or eyes. So if the numbness starts spreading rapidly, then it is an alarming situation that you need to consult a professional.
How long does Anxiety numbness last?
Each individual responds differently to the anxiety and numbness. In some individuals, loss of sensation occurs for a few minutes, while some experience it for some hours or more. Moreover, in some, numbness appears immediately and then disappears, while if it stays for a longer period, then it depends on several factors, which are as follows:
Severity of anxiety: The increased severity of anxiety indicates the longer duration of numbness or tingling.
Stress tolerance: The More you handle your stress effectively, the less you will be affected by the numbness.
Coping strategies: Implementing certain coping or preventive strategies can result in a decrease in anxiety-linked numbness.
What are the best ways to treat anxiety-induced Numbness?
Multiple ways are effective in treating or managing anxiety and anxiety-induced symptoms. The prime focus should be on treating anxiety first, and then the accompanying symptoms. As the anxiety gets reduced, the frequency and severity of anxiety numbness also improve with time. The following are some top strategies that can help:
1. Therapy
Therapy is considered a significant option to get relief from anxiety and all associated physical symptoms, such as anxiety numbness. Different types of therapy target the anxious thoughts and transform them into positive ones, such as:
2. Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is proven in terms of effectiveness for the treatment of anxiety and related issues. Cognitive behavioral experts are committed to assisting individuals in getting rid of their anxiety and anxiety numbness. They identify the root causes or triggers of anxiety and then develop strategies to alter the negative or undesired thought patterns and behavior.
3. Medications
Experts also recommend anti-anxiety medications or beta blockers to manage the anxiety and all related symptoms, including anxiety, numbness, tingling, or prickling etc.
Lifestyle changes
Living a stress-free life is only possible with the help of some positive lifestyle alterations, which include:
1. Nutrition
A sufficient and nutrient-rich diet is vital to promote both physical and mental health. Add some healthy food products to your diet, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and all other organic food items. Likewise, try to avoid the excessive intake of alcohol or any other substance that can impair cognitive abilities and can result in anxiety and ultimately numbness.
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2. Sufficient Sleep & rest
Individuals who do not take sufficient rest are more prone to suffer from stress or anxiety. Therefore, try to take some rest to avoid anxiety and anxiety linked to numbness and other symptoms. Furthermore, make a schedule of your sleep and try to sleep early and wake up on time. By improving your sleep habits, you will feel energetic throughout the day.
3. Regular exercise
Daily or regularly performing any physical activity also aids in stress management. During the exercise or any strenuous activity, certain neurotransmitters are released that suppress stress. Therefore, make a complete routine of walking, running, and yoga to prevent anxiety and anxiety numbness.
4. Relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques are highly significant to reduce the extent or severity of anxiety symptoms, such as anxiety numbness.
The following are the major relaxation techniques whose regular practice helps in training the mind and body to deal with anxiety and anxiety-linked numbness.
5. Deep breathing exercises
Deep breathing exercises also help in taking control of the mind during anxiety. Whenever you feel anxiety, start breathing exercises until you feel relaxed. The following are the major breathing exercises or techniques that work:
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Belly breathing
- Box breathing
- 4-7-8 method
6. Mindfulness-based techniques
Mindfulness-based techniques assist individuals in acknowledging and exhibiting reduced responses to negative thoughts while staying calm and relaxed. By regularly practising mindfulness-based techniques, you can protect your mind from anxiety and anxiety-related symptoms, which include numbness or tingling.
Other coping strategies that can help with anxiety numbness include
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Meditation
- Body-based techniques
So whenever you feel anxious, immediately do something to distract your mind from stress, anxiety, or anxiety-induced numbness. You can also do some other activities such as:
- Going out for a walk
- Spending some time in nature
- Watching any favorite or funny series
- Listening to favourite music
When to take professional help
If you are feeling numbness, tingling, or any other body sensation, then it does not mean that you are suffering from any chronic issue. However, in some cases, you should never ignore your condition and immediately consult a mental health professional.
If you experience numbness from:
- A longer period
- Getting worse with time
- Interrupting your daily life functioning
- Affecting your personal, professional life, or relationships
Then, without any delay, seek professional help to get rid of anxiety and anxiety-induced numbness. Brainpower Wellness Institute is a leading mental health platform where you can find the best mental health solutions and get rid of your mental issues. Whether you are suffering from anxiety or unable to manage your daily life activities due to the most common symptoms of anxiety, you can take advantage of our top mental health solutions and take control of your mind to get rid of your mental issues. So if you are concerned with your mental health, then immediately reach out to Brainpower and schedule a consultation with our mental health professionals and get on board with the journey of mental empowerment.
