How many times do you feel numb when you take excessive stress? How often do you think the loss of sensation in any specific body area? You are the victim of paresthesia, an abnormal bodily sensation, which is common in Anxiety disorder. Other than numbness, you can also feel other undesired sensations in different body regions such as tingling, muscle tension, palpitations, etc. However, if you want to know the major causes behind these sensations, read this article.
This article provides a complete and detailed insight into How Anxiety Causes Numbness, tingling, and other weird body sensations. Moreover, you will also get an idea of how to get rid of the anxiety and the resulting sensations. So read this article now!
Can Anxiety Cause Numbness?
“Yes, if you are in an anxious state, then there is a greater possibility that you will experience numbness, tingling, and other associated body sensations. Both numbness and tingling are collectively called anxiety numbness. “
You can experience numbness in multiple ways. For instance, some people feel a prickling sensation, especially at the time of sleep. At the same time, some feel a reduced or lost sensation in one or sometimes more parts of the body. The numbness specifically occurs in the legs, hands, arms, and feet. In addition, some people also feel numbness at the backside of the neck, along the scalp, or at the toes and fingertips. Furthermore, other common sensations include a mild feeling of burning, prickling of hairs in an upward direction, tingles, etc.
The link between Anxiety and Physical Symptoms
Anxiety is a common mental illness that almost every individual experiences at any time in their life. Whether it’s a panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, or any other type of disorder, the individual experiences multiple sensations or symptoms, not all the symptoms are emotional or cognitive, most of the symptoms are physical, which affects the life functioning of individuals. Moreover, individuals with anxiety disorder not only suffer from numbness or tingling but also experience muscle stiffness, chills, headache, tightness in the chest, dizziness, stomach issues, nausea, dizziness, palpitations, sweaty hands, reckless behavior, racing thoughts, etc. Fortunately, some practical ways are useful for restoring the sensation.
Why do people experience numbness, tingling, and other bodily sensations?
The anxiety-induced numbness occurs due to the following reasons:
1. Fight or flight response
Whenever the person takes stress or feels any danger or threat, the body’s fight or flight response gets activated. The brain receives signals from the environment and processes them to generate the response. The brain releases the stress hormones, which in turn activate the sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for generating the fight or flight response. The most common symptoms that appear in fight or flight response include elevated heart rate, breathing rate, muscle stiffness, shaking of hands, sweating, dryness of mouth, and dizzy behavior.
2. Increased blood flow
During increased anxiety, the blood flow to the muscles and other important organs also increases. In addition, there is also an increased blood supply to those body regions that play a major role in fighting or fleeing.
3. Hyperventilation
Anxiety is also linked with hyperventilation. If you feel stress or anxiety, your breathing rate will also be affected. You might have noticed that when you suddenly get exposed to any threatening or stressful situation, your breathing will become rapid. This results in a reduced concentration of carbon dioxide in your blood. If hyperventilation persists for a longer period, then it can also result in loss of consciousness.
4. Constriction of blood vessels
In case of anxiety, blood vessels get constricted. Due to vasoconstriction, the blood flow to the hands, feet, and face gets reduced. Therefore, numbness, tingling, or cold feeling occurs.
5. Freezing
When individuals are suddenly exposed to any stressful situation, a freezing effect also appears. They think that they can not move and feel stuck or paralyzed. This functional freeze mode acts as a trigger factor for numbness and tingling.
6. Alcoholic neuropathy
The excessive intake of alcohol is also responsible for the numbness and tingling. The uncontrolled consumption of alcohol causes alcohol neuropathy, which is a condition in which peripheral nerves are damaged. This damage then results in the sensation of numbness and tingling in anxiety disorder. If this condition occurs, then it should immediately consider seeking professional assistance as it persists with the individual even after the anxiety ends.
7. Misuse of medications
Some studies have also reported that some anti-anxiety medications can also develop numbness in individuals. The medications that are usually known for creating the sensation of numbness and tingling are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
How to Differentiate Anxiety-Related Numbness from Serious Conditions?
In most cases, anxiety-induced numbness is usually misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, and panic attacks due to resemblance in symptoms. Therefore, experts can only diagnose anxiety-induced numbness from serious conditions by considering multiple factors, which include duration and severity of symptoms, triggers, location of numbness, as well as the associated symptoms.
Read More About: Understanding the Difference Between Anxiety Tingling and MS Tingling
How to Manage and Reduce Anxiety-Induced Numbness?
Anxiety and linked symptoms including numbness and tingling, etc, can be effectively managed with the help of the following strategies:
1. Self-care strategies
If you want to take control of your mental health, then the first thing that you should do is start prioritizing self-care. Focus on your daily life routine and make some positive and significant changes in your daily routine to reduce your anxiety.
2. Nutrition
If you maintain a healthy diet, then you can also protect your mind from anxiety and related physical and psychological symptoms. Make sure that you are taking sufficient or essential nutrients in your diet. Avoid the intake of unhealthy processed foods as well as the excessive intake of alcohol or substance abuse, etc. Misuse of nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine can make the numbness and tingling worse.
3. Resting phase
If you want to stay both physically and mentally active, then make sure that you are getting the rest that your body and brain require. Make a schedule of your sleep patterns. Moreover, go to bed early and also wake up on time so you remain fully energetic throughout the day and compete with anxiety.
4. Regular physical activity
If you perform any physical activity regularly, then you can diminish the anxiety and anxiety-induced numbness and tingling, and related emotional distress. Always remember that if you move your body then you are redirecting your mind towards well-being. During physical activity, the blood supply to the brain gets increased and brain functioning also gets improved.
5. Breathing exercises
Deep breathing exercises are also effective in decreasing anxiety and moving back to a normal mental state. Moreover, deep breathing also results in removing the numbness induced by anxiety. Experts always recommend that whenever you feel anxious, sit down and start deep breathing to control the anxiousness.
6. Practice mindfulness techniques
Mindfulness techniques or exercises help individuals to live in and enjoy the present moments. By regularly practicing mindfulness techniques, you can obtain peace of mind and also soul relaxation. Most common mindfulness practices involve walking meditation, mindful listening, body scans, mindful workouts, etc.
7. Progressive muscle relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation is also effective in getting relief from anxiety as it helps decrease muscle tension. If more muscles are relaxed, then there is better and increased blood supply to the brain, which in turn diminishes mental anxiety.
8. Support groups
Individuals suffering from anxiety feel isolated and prefer to stay alone. Therefore, support groups play a significant role in giving them confidence and require mental support to get rid of their mental illness. Multiple support groups are present in the healthcare field where individuals can join and share their mental concerns to learn skills and get rid of their mental illness. Moreover, they also get complete awareness about anxiety and anxiety-induced numbness.
Other additional tips to reduce anxiety and anxiety-induced numbness are as follows:
- Moving out with friends
- Brisk walking, jogging
- Dancing or any other hobby
How long does anxiety numbness last?
The duration of anxiety and anxiety-induced numbness varies for each individual and depends on multiple factors such as the severity of the symptoms, individual stress tolerance, etc. In some cases, the numbness is temporary and disappears when the anxiety vanishes. But in some people, numbness persists for a longer period and therefore individuals have to face multiple complexities. On average, the numbness lasts for a few minutes to several hours. Furthermore, those individuals who experience more episodes of anxiety are also prone to experience numbness.
What is the treatment of Anxiety and Anxiety-induced numbness?
Professional mental health experts first diagnose the mental illness based on the symptoms. Moreover, they also analyze the behavior of the individual to determine the physical symptoms of anxiety, which include numbness, tingling, etc. Experts employ psychotherapies and medications to treat anxiety and anxiety-induced numbness, tingling, etc.
1. Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of talk therapy that is effective for the treatment of anxiety and related physical symptoms. In cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, experts’ main goal is to identify distorted thought patterns and then transform them into positive ones. Moreover, the negative behavior is also changed with the help of cognitive behavioral therapy.
2. Medications
Medications are considered the first line of treatment for all types of anxiety disorders. However, remember that they do not provide a complete cure as they only help in managing the symptoms of anxiety disorder. In addition, different types of anti-anxiety medications are considered effective for treating or managing the symptoms of anxiety.
When to seek professional help
If you feel a loss of sensation in some regions of your body, then it does not mean that your life is going to end. Stay relaxed as numbness is not always considered a serious health concern. But in most cases, numbness indicates that something unusual is happening in your body and you need to consult a professional.
Immediately consult the professionals if you feel that your numbness is:
- Getting prolong
- Not having any clear cause
- Getting worse with time
- Affecting more body regions
- Occurs when you move or do any activity, such as writing
- There is an improvement in anxiety but not in numbness.
- The numbness immediately occurs after the injury.
- The usage of any anti-anxiety medication is causing numbness.
Moreover, if you face the following symptoms with numbness, then you can face multiple complications.
- Sudden intense headache
- Disorientation
- Difficulty in speech
- Disorientation
- Muscle weakness
Share all your mental issues with experts and get the best solutions to overcome your anxiety and anxiety-induced numbness, tingling, etc.
The bottom line
Anxiety and numbness are strongly linked with each other. As anxiety is a common mental illness, numbness is also a common symptom of anxiety. In addition, when the person is anxious, some other symptoms also appear, which include tingling, muscle tension, dizziness, tics, elevated perspiration, etc. Hyperventilation, vasoconstriction, and fight or flight response are responsible for causing numbness in anxiety. But with the help of the most effective treatment options, both anxiety and related physical symptoms, including numbness, tingling, muscle stiffness, etc. If the anxiety and numbness still lasts for a longer period, consider professional help to get lasting relief from your mental issue. If you ever feel that your numbness or tingling is interfering in your life, then you need to consult a mental health professional.
Reach out to the Brainpower Wellness Institute to get rid of Anxiety!
At Brainpower Wellness Institute, we are concerned with your mental health. Whether you are battling with anxiety, depression, or any other common mental issue, you can get our professional mental health support. We have a team of licensed and trained professionals who are well aware of each mental issue and related treatment. Always remember that you are not alone in your mental struggles. With the right support and guidance, you can manage your anxiety and related symptoms, including numbness and tingling, etc.
Our experts provide a secure therapeutic space where they not only provide mental health treatment but also offer a safe edge to the individuals to share their mental health concerns with the experts without any fear of judgment or criticism.
So if you want to get rid of your anxiety and all related physical and psychological symptoms, feel free to communicate with our experts. Schedule a consultation with our professionals and get solutions that are tailored to your requirements. Without any delay, start your journey of mental wellness today!
