For the 40 million adults in the United States with an anxiety disorder, feeling overly anxious and nervous are the primary symptoms. What many people don’t realize, however, is that an anxiety disorder can affect your life in many subtle ways with seemingly unrelated symptoms.
To help you better understand the many ways anxiety can manifest itself, the skilled team of mental health experts at Vital TMS Therapy presents the following information.
The many faces of anxiety
Many people assume that anxiety is anxiety, but there are many types of anxiety disorders, and each comes with its own unique characteristics. The most common forms of anxiety include:
- Generalized anxiety — a persistent state of anxiety
- Panic disorder — episodic panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress syndrome — anxiety tied to trauma
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder — uncontrollable obsessions and actions
- Social anxiety disorder — fear of being judged by others
- Phobias — extreme fears such as fear of flying, spiders, germs, etc.
- Separation anxiety disorder — fear of separation from a loved one
These are basic explanations of complex disorders, but our goal is to underscore that anxiety comes in various forms and leads to symptoms that extend beyond being overly anxious.
Potential side effects of anxiety
While overwhelming fear, nervousness, and dread are the hallmarks of most anxiety disorders, these conditions can lead to other issues, such as:
Sleep issues
Many people with anxiety disorders experience troubled sleep. For example, you may have problems falling asleep or staying asleep. On the other end of the spectrum, sleep may be the only time your anxiety doesn’t rule your life, and you may sleep more than usual.
Another issue that can crop up is periodic leg movements, often confused with restless leg syndrome. Some people with anxiety experience restless legs when they try to sleep, preventing them from falling asleep easily.
Burning mouth syndrome
You experience a burning sensation in your mouth that comes out of nowhere for no discernible reason. Called burning mouth syndrome, studies show that this condition is linked to anxiety and depression.
Aches and pains
From headaches to upset stomach, anxiety disorders can lead to physical manifestations as your body responds to the constant state of stress.
Sweating and tremors
Another physical side effect of an anxiety disorder is profuse sweating and/or trembling, particularly when the anxiety is heightened, such as during a panic attack.
Treating anxiety
As you can see, anxiety can cast a wide net over your life, which makes seeking help a good idea. At our practice, we’ve helped many people overcome their anxiety disorders through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy.
With this innovative approach to mental health, we send non-invasive magnetic energy into areas of your brain that are stuck in a stress cycle. This stimulation reorganizes the neurotransmitters in your brain to break the cycle and encourage healthier neural pathways.
If you’d like to break free of your anxiety disorder and all its accompanying symptoms, contact one of our two locations in Washington, DC, to schedule a TMS consultation.
