Latest / Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor / I have intense body reactions to anxiety, what is going on?

Transcript

I have intense body reactions to anxiety, what is going on? · Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor

• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: I have intense body reactions to anxiety.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: What is going on?
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, anxiety symptoms will show up in different ways for each person.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: Visceral reactions um so how our body reacts can look like sweaty palms, increased heart rate, shallow breathing, shaking hands, wobbly legs, upset tummy or nausea, or an urgency to go to the toilet, and in some cases pains in the chest and a dry mouth.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: So adrenaline is the culprit.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Adrenaline is the chemical responsible for how we experience anxiety.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: So two people can experience the same stress but their bodies react in completely different ways.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: This is really important here.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: So some people can handle stressful jobs and perform really well whilst others experience brain fog and anxiety early on.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: Our genetic adrenal wiring plays a part in this.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: How our bodies produce adrenaline and clear it from our systems varies.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're someone who gets shaky, anxious or exhausted after minor stress, you may have a particularly sensitive adrenal system.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're someone who thrives under pressure but then crashes later on, your body might be overproducing stress hormones initially only to run out of fuel down the road.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: So another factor, factor number two, is our past trauma and stress.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: If you've grown up in a volatile or stressful environment, then your body would have been operating in a constant state of high alert, also known as hypervigilance.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: So your body would have adapted to a constant stream of stress hormones, but your tolerance levels would be much lower for additional stress, which can be caused by life events, small changes, uncertainty.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: So the third factor in how intense our responses are to anxiety is our metabolism.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: When cortisol and adrenaline are released into the body, as I've mentioned, the chemicals are metabolized.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: So if you have a flexible metabolism, you can handle stress more effectively.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: If you experience getting hung or shaky when you miss a meal, you get energy crashes after lunch or midday, or you crave sugar or caffeine to function, then that does indicate that you have a low metabolic flexibility.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: So we are so different in the way that our bodies are built, but also in the journeys we have been on.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: So please do not be alarmed that you experience anxiety more intensely than someone else.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: You have to take everything into account.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: If you have any concerns at all or pains from anxiety symptoms, then please see a GP or call the NHS 111 immediately to rule out any medical causes.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Anxiety responses cannot harm you.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: It is a natural process and our bodies are built to deal with the chemicals.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: However, prolonged periods of anxiety and stress can lead to problems as our bodies weren't designed to deal with long term flooding of adrenaline and cortisol.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: So do seek medical advice if you need to or if you have been struggling for a while.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: So I hope this has been useful and please take care of yourself.