Anxiety disorders, a group of disorders characterized by fearfulness and uncertainty, affect nearly 40 million adults in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. Normal everyday life events can cause stress and brief anxiety. Generalized anxiety disorder, however, describes those who experience ongoing anxiety that interferes with relationships and daily activities. Feeling anxiety triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, which over long periods of time can cause additional illnesses.
Depression
Depression describes a disorder of intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness that interferes with normal functioning. Many different types of depression exist that cause many different symptoms. Not everyone with depression react the same or exhibits the same symptoms. Common symptoms of depression include persistent sadness, feelings of guilt, irritability, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, changes in eating habits and persistent aches and pains. Continual feelings of fearfulness and uncertainty can lead to depression.
Insomnia
Insomnia, the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, can occur due to anxiety. MayoClinic.com reports that 1/3 of all adults in the United States experience insomnia with 10 to 15 percent suffering from long-term insomnia. Feelings of anxiety trigger the brain to release increased levels of adrenaline preparing the body for the “fight.” Increased levels of adrenaline cause the heart rate to increase, the respiratory rate to increase, blood vessels to constrict and muscles to tighten. These conditions certainly fail to prepare the body to sleep.
Chronic Diarrhea
During the body’s stress response triggered by anxiety, the body changes the flow of blood away from the internal organs to the large groups of muscles. Internal organ functioning therefore slows down, including the process of digestion. Any contents in the gastrointestinal tract are rapidly expelled, resulting in diarrhea. Those suffering from anxiety disorder therefore often develop chronic diarrhea.
Heartburn
The decrease in the digestion process can also cause the muscles surrounding the gastrointestinal tract to constrict. This can lead to heartburn, also known as acid reflux, an illness caused by the backflow of stomach acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn causes symptoms including a burning sensation in the chest and pain that worsens when lying down. Anxiety disorders can cause chronic heartburn which can develop into gastroesophageal reflux disease—the condition of persistent acid reflux that occurs more than twice a week, as described by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
