Stress and anxiety are often closely interrelated. According to "The New York Times" Health Guide, stress can occur whenever you feel anxious, and anxiety can cause you to feel distressed. Although everyone feels stressed and anxious occasionally, too much stress and anxiety can cause serious side effects. One of the more common symptoms of stress and anxiety is either an increased appetite, leading to weight gain, or a loss of appetite, which can lead to weight loss.
Causes
Stress and anxiety can have numerous causes. Pressures from work and family, poor nutrition, medical conditions or a genetic predisposition to anxiety disorders can cause you to experience undue amounts of stress and anxious feelings. According to "The New York Times" Health Guide, certain medications and substances can contribute to or cause your symptoms, including alcohol, caffeine and prescriptions for ADHD, thyroid conditions and cold remedies. Mental health conditions such as depression may also lead to anxiety and stress.
Symptoms
Anxiety and stress both have numerous symptoms, and stress and anxiety can mimic each other in how symptoms manifest. However, physical symptoms are more commonly experienced during times of anxiety than times of stress, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These symptoms include insomnia or other sleeping difficulties, sweating, chills, muscle aches and pains or tension, breathing difficulties and fatigue and weight loss or gain.
Considerations
For most people, some level of stress and anxiety are a normal part of everyday life. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, persistent stress can lead to anxiety and unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, therefore reducing the likelihood of stress-related weight loss. In his book, "Anxiety: Your Questions Answered," author Trevor H. Turner points out that weight loss is actually not a typical characteristic of anxiety; although some patients with anxiety disorders do experience loss of appetite, they do not seem to experience an unusual weight loss.
Lifestyle Changes
Experiencing an overload of stress and anxiety can cause damage to your physical and mental health if not properly addressed. Symptoms of anxiety and stress can often be managed through specific, targeted lifestyle changes. Some of these changes may help you to avoid an undesirable weight loss or gain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, such techniques include exercise, eating a healthy, nutritious diet, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.
Expert Insight
According to Mayo Clinic oncologist Dr. Edward T. Creagan, writing on the MayoClinic.com website, practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation can help you to manage the undesirable effects of stress on your weight. These techniques can also help you to better cope with the other symptoms of stress and anxiety.
