The experience of anxiety can include certain symptoms that may be confused for a result of the condition. For example, you may speculate whether the anxiety causes nausea or if nausea is a symptom of anxiety that is more apparent after exercise. To have anxiety is human, but if your experience of anxiety is concerning, consider understanding the nature of anxiety and how exercise can affect it.
Anxiety
A reliable source for understanding mental health issues that include anxiety is the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV. This manual describes an array of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, you may have anxiety and it can be recognized by a professional in a variety of ways depending on symptoms and the circumstances around which you feel anxious. Anxiety, in general, can include feelings of fear, worry and doubt. These feelings can also manifest into a physical experience.
Anxiety and Physical Symptoms
In addition to the emotional experience of anxiety, you may have physical experiences. These are called somatic symptoms and can include increased heart rate, sweating, shortness of breath, diarrhea and, of course, nausea. Therefore, nausea is a symptom of anxiety. Accepting this as one of the symptoms is a way to address treatment of your anxiety and the array of symptoms that may come with it. You might consider if the exercising itself is causing the nausea.
Anxiety and Exercise
Exercise makes a positive intervention for anxiety, according to Arizona State University. Specially, it seems that the best candidates for using exercise to treat anxiety are those who do not exercise regularly, have a relatively high amount of anxiety, spend several weeks exercising and choose some sort of aerobic workout. Other research also supports the notion that exercise such as yoga also has proven to reduce the symptoms of anxiety.
Post-exercise Nausea
Perhaps you pose the question, does anxiety cause nausea after exercise, because you know you have anxiety, you exercise and you feel nausea after working out. It is helpful to take an inventory of the variables that might contribute to this experience as many things can lead to post-workout nausea. Consider diet and supplements, medical conditions, workout environment and workout gear --- any of which could contribute to an upset stomach by the end of a workout.
Relief
It is possible that your anxiety gets the best of you and the physical demands of your workout increase certain somatic symptoms of anxiety like nausea. Consider integrating yoga into your weekly exercise regimen. You may also consider seeking psychotherapy to talk with someone bout your anxiety. Psychotherapy can help reduce the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety. If your post-workout nausea persists, consult with a physician to rule out other ailments.
References
- Psychology Topics: Anxiety
- Chicago Tribune: Yoga May be Better at Reducing enxiety and Lifting mood Than Other forms of Exercise
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision; American Psychiatric Association; 2000
- Arizona State University: The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health
