MoodRx Clinical Staff - Oct 01, 2024
Why can't I shake that uneasy feeling in my body? What is it?
Uneasiness might feel like a knot or queasiness in the pit of your stomach. Or it could feel like tension in your jaw and shoulders or a general restlessness that you can’t explain. While these feelings may not necessarily be serious, they can be very hard to ignore. When a feeling in your body causes you discomfort or makes it hard to concentrate, you should do your best to try to understand it and take any appropriate actions to start feeling better.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about potential causes for that uneasy feeling in your body and what you can do to soothe it.
What is that uneasy feeling in my body and why can't I shake it?
The body's natural stress response can cause physical uneasiness that may feel like nausea, tension, or changes in breathing or heart rate. If these feelings are persistent, you can try some deep breathing and mindfulness exercises. When you’re feeling calmer, you can reflect on where those feelings were coming from. There may be a situation in your life or a relationship that’s making you feel unsafe.
Physical uneasiness can also be a symptom of anxiety disorders, a trauma response or a response to a medical condition. If you think you’re having a serious medical episode, you should seek medical care first. A therapist can review your symptoms with you and talk through some recent stressful situations to help you determine what’s happening.
Your natural stress response
Like most other species, humans developed a natural stress response as a means of survival. When we see, hear or feel something that makes us feel threatened, the brain triggers responses in the body. Feelings of uneasiness or discomfort caused by these natural processes are your body’s way of telling you to seek safety. When the autonomic nervous system is activated, you might notice symptoms like hyperventilation, a pounding heart or tightness in your chest. During longer periods of stress, your adrenal glands release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
These chemicals have some helpful effects when we’re in danger, such as alertness, bursts of energy and faster metabolism. However, when your body stays in “fight-or-flight” mode for extended periods, it can have negative effects. You might notice muscle tension and soreness, nausea, indigestion, headaches, insomnia, or trembling.
Physical symptoms of anxiety
People with anxiety conditions might worry about dangerous or uncomfortable situations before they happen. Physical symptoms of anxiety like chest pain or changes in breathing can be very upsetting, so in some cases, anxiety can feed on itself and get worse. However, there are also times when physical symptoms of health conditions come first, triggering anxiety.
Relationships between physical illnesses and anxiety symptoms are complex. People with and without serious health conditions can develop health anxiety. Whether you are dealing with anxiety, a health condition or both, finding ways to calm your mind and body can help you gauge your physical symptoms and seek the appropriate treatment.
The following are some common physical symptoms of anxiety:
● Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
● Rapid heart rate, pounding heart or chest pain
● Sweating
● Trembling or shaking
● Stomach pain, nausea or indigestion
● Headache
● Trouble sleeping
● Fatigue
● Muscle tension or soreness
Panic attacks
Panic attacks are severe anxiety attacks that can come on suddenly. You might experience chest pain, hyperventilation or lightheadedness during these episodes. Many people who have panic attacks have said their first episodes made them feel like they were going to die. Symptoms can also include numbness, tingling, and overheating or chills. After you’ve had a panic attack, there’s a higher chance that you’ll have another one. Fear of having panic attacks can trigger more anxiety. If you think you’ve had a panic attack, you should talk with your doctor or a therapist.
What should I do when I have an uneasy feeling in my body?
When you’re having physical feelings of uneasiness, try to take things moment by moment and be compassionate with yourself. Slow down and try not to judge what’s happening. See if you can take a step back, get into a calmer frame of mind, and do what you can to start feeling better.
Try the following steps to manage feelings of uneasiness:
1. Check the facts — What was the first thing you noticed? What was happening when these feelings started? What can you feel in your body, and what are your thoughts? What has made things better or worse?
2. Get grounded in your body — Physical sensations of stress can quickly turn into racing thoughts and worry. Try to get out of your head and focus on what you can feel by relaxing or doing something physical like taking a walk.
3. Do some deep breathing or a mindfulness activity — You can signal to your body that you’re safe through deep belly breathing and mindfulness meditation.
4. Keep track of your symptoms — If your symptoms persist, take detailed notes so you can discuss them with your care provider. Write down when they started, what you’re feeling and how often you’re noticing them.
5. Seek the appropriate treatment — Depending on what you notice, you might decide to make an appointment with your doctor, see a therapist, or seek emergency services.
Physical symptoms and sensations are the human body’s way of communicating. For your health and well-being, it’s important to learn how to listen to your body. It takes time and experience to become familiar with what’s “normal” for you and what’s unusual.
Anxiety can cause feelings of uneasiness or discomfort and very real physical symptoms. In these cases, symptoms will respond to relaxation or mindfulness exercises as well as therapy and medication. There are also times when physical health conditions can trigger anxiety.
Have you considered finding an online therapist to help you address that uneasy feeling? We developed the MoodRx platform to make it easy to monitor your mental health, match with a therapist and manage your care. The first step is creating your free account and taking a mental health assessment. After that, you can set up a virtual consultation with a licensed clinician who will recommend a few therapists to choose from.
Let’s talk about what’s happening in your mind and body and what you need to start feeling better. Contact our team today for more information or to sign up for free.
