If you’ve ever had tingling or numbness in your body and you also tend to be anxious in general, you must know that they are linked. Typically, when we discuss the signs and symptoms of anxiety, we mean the mental state in which a person may experience a feeling of fear, worry, concern, uneasiness, or panic. You should be aware that anxiety is a condition that is not bound to only mental health. It may also pose a risk to your physical well-being because it sets off a fight-or-flight response in your nervous system. One such reaction is anxiety numbness or tingling sensation in the body.

HealthShots got in touch with Dr Pavan Pai, Consultant Interventional Neurologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, Mumbai, to understand anxiety numbness in detail.c

Can anxiety cause numbness or tingling sensation?

Anxiety can cause you to experience numbness and tingling at any time, and it can stay with you for a prolonged period of time. It generally feels like your body is buzzing, shaking or vibrating. It can affect any part of your body, especially your feet, hands, fingers, arms, legs, or toes. When someone experiences numbness and a tingling feeling, they may experience a panic attack as a result, which may cause them to feel even more numb and anxious.

Can you control or stop numbness and tingling?

While some people only experience these sensations when they move their hands, feet, arms, or legs, others experience them consistently and independently.

Dr Pai says, “There isn’t much we can do to prevent these symptoms from occurring because they often arise unintentionally and involuntarily. The sensations may be infrequent, regular, or chronic. However, some people might be able to control this sensation by relaxing or by tightening and relaxing their muscles.” Keep in mind that you rarely have control over this.

Also read: Ask the experts: What does anxiety feel like?

How does anxiety cause numbness and tingling sensation?

There could be many reasons behind anxiety-related numbness and tingling sensations. Here, we’re discussing the 3 top causes of anxiety numbness:

1. Side effects of anxiety medication

Buzzing in the extremities can be a side effect of several medications, including popular psychiatric drugs (anti-anxiety, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, etc.). Any of these symptoms should be discussed with your doctor, who can then adjust your medication to assist you to stop having those symptoms.

2. Chronic stress

A few signs of chronic stress include trembling, shaking, and body vibration. You may even experience your heart racing. To manage your physical symptoms in such a situation, try to take deep breaths and relax.

3. Side effects of stress hormones

Your neurological system suffers as a result of your anxious behavior, which triggers the stress reaction that can cause numbness and stiff muscles. According to Dr Pai, hormones and nerves have a direct impact on muscles, and if either one or both of these systems are dysfunctional, it might result in mild to moderate sensations in your body.

Takeaway

The buzzing feeling brought on by anxiety is still being studied by specialists. It is thought to have something to do with how hormones react to long-term and consistent stress in your body. The most effective strategy to halt the feelings is to deal with your anxiety. If you have concerns about anxiety symptoms, always consult a doctor. Make sure you are not causing yourself more worry by researching all of your symptoms and convincing yourself you have the worst possible condition.