These common physiological changes include a spike in heart rate and/or blood pressure, muscle tension, trembling, cold or clammy hands, and other body changes. Over time, repeated activation of the stress response takes a toll on the body. Research has shown that chronic stress can lead to increased cellular inflammation, cardiovascular disease, promotes the formation of artery clogging deposits, and causes brain changes that may contribute to anxiety, depression, and addiction. Preliminary research suggests that chronic stress may also contribute to obesity, both through direct mechanisms (causing people to eat more) or indirectly (decreasing sleep and exercise). Anxiety can stem from basically any type of physical or emotional stress (illness, surgery, death, among others) and can leave an impact that gets buried deep within the body that can often unconsciously be triggered later in life. I was diagnosed with cancer over a telephone call from my doctor’s office. Fifteen years later, a phone call that says it is from a doctor’s office will still trigger the exact physiological response I had that day. The sympathetic nervous system will override the prefrontal cortex (the rational part of the brain that would tell you that is a memory) and the body will often launch into “fight or flight”. I’ve had tons of conversations with clients on how to recognize and manage those triggers in the hopes of building resilience and dealing with anxiety. emotions can suddenly explode and flood us with adrenaline. It can be hard in these states to read reality correctly, seeing danger when we are safe, or safety where there is danger. • You feel spaced out, at a loss for words, can’t remember where you are or what you are doing. • You feel scattered, trying to do a lot of things at once and finishing nothing. • You are tripping over things, dropping things, losing things. • You can’t feel parts of your body: hands, mouth, face, feet. There are numerous ways to manage physical anxiety. The best way to figure out what works for your body is to educate yourself and take that knowledge to your doctor or mental health provider. In my case, my pharmacist helped me more than anything. 1. Chest pains and shortness of breath 2. Muscle tension 3. Skin problems 4. Stomach problems 5. Changes in hair & nails 6. Fatigue 7. Cold extremities 8. Changes in vision The parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”) acts as sort of a “brake pedal” on these stressors and helps regulate those physiological adaptations the body is undergoing in response to stress. A healthy balance between these two symptoms allows a person to function at a high level. However, long term trauma, anxiety, and stress that has remained untreated can build on and lead to dysregulation of our nervous system. With dysregulation, our thinking, behavior, heart rate, and breathing can become erratic. We might feel panic or depression out of nowhere or our 84 MARCH 2023 | INTHEVUE.COM
