Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions that people live with today. As a result, most of us know what anxiety is. Moreover, many of us know about the common treatments for anxiety. However, anxiety doesn’t always present the same way for everyone. There are some unusual anxiety symptoms that you might not be aware of. Moreover, the usual treatments don’t work for everyone, but there are alternative therapies that can help.
Common Anxiety Symptoms and Treatments
Before we get into the unusual anxiety symptoms and treatments, here are some resources for learning more about common anxiety symptoms and therapies:
Unusual Anxiety Symptoms
When we think about anxiety, we often think about symptoms like shortness of breath, moments of panic, or a racing heart. These are definitely common anxiety symptoms. But you can experience unusual anxiety symptoms as well. Some of the unusual symptoms of anxiety include:
Derealization or Depersonalization
These are feelings of being detached from oneself or the world around you. You might feel as if you’re observing your own body from an outside perspective or as if reality is a dream or a movie.
Tinnitus
This is a condition where you hear a constant ringing or buzzing in your ears. While tinnitus can be caused by a number of different factors, including damage to the ear or the auditory system, it can also be a rare symptom of anxiety.
Skin Problems
Anxiety can cause a wide range of skin problems, such as acne, hives, or rashes. In some cases, it might also cause itching or a crawling sensation on the skin. This is usually due to the stress hormones that the body releases during periods of anxiety.
Impaired Memory
Chronic anxiety can sometimes impair memory, leading to forgetfulness or difficulty recalling past events. This is typically due to the constant state of stress and worry that prevents the mind from properly encoding and storing memories.
Changes in Vision
Anxiety can sometimes affect vision, causing symptoms like blurry vision or spots in the visual field. This usually happens during acute anxiety or panic attacks due to changes in blood flow.
Twitches or Involuntary Movements
Muscle twitches, tremors, or other involuntary movements can be another rare symptom of anxiety. This is usually caused by the body’s “fight or flight” response being constantly activated, leading to increased muscle tension.
Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing)
Some people might experience a sensation of a lump in their throat or difficulty swallowing, which is known as dysphagia. This can be a result of the muscles in the throat tightening due to anxiety.
Alopecia (Hair Loss)
Chronic stress and anxiety can sometimes lead to hair loss. This is not very common but can happen when anxiety provokes a significant physical response.
Hypersensitivity to Touch or Sound
Some people with anxiety disorders may become extremely sensitive to certain sensations, such as touch or sound. This hypersensitivity can make it difficult to interact with the world in a comfortable way.
Hot Flashes
Some people with anxiety may experience hot flashes, similar to those experienced during menopause. This is thought to be due to the body’s response to stress and anxiety.
Frequent Urination
Anxiety can sometimes lead to frequent urination. This is believed to be due to the body’s fight or flight response being activated, which can stimulate the need to urinate.
Unusual Types of Anxiety
When we mention anxiety, we usually mean generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or perhaps even panic attacks. However, there are many different types of anxiety, including:
Selective Mutism
This is a complex childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak in select social settings, such as school. These children are able to speak in settings where they are comfortable, secure, and relaxed.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
While this is common and normal in very young children, it becomes a disorder when it persists into adolescence and adulthood. People with this disorder have an excessive fear or anxiety about being separated from those to whom they are attached.
Illness Anxiety Disorder
Previously known as hypochondriasis, individuals with illness anxiety disorder are excessively worried about having a serious illness, despite having no or only mild symptoms. They are highly anxious about health and easily alarmed about personal health status.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
This disorder occurs in response to a traumatic event and shares many symptoms with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, unlike PTSD, symptoms appear immediately after the event and last for a maximum of a month.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
This is a disorder characterized by the affected person’s excessive concern about and preoccupation with a perceived defect in their physical appearance. Though not exclusively an anxiety disorder, it has elements of obsessive-compulsive disorder and often co-occurs with anxiety disorders.
Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder
While agoraphobia is commonly associated with panic disorder, it can also exist without a history of panic attacks. Individuals with this disorder fear and avoid places or situations that might cause them to panic, feel trapped, or feel helpless.
Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder
This disorder is characterized by panic or anxiety symptoms that are a direct result of abusing drugs, taking medications, being exposed to a toxic substance or withdrawal from drugs.
Mixed Anxiety-Depressive Disorder (MADD)
Though this disorder is still under consideration and is not included in the main section of the DSM-5, it is listed in the “Conditions for Further Study” section. It’s characterized by symptoms of both anxiety and depression, but neither set of symptoms is distinct or severe enough to justify a separate diagnosis.
Unusual Therapy Options for Anxiety
Therapy is often treated with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Response Prevention, and Mindfulness-Based Therapy. However, you might utilize alternative therapy options for anxiety including:
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)
This technology-based therapy uses virtual reality environments to expose patients to situations that trigger anxiety. It’s often used for specific phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder but can also be used for other types of anxiety disorders.
Neurofeedback (NFB) or Biofeedback
These treatments provide real-time feedback about brain or body functions (like heart rate, muscle tension, or brainwave patterns) to help patients learn to control their physiological reactions. This can help manage anxiety symptoms.
Equine-Assisted Therapy
In this therapy, individuals interact with horses in a variety of activities (not just riding), which can promote emotional growth and learning. It’s used for a range of mental health disorders, including anxiety.
There are also other forms of Animal Assisted Therapy in addition to working with horses.
Adventure Therapy
This involves the use of experiences or activities (such as cooperative games, wilderness expeditions, and trust-building activities) to reflect and learn more about oneself, create change, and build social and cognitive skills.
Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT)
DMT uses movement and dance as a form of expression. It allows individuals to express their feelings and emotions in a physical way and can help to reduce anxiety.
Art Therapy or Music Therapy
In these therapies, patients use art or music to express themselves, explore their feelings, and cope with anxiety.
Many of our therapists are able to use a combination of traditional and rarer therapeutic approaches customized to suit your individual needs. Contact us today for a consultation.