Can anxiety give you physical symptoms?

Hi Guys,

My question is can anxiety actually make you have on-going physical symptoms? Please read on and apologies for long post – I really appreciate your support.

A little background on me. I have always suffered with migraines which started to increase in frequency about June 2012. I would get stabbing migraines both with and without aura but seemed to struggle through them. Over a period of a few days back in June I was getting weird numb sensations around my body - GP referred me to a neurologist. Here is where is started.
MRI with contrast all came back clear
EEG - clear
Bloods - clear
End result - severe neurological reaction to migraines.

On the MRI they noted a cranial venous malformation as an incidental find and said it was there from birth so not relevant.

But symptoms still lingered - came and went. Fast forward to about 3 months ago and symptoms came back but this time I was getting joint pain - completely new one. The only way I can describe it is deep pain in my joints/muscles around my joints plus my sleep has gone crazy - I can fall asleep but now wake up multiple times at night. Its very strange though because my capacity to do daily tasks etc has not altered. In a nutshell I feel like I am going insane!! The only time I get a sense of relief is when I am doing physical activity it makes me focus on something other than symptoms. I have not experienced weakness or balance issues but more altered sensations in certain parts of my body that don't impair movement. Facial numbness is my current symptom with intermittent hand and feet tingling. In conjunction with all of this I am finding myself constantly thinking about my health and worrying – its consuming my every thought day and night (not sleeping well at the moment.


I got myself into such a worried state that I went back to the GP and she put me on cipramil for health anxiety. I am a reasonable logical person but this has thrown me.
Now I am looking into anxiety as something that is causing symptoms but that is sending me down a completely different path! I have a young family and currently a director of a busy company which I love but this seems to be something I can't get to the bottom of. I am trying not to let it rule my life but in a nutshell I am extremely worried and scared.


My biggest fear at the moment is MS - even though it was ruled out on first MRI. My irrational brain working overdrive to the point where I can think of nothing else. I am sending myself crazy wondering what is going on and then thinking about anxiety as a cause (you can see the vicious cycle I am in!)


I am not asking you guys to diagnose me but just a little insight into your anxiety experience and if severe anxiety can cause ongoing physical symptoms?

I also want to add that 4 years ago just 1 year after getting married my husband fell extremely ill and we nearly lost him – then after his rehabilitation we had 2 babies close in age – so life has been very manic.

Many thanks for your support

YES, Anxiety can cause all kinds of physical symptoms. Welcome to the AP group, you'll find alot of support here. Post anytime, someone will reply as this is a pretty active group.