- Why anxiety is not always related only to psychology
- Magnesium deficiency and increased nervous excitability
- Iron, ferritin, and a feeling of internal exhaustion
- Lack of sleep and chronic fatigue
- Why anxiety often has physical symptoms
- How to support the nervous system in case of emotional overstrain
- When it is important to see a doctor
Sometimes anxiety appears as if “out of the blue”: there is no obvious conflict, severe stress, or specific cause, but tension still persists inside. A person may become irritable, sleep worse, get tired faster, and react more sharply to normal situations.
It is important to understand that emotional state does not exist separately from physical state. It can be influenced not only by psychological factors, but also by sleep, nutrition, workload, deficiencies, and the general condition of the nervous system. Therefore, anxiety for no apparent reason is better considered comprehensively, without reducing everything to “nerves.”
The nervous system is closely connected with the work of the entire body. When a person lives in a state of tension for a long time, sleeps little, eats irregularly, or is constantly overloaded, the body may react with a feeling of internal anxiety, even if everything looks calm on the outside.
Chronic stress affects not only mood. It can affect sleep quality, heart rate, the ability to relax, energy levels, and concentration. With anxiety, physical manifestations may also appear: palpitations, trembling, a feeling of tightness in the body, and difficulty falling asleep. Such symptoms are common in anxiety states, but they do not allow a diagnosis on their own.
Sometimes the body simply does not have time to recover. Then irritability, inner anxiety, and the feeling of “I can’t cope” become not a separate problem, but a signal of general exhaustion.
Magnesium deficiency and increased nervous excitability
Magnesium is involved in the functioning of muscles, the nervous system, and the maintenance of a normal heart rhythm. With a pronounced deficiency, muscle contractions, cramps, weakness, changes in well-being, and heart rhythm disturbances may appear.
At the everyday level, magnesium deficiency is often associated with muscle tension, irritability, and poor sleep quality. This does not mean that any anxiety is automatically caused by magnesium deficiency. But if anxiety is accompanied by constant tension in the body, cramps, poor sleep, and fatigue, this factor should be discussed with a doctor.
You should not prescribe medicines or high doses to yourself. Even useful trace elements may be inappropriate for some conditions or may not be compatible with all medications.
Iron, ferritin, and a feeling of internal exhaustion
Iron deficiency is often associated only with anemia, but the problem may begin earlier. Ferritin reflects the body’s iron stores, and a decrease in it can be accompanied by weakness, fatigue, reduced endurance, and difficulty concentrating.
When energy is lacking, the nervous system becomes more vulnerable. A person becomes irritated faster, tolerates stress worse, reacts more strongly to tension, and may perceive ordinary tasks as excessively difficult. Against this background, anxiety is sometimes felt not as fear of something specific, but as constant internal exhaustion.
It is important to assess the indicators comprehensively: hemoglobin, ferritin, and other tests prescribed by a doctor. It is impossible to accurately determine a deficiency by symptoms alone.
Lack of sleep and chronic fatigue
Sleep is one of the key factors in the recovery of the nervous system. If a person regularly sleeps little, wakes up exhausted, or cannot fall asleep for a long time, emotional stability decreases. What is normally perceived calmly can cause irritation, anxiety, or a feeling of overload against the background of fatigue.
Lack of sleep also affects the body: the pulse may increase, muscle tension may become stronger, and a feeling of internal trembling may appear. As a result, a person begins to worry about the physical symptoms themselves: “Why is my heart beating like this?”, “Why can’t I relax?”, “Is there something wrong with me?”
This is how a vicious circle can form: fatigue increases anxiety, anxiety interferes with sleep, and poor sleep again increases the sensitivity of the nervous system.
Why anxiety often has physical symptoms
Anxiety is rarely limited to thoughts. It often manifests through the body: palpitations, a feeling of tension, difficulty sleeping, inner restlessness, and shallow breathing. Sometimes a person first notices physical symptoms and only then realizes that they are in a state of emotional overstrain.
Tachycardia due to stress or anxiety can be the body’s reaction to overload. But if palpitations appear frequently, persist at rest, are accompanied by weakness, pain, shortness of breath, or deterioration in health, this is a reason to consult a doctor.
The physical manifestations of anxiety should not be ignored. But you should not be afraid of every symptom either: it is better to calmly assess the situation and check the possible causes.
How to support the nervous system in case of emotional overstrain
With increased emotional excitability, irritability, and sleep disorders, it is important to consider the condition comprehensively. First of all, you should pay attention to the sleep schedule, the level of daily workload, nutrition, recovery, and possible deficiencies that can increase the feeling of internal tension.
Gentle nervous system support should not be a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If anxiety, sleep disturbances, palpitations, or a feeling of exhaustion persist for a long time, it is better to discuss the condition with a doctor. A specialist will help determine whether it is associated with fatigue, deficiencies, stress, the cardiovascular system, or other causes.
You should not choose medicines or herbal remedies on your own. Even mild-action products may have contraindications, restrictions on use, and incompatibility with other medicines. Therefore, before using any product, it is important to follow the instructions and a specialist’s recommendations.
When it is important to see a doctor
It is worth seeing a doctor if anxiety lasts a long time, interferes with work, study, sleep, or normal communication with people. Also, do not postpone the consultation in case of severe sleep disorders, constant palpitations, severe weakness, dizziness, or a noticeable deterioration in health.
A specialist can help determine whether the condition is due to overwork, deficiencies, hormonal factors, the cardiovascular system, or other causes. Sometimes tests, assessment of sleep, lifestyle, and accompanying symptoms are needed to understand the situation.
Anxiety without a reason is not always only psychological in nature. Deficiencies, chronic fatigue, lack of sleep, and the general condition of the nervous system can affect well-being. Therefore, it is important to approach the problem comprehensively: do not ignore symptoms, do not self-medicate, and, if necessary, seek medical advice.
Literature
- Boyle N. B., Lawton C., Dye L. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress — A Systematic Review (https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/5/429).
- Greig A. J., Patterson A. J., Collins C. E., Chalmers K. A. Iron deficiency, cognition, mental health and fatigue in women of childbearing age: a systematic review (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25191562/).
- Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Sleep disorders: symptoms and prevention of chronic insomnia (https://moz.gov.ua/uk/porushennja-snu-simptomi-ta-profilaktika-hronichnogo-bezsonnja).
Author: Natalia Kandybey, Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Quality Director of PJSC Pharmaceutical Factory “VIOLA”
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