MYTH #1 Anxiety is all in your head.
MYTHBUSTER Anxiety causes very real physical responses that may include shaking, heart palpitations, nausea, and lightheadedness, says Karen Surowiec, Psy.D., a psychologist with the Manhattan Psychology Group. That's because fears and worries cause the body's fight-or-flight response to kick in, releasing hormones that make your muscles tense and your heartbeat and breath quicken. The brain and the gut share a connection too, which is why feeling nervous can upset your stomach and an upset stomach can make you feel nervous. One study found that 44% of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) had anxiety compared with just 8% without IBS. All of which means that even if the fears you have aren't likely to come true, they could be causing a very real physical reaction.
MYTH #2 Anxiety is simply worrying too much.
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Prevention US.
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This story is from the October 2022 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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