This is an era where anxiety is ubiquitous. The research findings of Professor Huang Yueqin’s team from the Department of Psychiatry of Peking University Sixth Hospital were published in The Lancet Psychiatry, revealing the first large-scale epidemiological survey of mental disorders in China. The survey covered 32,552 individuals from 31 provinces nationwide, showing a lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders as high as 7.6%, ranking the highest among all mental disorders. In fact, modern individuals are inevitably prone to long-term anxiety, even if we are not always aware of it. The body always sends out signals to remind us of being in a state of anxiety.
1. Binge eating and weight gain
Negative emotions like anxiety can trigger stress responses in the brain, releasing glucocorticoids to balance emotions while increasing cravings for high-sugar and high-salt foods. If one is under prolonged tension without physical activity, “overwork obesity” is not far off.
2. Digestive issues: Diarrhea and constipation
Gastrointestinal function is closely related to emotions. When anxious or tense, substances secreted by the brain can disrupt the normal function of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation.
3. Palpitations and shortness of breath
During anxiety, breathing becomes rapid and unsmooth, exacerbating panic. This vicious cycle makes us more focused on physical discomfort.
4. Immune system weakening
Mental stress triggers anxiety, stimulating the hypothalamus to release glucocorticoids, weakening the immune system’s response, making the body more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.
5. Endocrine imbalance
For women, anxiety can disrupt the endocrine system, causing symptoms like irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea. Abnormalities in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovarian functions can affect the menstrual cycle.
6. Recurrent oral ulcers
Anxiety and mental tension lead to immune weakening, increasing the risk of recurrent oral ulcers. These recurring ulcers are manifestations of immune imbalance in the body.
7. Loss of healthy habits and addictive behaviors
Under pressure, many people may turn to smoking, drinking, binge eating, or addictive behaviors like excessive phone use as temporary psychological relief mechanisms. However, these habits can lead to more serious health issues.
8. Insomnia and lack of concentration
Anxiety often accompanies insomnia, affecting daytime attention and work efficiency, creating a vicious cycle.
9. Hair loss and tinnitus
Long-term anxiety can cause metabolic abnormalities, affecting the environment for hair growth, leading to hair loss. At the same time, excessive stress can cause inadequate blood supply to the inner ear, resulting in tinnitus or hearing loss.
Although stress and occasional anxiety are inevitable, we should be alert to these bodily signals, actively cope with them, learn to relieve stress, to maintain a healthy and happy life.
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