How Long Does Anxiety Numbness Last?

Anxiety is a common emotion experienced by everyone at various times in their life. However, for some individuals, anxiety occurs far more frequently, leading to distressing experiences.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 40 million Americans are affected by anxiety disorders. These disorders encompass a range of conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and specific phobias, all of which are linked to brain activity. Understanding the brain’s role in anxiety can offer valuable insights into its origins.

While experiencing anxiety is part of the human condition, it can escalate to a debilitating level if not addressed. Symptoms of anxiety can manifest as an accelerated heart rate, restlessness, nervousness, or even a sense of numbness.

What Is Anxiety Numbness and How Long Does Anxiety Numbness Last?

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This is a broad term used to describe the sensation, or lack thereof, of feeling and is typically associated with physical symptoms.

This can either be in the physical form where somebody is unable to have a feeling to the touch, and it can also be manifested as an emotional numbness where an individual with anxiety numbness cannot feel emotions – especially positive emotions. Anxiety can also make you feel sick, reference Why does anxiety make me feel sick?

For some people, it’s the inability to feel an area of the body, whilst for others it’s a tingling sensation, making it an unusual feeling to have. Whilst it can also cause a mild burning feeling, usually found in the legs, hands, and feet.

How Does Anxiety Cause Numbness?

Anxiety and stress go hand-in-hand, and anxious tendencies will activate the fight or flight response. This is when your body is thrown into a sense of high alert because your body is detecting a threat.

Anxiety is a normal human reaction, and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. We needed a security system to detect threats from predators that might be hiding in a nearby bush, or being on top of a cliff to stop us from jumping off.

The problem with anxiety is that some people are unable to distinguish between what is a threat and what isn’t.

Some might get anxious about being late for a party, yet still, arrive 20 minutes early just to avoid any problems.

Some might be anxious about having to drive 230 minutes down the road, even though they’ve done it a thousand times before.

This anxiety can trigger numbness in some people and is one of the many side effects of this chronic condition.

Even if the threat is benign, it can still activate the sympathetic nervous system which shuts off bodily functions like digestion and begins to increase your heart rate.

As anxiety numbness is mostly found in the extremities, this is why it is caused.

As your body shuttles blood flow away from your hands and feet to protect your vital organs, this can often cause temporary numbness and coldness.

Tips To Reduce Anxiety Numbness

Does anxiety numbness go away? There are a few ways to counteract anxiety numbness. There’s no cure, as per see to anxiety numbness, where it’s more prevented from happening. This is because anxiety is a natural bodily response, rather than a symptom.

Ideally, you will look to reduce bouts of anxiety and take the steps to manage the quantity and severity. However, whilst you work towards this, here are a few steps you can take to manage your numbness.

Movement Reduces Anxiety Numbness

Exercise, or physical activity is often referred to as “taking a polypill.” That’s because exercise has so many benefits that include helping to reduce depression and anxiety.

It’s also super beneficial for long-term health and can help support the nervous system, improve the cardiovascular system, and keep our joints and bones nice and strong.

One of the best methods is to go for a job and incorporate cardiovascular exercise into your weekly routine.

But if you’re too stressed or don’t have the energy to manage a run, then a brisk walk is nourishing and energizing for the body.

You should also include some form of resistance training twice per week. This is recommended for both men and women and can help deter the effects of depression and anxiety.

Create Health Habits that Reduce Anxiety Numbness

There’s a vicious cycle at play with anxiety. The more you think about anxiety the more likely you are to be anxious. Thus, this causes your anxiety to grow which makes it harder to not think about.

To break this cycle, you should look to distract yourself from these sensations.

A few ways to do this are through exercising (which we’ve just covered), or doing something simple like having a phone call with a loved one.

You should also engage in activities that are healthy and that you enjoy, as this lowers the chance you will think about the problem.

Watching sports (as long as it doesn’t give you anxiety!), playing card games, going for lunch with a friend, or just simply watching a great TV box set are all good ways to keep the mind out of fight-or-flight.

Anxiety Numbness: Breathing

We usually symbolize oxygen by beating the life force of our body, and carbon dioxide is a waste gas that we need to expel.

The problem is that with heavy breathing and hyperventilation; we over-oxidize the body which can lead to excess free radicals which are harmful to our bodies in large doses.

Therefore we need to bring our breathing back to homeostasis and learn to control our rate of inhalation and exhalation, which can also help avoid a panic attack.

To do this, slow down your breathing and ensure that there is a 2-second gap in between breaths to help restore a natural rhythm to your breathing.

Numbness From Anxiety Final Thoughts

The above tips aren’t meant to be exhaustive, but they are a good starting point to help alleviate feelings of anxiety. You’ll find that each person reacts differently to anxiety and its symptoms.

Therefore, what works for someone else may not necessarily work for you.

However, I hope that these tips will help you understand why you feel the way you do and hopefully provide you with some tools to combat numbness from anxiety.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Anxiety And Numbness Keeps Persisting. What Should I Do?

Numbness is not always a sign of a serious medical condition, but we recommend that you speak to your doctor if you are concerned about anything.

You could also consider looking into therapy to help control your anxiety and how it triggers.

What is anxiety numbness, and how long does anxiety numbness it last?

Anxiety numbness is a sensation or lack of feeling, often associated with physical symptoms or emotional numbness. It can manifest as an inability to feel touch or emotions, especially positive ones. The duration of anxiety numbness varies among individuals and may depend on the severity of the anxiety and the person’s coping mechanisms.

How does anxiety cause numbness?

Anxiety triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, activating the sympathetic nervous system. This response causes the body to shuttle blood flow away from the hands and feet to protect vital organs, which can result in temporary numbness and coldness in the extremities.

What are some tips to reduce anxiety numbness?

To reduce anxiety numbness, try engaging in regular physical activity, creating healthy habits to distract from anxiety, and practicing controlled breathing techniques. Keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another, so explore different coping strategies to find the most effective methods for you.

Can exercise help reduce anxiety numbness?

Yes, exercise can help reduce anxiety numbness. Regular physical activity, such as jogging or brisk walking, can support the nervous system, improve the cardiovascular system, and strengthen bones and joints. Incorporating resistance training twice per week is also recommended to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety.

What should I do if my anxiety and numbness persist?

If anxiety and numbness continue to persist, consult with a medical professional to discuss your symptoms and concerns. Additionally, consider seeking therapy or counseling to help manage and control anxiety triggers. Remember, each person’s experience with anxiety is unique, and it may take time to find the most effective coping mechanisms for you.