Can Anxiety Cause Nerve Pain?

How anxiety affects the body

Anxiety triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, which prepares you to deal with perceived threats. This response involves the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, leading to several physical changes:

• Increased muscle tension: Anxiety often causes muscles to tighten, which can compress nerves and lead to pain.
• Altered blood flow: Stress can change blood flow patterns, potentially affecting nerve function and causing pain or discomfort. ¹
• Heightened sensitivity: Anxiety can make you more aware of bodily sensations, including pain, which can make neuropathic pain feel more intense. ²

Mechanisms linking anxiety to nerve pain

Several mechanisms explain how anxiety can worsen nerve pain:

• Stress hormones: Elevated levels of cortisol and adrenaline can affect nerve function and increase pain sensitivity. Chronic stress can lead to prolonged exposure to these hormones, which may damage nerves over time.
• Hyperventilation: Anxiety can make you breathe quickly and shallowly, leading to hyperventilation. This reduces blood flow to your hands and feet, causing tingling, numbness, or pain in those areas.
• Muscle tension: Chronic anxiety often results in sustained muscle tension, which can pinch or irritate nerves, leading to pain or discomfort, especially in areas like the neck, shoulders, and back.
• Inflammation: Anxiety and stress can contribute to inflammation in the body. Inflammation can affect nerves, leading to pain or neuropathic symptoms.

Types of nerve pain associated with anxiety

People with anxiety may experience various types of nerve pain, including:

• Peripheral neuropathy-like symptoms: Tingling, numbness, and burning in your hands and feet are common. These symptoms can feel like nerve problems but are often caused by anxiety, which can make you breathe too fast or tense your muscles.
• Chronic pain conditions: Anxiety can make conditions like fibromyalgia worse. ³ Fibromyalgia causes widespread muscle and joint pain, and anxiety can make you feel this pain even more intensely.
• Migraine and headaches: Anxiety can trigger or worsen migraine headaches and tension headaches, which can involve nerve pain in the head and neck.

Timing and triggers

• Stressful situations: Notice if your nerve pain worsens during or after stressful events. If your symptoms flare up in response to stress, anxiety might be contributing to the pain.
• Relaxation periods: Observe if the pain decreases when relaxed or less anxious. A reduction in symptoms during calm periods can indicate a link to anxiety.
• Daily patterns: Check if your nerve pain is more noticeable during busy or stressful times and less noticeable during quiet, relaxed times.

Physical symptoms

• Muscle tension: Anxiety often causes muscle tension, which can compress nerves and lead to pain. If your nerve pain is accompanied by muscle tightness, anxiety might be involved.
• Heart rate: Anxiety increases your heart rate. If your nerve pain worsens when your heart is racing or you feel panicked, anxiety could be the cause.
• Breathing patterns: Anxiety can cause hyperventilation, leading to tingling, numbness, or pain in the extremities. If you experience these symptoms during anxiety episodes, it’s a likely connection.

Medical treatments

For anxiety

• Antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly prescribed to manage anxiety. These medications help balance neurotransmitters in the brain, reducing anxiety symptoms.
• Benzodiazepines: These medications can provide quick relief for acute anxiety symptoms. They are usually prescribed for short-term use due to the risk of dependence.
• Beta-Blockers: These can help manage physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and trembling, by blocking the effects of adrenaline.

For peripheral neuropathy

• Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help manage mild pain. For more severe pain, prescription medications may be necessary.
• Anti-seizure medications: Drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin can help reduce nerve pain by stabilizing electrical activity in the nervous system.
• Topical treatments: Creams or patches containing capsaicin or lidocaine can provide localized pain relief.
• Antidepressants: Certain antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or duloxetine, can help relieve nerve pain.

Behavioral therapies

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• For anxiety: CBT helps you identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. It teaches coping skills and strategies to manage stress and reduce anxiety symptoms.
• For peripheral neuropathy: CBT can also help manage the chronic pain associated with peripheral neuropathy by teaching pain coping strategies and addressing the emotional impact of chronic pain.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)

• For anxiety: MBSR incorporates mindfulness meditation and yoga to help reduce stress and improve your response to anxiety.
• For peripheral neuropathy: MBSR can help reduce pain perception and improve overall well-being by promoting relaxation and stress management.

Lifestyle changes

For both conditions

• Regular exercise: Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and improve overall health. Exercise promotes blood flow, which can help alleviate symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
• Healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins supports overall health and reduces inflammation, which can benefit anxiety and neuropathy.
• Adequate sleep: Ensuring you get enough sleep can help manage anxiety and reduce the impact of peripheral neuropathy. Good sleep hygiene practices, such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule and creating a comfortable sleep environment, are essential.

Relaxation techniques

• Deep breathing exercises: Practicing deep breathing can help calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety. This technique can also help manage the physical discomfort associated with peripheral neuropathy.
• Progressive muscle relaxation: This involves tensing and then slowly relaxing different muscle groups in your body, helping to reduce overall tension and anxiety.
• Yoga and meditation: Incorporating yoga and meditation into your daily routine can help reduce stress and anxiety and relieve symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.