Anxiety can lead to physical symptoms like throat tightness due to heightened stress responses affecting muscle tension. Common causes include stressful situations and psychological triggers.
Anxiety, a natural response to stressors, can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline that lead to muscle tension. This tension can become evident in the throat, resulting in a sensation of tightness.
Common causes of anxiety throat tightness include external stressors, like work-related pressures, relationship difficulties, financial difficulties, or significant life changes. At the same time, internal factors may involve your genetic predisposition and any underlying anxiety disorders.
What causes throat muscles to be affected by anxiety?
Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images
Anxiety triggers the body’s stress response, releasing hormones like adrenaline that lead to muscle tension. This tension can affect the muscles responsible for swallowing, speaking, and breathing in the throat.
The body’s heightened state of arousal during anxiety can cause these muscles to contract and tighten, resulting in sensations of throat tightness or discomfort.
Additionally, the connection between the brain and the body’s physical responses can increase this effect even more, creating a cycle of heightened anxiety and muscle tension.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
To relax throat muscles quickly, try gentle neck stretches, yawning, and swallowing to ease tension. Sipping warm water or herbal tea may also provide relief, and practicing controlled deep breathing can help relax muscles, including the throat.
If tension persists, consider speaking with a doctor or healthcare professional.
Other ways anxiety can affect you
Anxiety can present in various ways beyond throat tightness, including persistent worry, restlessness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Physically, anxiety can cause a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, muscle tension, headaches, digestive issues, and sleep disturbances.
Panic attacks, which are intense episodes of anxiety, can also make you feel like your throat is closing. This sensation is known as the “Globus sensation” or “globus pharyngeus.”
Globus sensation is the perception of a lump or tightness in the throat, even when there’s no actual physical obstruction. This sensation can contribute to a sense of impending doom and worsen anxiety during a panic attack.
You can relieve the Globus sensation during anxiety through strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to address underlying causes and thought patterns. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and mindfulness can help reduce muscle tension and anxiety-related sensations.
Treatment for anxiety
Treatment for anxiety typically involves a combination of medications and nonmedication approaches.
Commonly prescribed medications for treating anxiety include:
Antidepressants: Doctors commonly prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, like fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro) for anxiety disorders. They may also prescribe selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, like venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
Benzodiazepines: These short-term medications include alprazolam (Xanax ), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium) for rapid anxiety relief, but they can cause unwanted side effects, with the added risk of addiction.
Buspirone (Buspar): Doctors use buspirone (Buspar) as an antianxiety medication for generalized anxiety disorder.
Beta-blockers: Medications like propranolol (Inderal) can help manage physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and trembling.
If you need help covering the cost of medications, Optum Perks free Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.
Nonmedication approaches for treating anxiety include:
Therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based therapies can effectively treat anxiety.
Relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation can reduce anxiety and muscle tension.
Lifestyle modifications: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and avoiding stimulants like caffeine and alcohol can help manage anxiety.
Support groups: Sharing experiences with others can provide a sense of understanding and reduce feelings of isolation.
Contacting a doctor
You should consider contacting a doctor if you experience persistent and disruptive anxiety symptoms, such as excessive worry, panic attacks, or physical discomfort, or if anxiety affects your daily functioning, relationships, or overall well-being.
Additionally, contacting a doctor is important if you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide or if you are unsure whether your symptoms are related to anxiety.
If you are in crisis and need urgent help, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 and receive support in English or Spanish. You can also text HOME to the Crisis Textline at 741741.
Summary
Anxiety and throat tightness often go hand in hand. When you feel stressed or worried, your body can react by making your throat feel tight.
A combination of psychological and physiological factors, such as the body’s fight-or-flight response, can trigger anxiety-related throat tightness.
However, by adopting coping strategies like mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, and seeking professional support, you can effectively manage both the mental and physical aspects of anxiety and throat tightness.
