How Seasonal Allergies Trigger Health Anxiety

"Fall is coming; for those of us who suffer from seasonal allergies, 'tis the season for runny noses, itchy eyes, scratchy throats, and sinus congestion. But allergy season can cause more than just these physical annoyances-research indicates a link between allergic inflammation and anxiety (Postolache and colleagues, 2008). I can tell you from a personal perspective that when my allergies flare up, my anxiety often does as well."

"Our bodies, when in an anxious state, often produce physical symptoms that mimic more serious medical conditions-for instance, the heart palpitations that anxiety can cause mimic cardiac problems, or the bladder pressure brought on by anxiety often mimics serious urinary conditions. Allergies are similar in that they produce physical sensations and symptoms that often feel like other, more emergent problems: splitting headaches that the anxious mind"

Seasonal allergies produce many physical symptoms, including runny nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, sinus congestion, inner ear congestion and headaches. Allergic inflammation can increase anxiety and lead to somatic sensations that resemble more serious medical conditions, such as palpitations, bladder pressure, splitting headaches, vision disturbances, imbalance and lightheadedness. Anxiety itself also generates bodily sensations that mimic cardiac, urinary, and neurological problems, which can amplify health-related worry. Identifying allergy-related symptoms as benign somatic mimics and learning practical management strategies reduces misinterpretation and helps prevent escalation of health anxiety during allergy season.

Read at Psychology Today