It can be hard to distinguish between physical conditions that have symptoms of anxiety, and psychological conditions that have symptoms of anxiety. There are many medical conditions that mimic anxiety and it’s best practice to get evaluated by an educated doctor on what conditions to rule out before engaging in lengthy psychotherapy.

Sometimes anxiety is not “All in your head.” There’s a dramatic interplay between your body and mind. Sometimes a physical, medical issue like a vitamin deficiency, an illness, or an undiagnosed sleep issue shows up looking exactly like the symptoms of a psychological anxiety disorder. And sometimes the best way to treat anxiety is to actually treat the underlying physical issues first. Or at least rule them out.

Because most people, doctors included, often focus their treatments on just therapy or just medication- I think it’s important to be aware of other conditions to treat.

So in this video we’re going to talk about 10 physical conditions that mimic Anxiety. And then, sometimes anxiety, even extreme anxiety, isn't disordered. Someone can show up to a therapist's office or a doctor or the ER with clear symptoms of anxiety, and it’s not going to be helpful to treat the anxiety first, because the issue is really something else altogether- so let’s talk about that.

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.
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