Whenever you think about sweating, it may not feel all that pleasant. Most of the time sweating comes to mind as a smell but it’s a fact that sweat is a natural response to rising body temperature. It happens, for pretty much everyone. Especially, when the weather becomes hot or when your body experiences an exertion during a strenuous physical activity, it produces sweat. The production of sweat is a useful natural body response that keeps your body cool at high temperatures. This means sweat holds a crucial status in maintaining your body temperature. However, there’s another reason for sweating that is not known to many people. This is Anxiety Sweating. Sometimes, you may experience sweating when there’s no need to get cool off. This time sweating is occurring as a response to anxiety, stress or fear. In this situation your body temperature is not the cause of sweating but this increase in sweating is indicating a physical symptom of anxiety.
Anxiety sweat occurs to whole body like typical sweating but it is commonly observed in:
- Face.
- Armpits.
- Sloe of feet.
- Palms.
It is also observed that when you think more about sweating, it contributes to feelings of anxiety. This is the reason that when you sweat a lot, you start worrying about excessive sweating in the presence of the people. This very concern further causes a breakout if sweating. If you have a sweaty face or palms, you may feel uncomfortable among the people. But sweating is more than an awkward feeling. It causes emotional distress that is a more serious matter than feeling ashamed of excessive sweating. Frequent sweating also creates hurdles in making relationships and communicating with others with confidence. It not only causes diminishing self-confidence but also complicates your daily life activities. As a response to anxiety or frequent sweating, you start avoiding other social gatherings or events or any situation that can prompt a sweat response.
In addition, sweating anxiety also induces feelings of depression and loneliness.
This article may help you understand why anxiety sweating occurs and how to manage the condition with preventive tips.
Why Anxiety Causes Sweating?
Anxiety sweating is actually created by your sympathetic nervous system. The system produces sweat in times of distress, threat or fear. So, you should thank your sympathetic nervous system as it helps you to deal with the situation that is making you frightened or depressed. Your sympathetic nervous system prompts the fight-flight-freeze response, when you come across a threat or fear, whether it is real or perceived. Sweating acts as a key sign for the response of the nervous system. When your body fights against a threat or feeling of fear, it requires more energy that can raise your body temperature in a while. The overheated body temperature can make it difficult for it to escape or fight against the situation, then your body signals to sweat glands to produce sweat so that it drops down the body temperature and you can carry on.
Studies suggest that if you’re living with an anxiety disorder, your body and brain always remain alert and restless due to potential treats in your mind. This condition produces a regular crest and trough in your emotional and physical symptoms, making your sweat glands working overtime.
However, the other side of the picture had also a story to tell: this is about your worry. When you worry a lot about your excessive or frequent sweating, you experience a characteristic generalized anxiety disorder. This condition causes a constant and extreme worry about the common events and situations you face everyday. That’s why GAD also causes worry when you think about your sweating. It sometimes, reach to a concerning point especially when:
- It keeps you awake at night.
- It makes it difficult for you to get relaxed and enjoy the leisure time by introducing your hobbies.
- It discusses your concentration and performance at the office, college or work place.
In short, anxiety is the cause of frequent and a lot of sweating but it becomes a complicated and complex matter when you acknowledge that you sweat a lot because the thought leads to anxiety. It harms your life quality in different ways, including:
Social Anxiety
Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is also caused by social anxiety disorder. According to research, people with social anxiety disorder also experience excessive sweating. Living with social anxiety is the consistent source of intense fear and stress that creates a persistent thought of embarrassment in you. It also attracts negative feedback from others. These feelings of emotional distress become more serious when you have to speak in front of others, meet new people or join a group for some activities.
Studies show that people who experience excessive sweating, try their best to avoid drawing attention from others. But here’s a tip for you that you don’t need to worry about doing the things you like and never think about people who judge you, like excessive sweating. This is not in your control. That’s why it’s a matter of shame and embarrassment. But you know, some situation like fear or stress causes excessive sweating, you may notice some other symptoms like increased perspiration including some more physical sign like:
- Nausea.
- Head pain.
- Shortness of breath.
- Lightedness.
- Warmth and flushing especially around your face.
- Clamminess in your hands.
- Trembling.
So it is obvious that sweating triggers emotional distress that seems like social anxiety disorder symptoms. When you come to know that you’re sweating a lot, you become nervous and anxious at the same time. Nervousness, sometimes, becomes so obvious and dominant that the people notice it. Due to this, you avoid social gatherings, or any events where people might notice your sweating issue.
Other Anxiety Disorders
Over-sweating is also associated with other anxiety disorders such as specific phobia or panic disorder.
According to a 2021 research, panic disorder also triggers sweating in people. Especially when you face a situation that can make you nervous or anxious with a sudden attack of lack of confidence, you experience feelings of fear or panic. You may also tend to sweat more in your daily routine, even when you’re in a normal situation.
In addition, different phobias also trigger more sweating whenever you’re subjected to your phobia or any stressful condition.
Moreover, some other mental health conditions also cause excessive sweating including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Though researchers have not explored the potential connection between excessive sweating and ADHD, it is a theory that it is another cause of over-sweating in some people.
Is There Any Difference Between Anxiety and Nervousness?
You may come across situations many times, where the two terms, anxiety and nervousness are used interchangeably. But the two are actually different in many aspects including their physical response, duration and intensity.
Stooges show that nervousness is a mental condition that is linked with specific events like meeting new people or public speaking. It is a short-lived condition. It causes sweating during the said situations or moments but the sweat subsides once the specific event or moment is over.
On the other hand, anxiety is a chronic condition that not only causes persistent sweating but may affect your daily life. Your anxiety may tie to ongoing anxiety when you start thinking so much about “why I’m sweating too much?” The condition now is no more like an occasional nerve.
Moreover, anxiety sweating tends to show up on your whole body and lasts longer while nervous sweating targets just specific spots on your body like armpits, face or palms. It also hits fast.
How to Stop Anxiety Sweating?
It is also a concerning matter that you may find it difficult to mention your extreme sweating to a healthcare professional or anyone else. This situation also provokes emotional discomfort and anxiety. That’s why, people living with hyperhidrosis usually undergo treatment. But the untreated overt-sweating often ends up having a far-reaching impact on your physical health and daily life quality.
Another harmful impact of excessive sweating is the withdrawal from social connections. When you start worrying about sweating, you tend to cancel many of your life activities to avoid people and prefer staying at home instead. You might feel bad when you avoid people just due to your sweating problem but feel helpless as you can do nothing. These feelings end in generating a sense of hopelessness that leads to other symptoms of depression.
However, you don’t need to be hopeless because treatment can help ease the symptoms of anxiety sweating. The best treatment options include:
Iontophoresis: In this treatment procedure, your underarms, hands and feet are subjected to weak currents of electricity by holding them underwater for at least 40-45 minutes. This activity helps your sweat gland to hold back the sweat longer. But this is an itinerary. You need regular sessions to get relief.
Botulinum Toxin Injections: These injections are considered an effective source to prevent sweating by blocking the release of neurotransmitters acetylcholine. This is a special neurotransmitter is the triggers sweat production. Through this treatment, several injections of Botox are injected to the affected person but its effects last for 20-24 months.
Antiperspirants with Aluminium Salts: People who have an over-sweating issue, usually use antiperspirants like deodorants but when the regular antiperspirants don’t curb your sweating, you may go for antioxidants that are rich in aluminium chloride. Applying such things under your arms, on your soles of feet and palms can help reduce sweating. Your healthcare provider may suggest them when over-the-counter options don’t prove strong enough.
Oral or Topical Anticholinergics: Some specific medicines help block certain cell signs including the ones which prompt your glands to produce sweat. They are often prescribed by professional healthcare orders for oral or topical use as an off-label sweating treatment.
How to Prevent Nervous Sweating?
Here are some effective tips to avoid getting sweaty in the hours of nervousness.
Prepare with an Antiperspirant
Regular use of antiperspirant helps with irreverent sweating. If you’re a regular user of antiperspirant, a tie comes when your regular antiperspirant doesn’t work. Then you need a syringe containing aluminium content. Always follow the direction on the label so that you may use it properly at the right time. Applying at night can help improve the results.
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Relaxing techniques play a crucial role when you start feeling nervous. These strategies help you get rid of your fears and calm your racing thoughts when they become overwhelming.
In addition, relaxation exercises like deep breathing also help ease the emotional distress. They are also useful for removing some physical symptoms of nervousness like sweating.
Effective relaxation techniques include:
- Deep breathing exercises.
- Progressive muscle relaxation.
- Visualization.
- Guided imagery.
Take Steps to Stay Cool
Nervousness doesn’t trigger sweating because at that time your body temperature rises. The warmth or feeling too hot makes the situation moist. Being ivy warm, makes you ,or anxious about your sweating that leads to anxiety sweating.
So, it is better to:
- Step outside for some fresh air.
- Dress in easily removable layers.
- Keep a cold drink nearby.
- Stay close to doors and windows.
Find a Positive Distraction
Sticking to your thoughts about over-sweating is the major source of cursing fear or nervousness that usually leads to more sweating. This only intensifies your horrible thoughts. It is also a fact that you might feel it is easy to change the course of thoughts every time. So, it is good to focus on something else that may inspire you and create some peaceful and positive feelings that further help you get rid of negative anxious thoughts.
You can try:
- Taking a short walk.
- Texting to a loved one or close friend.
- Watching a favorite movie.
- Thinking about something that happened and made you happy.
- Grabbing a favorite book and re-read its few chapters.
Conclusion
Anxiety sweating is a common problem experienced by a large number of people. It’s true that sweating a lot becomes embarrassing for you especially when you are surrounded by other people but you can cope with it with different methods. Sweating itself is a major cause of social disconnection and distress, it is necessary to treat over-sweating whether it is caused by anxiety or nervousness or any other stimulant triggers it.
Prevention of anxiety sweating actually helps reduce depression related to sweating. In addition, using techniques to reduce anxiety can also help treat over-sweating during the situation of fear or stress. If you’re not sure where to start, speak with your healthcare professional for better support and guidance for the treatment of excess sweating.
