“Oh, you just have anxiety or panic attacks,” is what one doctor told his patient.
Little did he know she was suffering from something much more complex and detrimental to her body than what he diagnosed.
While we don’t know the nature of the doctor’s diagnosis or what underlying bias or thought patterns that would lead him to the lesser diagnosis, we do know that anxiety gets diagnosed much too often. It aslo gets confused with other diseases.
So today, we want to arm you with the knowledge and tools to be the best patient advocate you can be for yourself and your family to speak up if something doesn’t feel right when you get diagnosed with anxiety.
What Really Is Anxiety, Anyway?
Anxiety is a common mental health condition characterized by excessive and persistent worry, fear, and unease. It can manifest in various ways, including:
- Emotional symptoms: Feeling overwhelmed, restless, irritable, and constantly on edge.
- Physical symptoms: Rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, and difficulty sleeping.
- Cognitive symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and intrusive thoughts.
Anxiety can be triggered by a wide range of factors, such as stressful life events, genetics, and underlying medical conditions. While occasional anxiety is normal, persistent and severe anxiety can significantly interfere with daily life and well-being.
Why Some Doctors Make the Mistake of Diagnosing Anxiety
Anxiety symptoms overlap with those of other medical issues, which makes it easy for both patients and clinicians to mistake a physical condition for one related to mental health And if a patient has a history of anxiety, their provider will typically be even quicker to assume that physical symptoms are a recurrence, rather than a sign of something new.
Other research has found that clinicians’ lack of knowledge is partly to blame. Limited time with patients also plays a role.
7 Diseases Mistaken for Anxiety
1. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges.
Anxiety disorders are also commonTrusted Source among people with PCOS.
Why PCOS mimics anxiety: Hormonal imbalances can lead to mood changes, fatigue, and irritability, which are common in anxiety disorders.
Why it is Different: An important characteristic of PCOS is higher-than-usual testosterone levels, which can be determined via a blood test. Other PCOS symptoms include irregular menstrual cycles, excessive hair growth, acne, and weight gain.
2. Overactive Thyroid
Anxiety can trigger sweating and flushing, especially during panic attacks. But conditions like an overactive thyroid, menopause, or early onset of a serious infection can, too. The overlapping symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis and improper treatment. Blood work can help doctors figure out the best course of action. So can active listening. Your communication skills are can be critical in helping you get the right diagnosis.
Experts recommend doctors should ask open-ended questions and make it clear that they’re hearing what patients say while remaining nonjudgmental. That can encourage people to share not only the details of their current illness, but also their social history, family history, and past medical history, he says—all of which can be illuminating.
Why it is Different: Hyperthyroidism can cause anxiety-like symptoms that mimic other psychiatric disorders. The more severe the thyroid disease, the more severe the mood changes. Differences can be found in the testing. Blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels and
a thyroid ultrasound to check for nodules can absolutely help.
3. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
IBD is a group of conditions that involve chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It includes conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Why IBD mimics anxiety: Symptoms, like abdominal pain, cramping, and fatigue, can lead to significant stress and anxiety. Stomach pain can also be a symptom of anxiety.
Why it is Different: IBD symptoms often include chronic diarrhea, blood in the stool, and weight loss. To diagnose IBD, a healthcare professional may order a colonoscopy and imaging studies.
4. Asthma
Asthma and anxiety are two common conditions that often coexist. Anxiety can worsen asthma symptoms, while asthma can also trigger anxiety.
Both it and anxiety can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and lightheadedness. And both can be triggered by stressors like relationship or financial problems. Many people with asthma also have panic attacks. You may think it’s anxiety if you start to have these symptoms as an adult, but you could be dealing with adult-onset asthma. Red flags include wheezing, coughing, and symptoms that change day by day.
Why it is Different:
- Fear of attacks:
People with asthma may experience fear and anxiety about having an asthma attack, which can lead to increased vigilance and tension.
Social stigma:
Asthma can sometimes be stigmatized, which can lead to feelings of shame and anxiety.
Sleep disturbances:
Asthma attacks can disrupt sleep, leading to fatigue and anxiety.
Chronic illness:
Living with a chronic condition like asthma can be stressful, which can increase the risk of developing anxiety.
5. Congestive Heart Failure
Anxiety is common in people with congestive heart failure and can worsen the condition. Anxiety can also contribute to the development of heart failure.
Anxiety disorders are associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, frequent panic attacks, and worse cardiac outcomes. PTSD is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increased rates of re-hospitalization, and decreased adherence to treatment regimens. Cardiac illnesses such as angina, arrhythmias, cardiac tamponade, congestive heart failure (left sided), myocardial infarction, or valvular disease may present as anxiety.
A natural reaction to a sudden heart attack can be similar to post-traumatic stress disorder like:
- You’re likely to be shocked by your near-death experience and extremely hesitant to do the things you used to do.
- You might constantly relive the life-threatening event, and avoid the activity or place associated with the heart attack.
- Recurring anxious thoughts may impede your ability to get regular sleep.
- Your thoughts about what lies ahead may be extremely negative and cause a drastically foreshortened outlook of the future.
Why it is Different:
According to the National Institutes of Health, panic attacks and heart attacks can share similar if not identical symptoms. Anyone suffering from sudden and severe chest pain—whether being treated for anxiety disorder or not— should go to the emergency room. The physician will test the patient’s blood for specific heart muscle enzymes. If none are found, it’s usually not a heart attack.
A cardiologist sensitive to the issues of anxiety and depression will know how to sort out panic attack symptoms from heart attack symptoms, and will be able to refer the patient for treatment for panic disorder or any other type of anxiety.
6. Diabetes
People with diabetes are 20% more likely than those without diabetes to have anxiety. With uncontrolled diabetes, sugar rushes and dips can lead to trembling, sweating, and a fast heart rate. It can cause headaches and nausea, too. These symptoms are sometimes confused with anxiety. Talk to your doctor if you’re often very hungry, thirsty, tired, or peeing a lot. Or if you’re losing weight, have blurry vision, dry skin, or sores that heal slowly. You may need your blood sugar tested.
Why it is Different:
Doctors may ask people with diabetes to remain mindful of their blood sugar levels and to engage in routine behaviors, such as:
- paying particular attention to food ingredients
- avoiding certain foods
- tracking blood sugar levels regularly throughout the day
- timing insulin doses
Planning, checking, and being prepared for a wide range of challenges are all important for effective diabetes management. However, some people may worry excessively about their blood sugar levels or how their disease may progress. These concerns may trigger episodes of anxiety.
According to the National Library of Medicine, anxiety is “excessive worry or fear at real or imagined situations.” The emotional challenges of living with diabetes can also trigger anxiety.
7. Hypoglycemia
Metabolic issues might include hyperkalemia, hyperthermia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypoxia, porphyria, or substance ingestion/overdose. Biologically, acute anxiety may be the first sign of exacerbation of an underlying illness, an undiagnosed medical condition, or substance intoxication or withdrawal.
Why it is Different:
There are a number of ways hypoglycemia can trigger xnxiety:
- Physiological changes:
When blood sugar levels drop, the body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which can increase heart rate, sweating, and tremors. These physical symptoms can be similar to those experienced during anxiety. - Cognitive impairment:
Hypoglycemia can impair cognitive function, making it difficult to concentrate, make decisions, and control emotions. This can lead to feelings of panic and fear. - Fear of hypoglycemia:
People with diabetes or other conditions that predispose them to hypoglycemia may develop a fear of experiencing it. This fear can manifest as anxiety when blood sugar levels drop.
To aid in diagnosis, the patient examination includes a detailed history; focused physical examination; complete review of medications; collateral information; and diagnostic testing, such as toxicology screens.
