How Can Anxiety Lead to Numbness on One Side of the Body?

When someone feels anxious, it can sometimes lead to strong physical feelings. One example is during a panic attack. When you are very scared, you might take quick breaths, known as hyperventilation. This fast breathing can change the amounts of certain gases in your blood, like carbon dioxide. These changes can make nerves work differently, and sometimes this shows up as numbness or tingling on one side of the body. Some studies have talked about how panic attacks can even wake someone from sleep with an odd feeling or numbness, which shows how anxiety really can affect the nerves. Anxiety may also cause a reaction in the brain that makes your body feel different on one side than the other. Remember, these feelings can be very uncomfortable, but they usually do not lead to permanent damage. It is always important to talk with a doctor if these feelings last a long time or if you are really worried about them.