Key takeaways

  • Facial numbness and tingling can occur as a symptom of anxiety due to vasoconstriction, where blood vessels narrow and reduce blood flow.
  • Treating the underlying anxiety is the most effective way to alleviate facial numbness, and recognizing the numbness as a symptom of anxiety can help prevent further panic.
  • It’s important to seek medical attention if facial numbness is accompanied by other symptoms like difficulty speaking, walking, or raising both arms, as these could indicate a stroke.

Tingling and numbness are common symptoms during anxiety flares and panic attacks.

This article assesses anxiety and facial numbness, including how the two are linked when to contact a doctor and other potential physical symptoms of anxiety.

Close up of person holding their face due to facial numbness and anxiety.Share on Pinterest
Westend61/Getty Images

When a person feels anxious, their body responds with several changes that prepare them to fight or flee a real or perceived threat.

One of the quick changes that occur in these instances is vasoconstriction. This means that the blood vessels narrow, which, in turn, decreases blood flow throughout the body. This usually causes numbness and tingling.

This numbness tends to affect the hands, feet, or legs. However, it can also occur in the face. A person who clenches their jaw or shoulders when anxious might also notice increased tension around the face and head.

Anxiety may even cause numbness in the mouth or tongue. An older 2015 case report reported the experience of a person whose anxiety and depression caused numbness to affect their tongue. With antidepressant medication, the numbness resolved.

Although people with anxiety might focus on the numbness in their face, the most effective treatment focuses on the anxiety itself. As anxiety eases, the physical effects that cause the numbness should also ease.

In the moment of an anxiety attack, reminding oneself that the numbness is a symptom of panic can also help ease anxiety. This may help prevent a person from panicking about physical symptoms.

Some treatment options for anxiety include:

  • Therapy: A person can discuss their anxiety, get help managing their symptoms, and develop a plan for managing panic attacks and other unsettling symptoms.
  • Medication: Several prescription drugs can help with anxiety. Antidepressants can help ease anxiety over time, while a group of drugs called benzodiazepines may help with more acute anxiety, such as panic attacks, offering near-immediate relief.
  • Support: Having support from loved ones can help when a person feels overwhelmed by panic, particularly when they panic about physical symptoms such as numbness. Some people find that support and skills groups offer additional help from individuals who understand the challenges of living with anxiety.
  • Self-care: People who experience anxiety can monitor their symptoms and how various lifestyle choices may affect those symptoms. Regular exercise, deep breathing, or journaling may help ease stress.

Learn more about the different treatments for anxiety.

People experiencing panic attacks or anxiety may also experience other physical symptoms, which can cause worry and lead to further anxiety.

A common experience during moments of intense panic is the fear of dying or the belief that death is imminent.

Facial numbness may trigger fears of a stroke and, in rare cases, could, in fact, be a symptom of stroke. People with anxiety should be familiar with the symptoms that distinguish a stroke from anxiety.

A person should go to the emergency room if:

  • The numbness appeared before the anxiety and only affects one side of their face.
  • They cannot raise both arms or, when they do, one arm moves downward.
  • They have difficulty speaking, walking, or seeing.
  • They feel very confused or lose consciousness.
  • They have a sudden, severe headache without another obvious cause.
  • They can only see out of one eye.
  • Their face droops.
  • They smile, but it looks different on each side of the face.

A panic attack can feel very frightening, but it is not dangerous or life threatening unless a person has other symptoms of a serious medical condition.

For example, people with sickle cell disease may have a higher risk of a sickle cell crisis when blood vessels constrict due to anxiety. Numbness can be a symptom of these blood vessels constricting.

Otherwise, it is usually safe to manage the symptoms of panic at home. However, a person should contact a doctor if:

  • They have frequent panic attacks or severe anxiety that makes it difficult to function.
  • They have numbness in the face that does not go away when the anxiety eases.
  • Numbness in the face appears after an injury or dental surgery.
  • They have other unexplained medical symptoms, along with facial numbness.
  • Home treatments do not ease anxiety.
  • Anxiety worsens over time.
  • Anxiety medication does not work.
  • They notice unpleasant side effects of their anxiety medication.

Anxiety is a physical state and a mental one. At times of intense physical anxiety, the body enters a fight-or-flight state, preparing to either defend itself or flee.

This can cause a wide range of physical symptoms, including:

Numbness in the face can be frightening, especially when a person already feels anxious or afraid.

Knowing that numbness is a common response to anxiety may help a person feel less panicked.

However, if the numbness does not resolve or worsens, it is possible that something other than anxiety is the cause. In this case, it is worth contacting a doctor.