Inner unrest

and Sabine Schrör, medical journalist

Martina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.

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Sabine Schrör is a freelance writer for the medical team. She studied business administration and public relations in Cologne. As a freelance editor, she has been at home in a wide variety of industries for more than 15 years. Health is one of her favorite subjects.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

Most people are familiar with the feeling of inner restlessness. You often feel restless and nervous inside before an exam, an interview or after an overdose of caffeine. That is perfectly normal. Inner restlessness can also indicate an illness. In addition, medication and drugs can trigger inner turmoil. Read more about the possible causes of inner restlessness - and what works against it.

Brief overview

Causes: e.g. Too much caffeine, alcohol or nicotine, general psycho-vegetative disorders, hypoglycaemia, low blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, functional (non-organic) heart problems, menopause, pulmonary embolism, depression, personality disorders, schizophrenia, drugs, medication.
What helps: Relaxation exercises, calming tea, buttermilk, warm full baths, herbal preparations (e.g. with valerian and hops), regular exercise, pressure point massage, homeopathic remedies. In addition, treatment of underlying diseases, if these are responsible for the inner restlessness.
When to the doctor if the inner restlessness does not disappear through your own measures, lasts longer and / or is accompanied by further physical or psychological complaints.
What does the doctor? Diagnosis with anamnesis (taking the medical history), physical examination, imaging procedures such as ultrasound or computed tomography (CT), possibly scintigraphy, psychological tests and questionnaires.

Inner restlessness: causes

Often the causes of inner restlessness are harmless. Typically, for example, before exams (fear of exams) or an important performance (stage fright), one is internally restless and nervous. Too much caffeine or stress can also cause anxiety. Sometimes, however, there are also serious illnesses behind the inner restlessness.

An overview of important triggers for inner restlessness and nervousness:

Caffeine, alcohol or nicotine: those who consume too much of these luxury foods can, among other things, feel inner restlessness. Regular consumption such as alcohol addiction can also lead to inner restlessness as well as anxiety and depressive moods. If the addictive substance is no longer used, nervousness and tremors can appear as withdrawal symptoms.
General psycho-vegetative disorders (vegetative dystonia): This means unspecific complaints for which no organic cause can be found. Typical are exhaustion, sleep disorders, inner restlessness, nervousness, headache and heartache, dizziness, low blood pressure, complaints in the area of the tendons and muscles as well as depressive moods.
Low blood sugar: Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) can cause cravings, sweating, palpitations, tremors, inner restlessness, impaired consciousness and seizures, among other things.
Low blood pressure: Inner restlessness can also occur with low blood pressure (hypotension). Other possible symptoms include lack of performance, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headache, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), palpitations, depressive mood, sleep disorders, cold hands and feet and dizziness.
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): Hyperthyroidism is characterized, among other things, by restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias, high blood pressure, increased sweating, trembling fingers, weight loss and diarrhea.
Functional heart problems: Functional heart problems ("heart neurosis", cor nervosum) cannot be explained organically. Typical complaints are palpitations, palpitations, palpitations, tightness or oppression in the chest, pulling and pain in the heart and left arm. Often there are also inner restlessness and nervousness, insomnia and exhaustion.
Menopause (climacteric): Inner restlessness, nervousness and irritability are also typical menopausal symptoms.
Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot, air, fat or a foreign body that has been swept into the body blocks a pulmonary artery. Symptoms include shortness of breath, acute and often breath-dependent chest pain, palpitations, coughing, anxiety, inner restlessness, cold sweat and - in the case of large embolisms - shock. Call the ambulance immediately!
Depression: Restlessness can also indicate depression. This is especially true if there are other symptoms such as depressed mood, a feeling of senselessness and hopelessness, a feeling of pressure in the chest and stomach area, sleep disorders, lack of interest and joyless as well as a lack of drive.
Personality disorders: The main symptoms of a personality disorder include restlessness, depression, addiction (nicotine, alcohol and / or other drugs), anxiety and exhaustion.
Schizophrenia: An initial schizophrenic illness can announce itself through inner restlessness, nervousness, tension, insomnia, lack of concentration, irritability, dejection, sensitivity to noise and light as well as social withdrawal.

Drugs: Hallucinogens are substances that cause hallucinations (LSD, "magic mushrooms", thorn apple, henbane etc.), with inner restlessness occurring in the early stages of the hallucinogen intoxication. Other drugs such as cannabis (hemp), which are primarily calming, sometimes paradoxically trigger inner unrest.
Side effects or withdrawal symptoms from drugs: Various drugs can cause anxiety as side effects, e.g. certain antidepressants (bupropion, SSRI), amantadine (for flu and Parkinson's disease) and theophylline (for asthma). In addition, inner restlessness can occur as a withdrawal symptom in the case of drug addiction (such as sleeping pills and sedatives from the group of benzodiazepines).

Inner restlessness: what helps?

If the restlessness is not based on a disease that needs treatment, there are a few things you can do about it yourself. For example, the following are helpful:

Relaxation exercises: Proven relaxation techniques against inner restlessness and nervousness are autogenic training and progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson.
Buttermilk: A large glass of buttermilk is also a tried and tested remedy for internal restlessness.
Herbal preparations: Valerian, hops and passion flower in particular help with inner restlessness. They are available in tablet or tea form in pharmacies or drugstores.
Regular exercise: Jogging, walking, swimming and cycling in particular relax and relieve psychological stress so that inner restlessness and nervousness do not arise in the first place.
Pressure point massage: Stimulate the so-called pressure point heart 7. To find it, bend your wrist slightly towards the forearm. Heart 7 lies directly on the flexion crease on the side of the little finger next to the palpable flexor tendon. Massage this point with a finger for about a minute.
Homeopathic Remedies: Some people like to swear by homeopathic remedies Chamomilla (with additional hypersensitivity and moodiness), Potassium arsenicosum (inner restlessness with restless arms and legs), Arsenicum album (with fear and weakness) as well Nux vomica (inner restlessness due to work stress). However, the effectiveness of homeopathy has not yet been scientifically proven.

Inner restlessness: home remedies

What helps against inner restlessness? Above all, various herbal remedies are effective helpers if you suffer from nervousness, fears and inner restlessness. Here you can find out how you can use them to combat anxiety.

Tea against inner restlessness

The following medicinal plants help to relieve anxiety:

valerian
Linden blossom
Lemon balm

Prepared as a tea, they have a calming effect. Above all, valerian is often used as a calming vegetable for restlessness and sleep disorders.

If you want to find out more about the preparation of the teas, follow the link on the respective medicinal plant article.

Mixing teas can also help: for example, mix 60 g of passionflower with 20 g of valerian root and peppermint leaves each. Pour 250 ml of boiling water over two teaspoons of the mixture, let it steep for ten minutes and then strain. Drink two to three cups of it slowly in the morning and early afternoon. Sweeten with honey if necessary.

Essential oils

Back and foot rubs

Lavender, thyme and rosemary oils have a calming effect and promote restful sleep. Rubbing in with these oils is a simple home remedy to take advantage of this herbal effect.

Back rubbing: Warm a few drops of the oil in your hands and rub it gently in circular motions on your back for several minutes. When using it, be careful not to apply too much pressure. Also, avoid the sensitive spine (work to the right and left of the spine).

Rubbing in the feet: Rubbing in the feet has a similar calming effect on a troubled mind. Start rubbing in at the ankle and slowly work your way up to the toes. Do not apply too much pressure.

After the treatment, you should go to bed and rest for half an hour. You can rub in once or twice a day (especially suitable before going to bed).

Belly pad with chamomile

A hot, humid belly pad with chamomile has a pain-relieving, antispasmodic and relaxing effect. That is why it is used as a home remedy for inner restlessness.

Pour half a liter of boiling water over one to two tablespoons of chamomile flowers. Let the brew stand for a maximum of five minutes and then sift off the plant parts. Place a rolled-up inner towel in a second towel and roll the towels up into a wrap. Hang this in hot tea and let it steep for a few minutes.

Wring out the wrap (careful, hot!). Then place the inner cloth around the stomach without creases and secure it with a dry cloth (e.g. a towel). Remove the wrap after 20 to 30 minutes. The patient should rest for half an hour. You can use the tummy support twice a day.

Baths

Another tip against inner turmoil are relaxing baths. In supermarkets and drugstores you will often find the appropriate ready-mixed bath products.

However, you can also simply prepare yourself a relaxation bath against your inner restlessness. If you are restless or have trouble sleeping, it is best to add lavender, lemon balm, hops, hay flowers or valerian to the bath water. You can use fresh plant ingredients as well as essential oils. Put this in the running bath water.

If you want to enrich the water with an essential oil, you need an emulsifier. It makes the oil mix better with the bath water. Cream, milk, honey or salt are suitable.

The water temperature should not be higher than the measured body temperature. Bathe for 15 to 20 minutes - children better shorter. In order to promote the relaxing effect, you should rest for at least half an hour afterwards.

Warm full baths are taboo on a full stomach or unstable circulation! Also, be careful with high blood pressure and heart disease.

Calf wrap

Calf wraps can also work against inner restlessness. You can find out how to use these correctly in the article Leg wrap.

Inner restlessness: when do you have to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if:

the inner restlessness lasts longer
Self-help measures (calming tea, relaxation techniques, etc.) cannot alleviate inner restlessness
the inner restlessness is accompanied by other physical or emotional complaints (e.g. high blood pressure, depression)

Inner restlessness: what does the doctor do?

The doctor will first ask you in detail about your medical history (anamnesis). For example, it is important to know how long the inner restlessness has existed, whether there are any other complaints and which medication you may be taking.

From this information, the doctor can often derive initial indications of the underlying cause. Various examinations can provide other important information, for example:

Physical examination with blood pressure measurement

Blood tests: Blood tests are helpful, for example, if hypoglycaemia, an overactive thyroid gland or a pulmonary embolism could trigger the anxiety.
Imaging procedures: Computed tomography (CT) and X-rays can show a pulmonary embolism as the cause of the inner restlessness. An ultrasound examination (sonography) can reveal a pulmonary embolism or an overactive thyroid.
Scintigraphy: This nuclear medicine procedure can also be used to track down pulmonary embolism, but also hyperthyroidism.
Tests: Questionnaires and tests are used if psychological causes such as schizophrenia or depression are suspected to be the cause of the inner restlessness.

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