How could one tell whether their physical symptoms are related to stress/anxiety or an autoimmune disorder?

I mean symptoms such as…
*joint pains
*joint stiffness
*neck stiffness
*rashes
*bloating/water retention
*eye puffiness/irritation
*sensitivity to light
*poor circulation in hands & feet (that the doctor is actually concerned about)
etc. etc.
I knoe that many of these symptoms are in both anxiety disorders and autoimmune conditions.

AutoImmune symptoms are dizziness, fatigue, general ill-feeling and low-grade fever. Anxiety disorder symptoms includes shortness of breath, heart palpitations, abdominal pain, dizziness and cold sweat.

An anxiety disorder normally has a trigger to it. Are you experience those symptoms only during certain time?

For autoimmune disorder, you can get it tested using Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and/or C-reactive protein (CRP)

Carolyn Dean MD, ND – Air dafe: 12-27-04