What is anxiety? We all experience feelings of anxiety. It is a ‘normal’ response. Everybody gets anxious at times and some anxiety actually helps us to function well in many situations for example before an exam, interview or first date. However, anxiety can become a problem when we experience it too often, it goes on for a long time or it stops us from doing things that we want to do. Anxiety can become intense or worsen if we avoid situations. This is when anxiety becomes unhelpful or causes Types of anxiety? Specific phobia : fear of a specific object or situation Social anxiety : fear of social situations Panic : repeated uncontrollable panic attacks Generalised anxiety : excessive worrying about many things OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder): recurrent thoughts or compulsions that are time-consuming What causes anxiety? Anxiety does not have one main cause. Factors such as past experiences, diet, drug/alcohol use, brain chemicals, genetics can all increase the risk of someone developing anxiety. “Causes” can be: Past experiences Genetics and biology Environment and situations It is important to remember it is not your fault if you experience anxiety. People do not choose to feel anxious. You can work towards changing and improving your anxiety levels!
Physical symptoms Stomach ache / ‘butterflies’ Muscle tension and aches
Dry mouth Sweating Dizziness
Sleeping difficulties Increased heart rate
It’s a good idea to make a note of your own symptoms to help recognise when you are feeling anxious. Psychological symptoms Feeling numb Fearing or thinking the worst will happen Over-thinking a situation
Poor concentration Negative thinking Feeling ‘full’ of thoughts Nightmares
You can change how you think by questioning unhelpful thoughts. This can help reduce anxiety.
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