Am I Suffering With Anxiety?

Feelings of nervousness, worry, or fear typically characterise anxiety. It is a normal part of everyday life for most people, and in fact, it can sometimes help to increase a person's performance under pressure and keep us safe in potentially dangerous situations. Usually, anxious feelings subside after a while, and we can feel more relaxed again. These fluctuations in our state of nervous arousal are very normal. However, when anxiety does not subside and begins to get in the way of our everyday functioning, then it can become more of a problem.

High levels of anxiety are also associated with panic attacks. This is when your body has an exaggerated response to stress, fear, or excitement. Panic attacks can feel scary, and the physical sensations often include an increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, chest pains, and difficulty breathing. Panic attacks typically last 5 to 20 minutes, although they may feel much longer.

If you are suffering from anxiety, you can always speak to your G.P. about your concerns. Your G.P. will listen to your description of what you have been experiencing and recommend a course of treatment. This may include talking therapy, self-help interventions, or medication. Counselling and psychotherapy can help to get to the root of the problem and will often begin to relieve some of the problematic symptoms of anxiety.

Some useful sources of further support and guidance include Mind.org.uk, Anxiety U.K., and the NHS website.