About Anxiety

What is Anxiety?

It is normal to worry about things from time to time, however generalised and persistent anxiety is essentially a chronic condition. This means it is always there either in the background or foreground. When we feel anxious it is often because of a prolonged emotional stress response, which we have ignored. Anxiety tends to be persistent, based on expectations of our performance and how much control we believe we have in the circumstances. We begin to worry excessively about events or activities and what may or may not happen and typically how we might be judged by others.

We know that the subconscious does not know the difference between imagined and real, therefore persistent worrying in a ‘what if’ frame of mind activates the fight or flight response in exactly the same way as if you were actually experiencing it in reality.

If you are suffering from anxiety you may experience a number of different symptoms. It is very important to consult your GP for guidance. Do not self-diagnose.

Symptoms of anxiety might include any of the following:

• Churning stomach
• Indigestion
• Digestive problems
• Diarrhoea or Constipation
• Frequent need to urinate
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Tightening of the throat
• Light-headedness/dizziness
• Choking sensation
• Fluctuations in Body Temperature

• Excessive perspiration
• Pounding heart
• Raised Blood Pressure
• Breathing difficulties
• Hyperventilation
• Trembling
• Headaches
• Muscle Tension or chest/neck pain
• Aching jaw

• Pins and needles
• Sensitivity to light/sound
• Sleeping difficulties
• Extreme exhaustion
• Lack of concentration
• Short term memory loss
• Unexplained rashes
• Loss of feelings and/or libido

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems in the UK, with one in five people reporting that they feel anxious all, or most, of the time.
The Mental Health Foundation reports that in England women are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders as men.