What is Anxiety?

In this Blog we look at Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, or which we think could happen in the future. Anxiety is a natural human response when we perceive that we are under threat. It can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.

Most people feel anxious at times. It's particularly common to experience some anxiety while coping with stressful events or changes, especially if they could have a big impact on your life.

What does anxiety feel like?

Anxiety feels different for everyone. You might experience some of the things listed below, and you might also have other experiences or difficulties that aren't listed here.

Effects on your body

• a churning feeling in your stomach

• feeling light-headed or dizzy

• pins and needles

• feeling restless or unable to sit still

• headaches, backache or other aches and pains

• faster breathing

• a fast, thumping or irregular heartbeat

• sweating or hot flushes • problems sleeping

• grinding your teeth, especially at night

• nausea (feeling sick)

• needing the toilet more or less often

• changes in your sex drive

• having panic attacks.

Effects on your mind

• feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax

• having a sense of dread, or fearing the worst

• feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down

• feeling like other people can see you're anxious and are looking at you

• feeling like you can't stop worrying, or that bad things will happen if you stop worrying

• worrying about anxiety itself, for example worrying about when panic attacks might happen

• wanting lots of reassurance from other people or worrying that people are angry or upset with you • worrying that you're losing touch with reality

• rumination – thinking a lot about bad experiences, or thinking over a situation again and again

• depersonalisation – feeling disconnected from your mind or body, or like you're watching someone else (this is a type of dissociation)

• derealisation – feeling disconnected from the world around you, or like the world isn't real (this is a type of dissociation)

• worrying a lot about things that might happen in the future – you can read more about these sorts of worries

How else might anxiety affect my life?

Anxiety symptoms can last for a long time or come and go. You might find you have difficulty with day-to-day aspects of your life, including:

• looking after yourself

• holding down a job

• forming or maintaining relationships

• trying new things

• simply enjoying your leisure time.