Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress, fear, or a perceived threat, and it can impact us physically, mentally, and behaviourally.
People often describe anxiety as a sense of unease, fear, or dread, which can vary in intensity from mild to severe. It can become problematic when we begin to worry excessively about minor issues or situations that aren’t actually dangerous.
Anxiety tends to interfere with daily life and relationships when it feels especially intense or overwhelming.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
- feeling tired, restless or irritable
- feeling shaky or trembly, dizzy or sweating more
- being unable to concentrate or make decisions
- trouble sleeping
- worrying about the past or future, or thinking something bad will happen
- headaches, tummy aches or muscle pain
- dry mouth
- pins and needles
- noticing your heartbeat gets stronger, faster or irregular, or you get short of breath when you start feeling anxious
What causes anxiety?
Anxiety can be triggered by a wide range of situations and life experiences and the way it affects each person is unique.
At times, there may be no clear cause, which can make the experience even more confusing or distressing.
Everyone experiences anxiety differently. Some people face more stress or challenges in life, which can lead them to feel anxious more often or more intensely than others.
Possible causes of anxiety include:
- our upbringing
- our environment
- things that happen to us
- our temperament
