Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.
Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life – for example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam, or having a medical test or job interview. During times like these, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal.
However, some people find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives.
Some symptoms of anxiety can be:
- feeling restless or worried
- having trouble concentrating or sleeping
- dizziness or heart palpitations
Self Care Techniques
There are many things you can do yourself to try and help reduce your anxiety, such as:
- going on a self-help course
- exercising regularly
- talking to someone you trust
- getting enough sleep
- stopping smoking
- cutting down on the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink
When to see your GP
Although feelings of anxiety at certain times are completely normal, see your GP if anxiety is affecting your daily life or causing you distress.
Your GP will ask about your symptoms and your worries, fears and emotions to find out if you could have anxiety disorder.