Anxiety falls under the category of mood disorders, but not all anxiety is bad, in the right amount anxiety can help us to problem solve or assess risks and benefits in our lives, for example going to a job interview or sitting an exam. Anxiety is part of the “Fight or flight” response. When we perceive a threat, this response is activated through a mixture of chemical and electrical messages. It helps us to make quick decisions to maintain our safety to the threat, but to do this the brain “switches off” all non-essential life support systems in the body including growth, digestive, and reproductive systems. In normal circumstances, when the threat is gone, our brains “switch back on” these life support systems.
For many individuals in society anxiety is not an acute, short-lived response to a threat, rather that feeling of unease, worry and concern could be frequent, maybe even constant and does not necessarily require a threat or stressor to be present. Longer-term anxiety can cause significant physical, psychological and even behavioural problems.
For more information on anxiety and Generalised Anxiety Disorder click the following links:
Overview – Generalised anxiety disorder in adults – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Statistics
- In any given week in England, 6 in 100 people will be diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (Mind).
- In the UK, over 8 million people are experiencing an anxiety disorder at any one time (Mental Health UK).
- Less than 50% of people with generalised anxiety disorder access treatment (Mental Health Foundation).
- An estimated 822,000 workers are affected by work-related stress, depression or anxiety every year (Health and Safety Executive).
Symptoms
- Uncontrollable worry and nervousness
- Getting easily startled
- Trouble sleeping
- Amnesia
- Inability to concentrate
- Indecisiveness
- Irritability
- Headache
- Restlessness
- Sweating
- Muscle tremors
- Nausea
Anxiety is the leading cause of conditions such as:
Treatment
Anxiety is a treatable condition. Treatment depends upon the frequency and intensity of the symptoms present. These include:
- Self-soothing exercises such as mindfulness, breathing techniques, exercise.
- Talking therapies like CBT.
- Medication.
- A combination of the above.
For more information on treatment please click the following links:
Get help with anxiety, fear or panic – NHS (www.nhs.uk)