What is Anxiety?
Experiencing anxiety in response to a difficult or worrying situation can be entirely normal, and, although uncomfortable, it passes quickly. However, some people can find it difficult to control their feelings of worry, and anxiety starts to impact their daily lives.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, like a worry or fear. Everyone feels anxious at some point, and it usually passes once the situation is over.
It can make our heart race, we might feel sweaty, shaky or short of breath.
When anxiety becomes problematic, our worries can be out of proportion with relatively harmless situations. It can feel more intense or overwhelming, and can interfere with our lives and relationships.
Signs of anxiety
Anxiety can show as changes in your body, feeling worried all the time, or as changes in your behaviour, like becoming overly-careful or avoiding things that trigger anxiety.
You may:
- feel tired, on edge, restless or irritable
- feel a sense of dread
- be unable to concentrate or make decisions
- have trouble sleeping
- feel sick, dizzy, sweaty or short of breath
- be shaky or trembly
- get headaches or stomach aches
- avoid situations or put off doing things you are worried about
- have difficulty falling or staying asleep
- experience a noticeably strong, fast or irregular heartbeat
- have pins and needles
- have a dry mouth
- sweat excessively
- repeatedly check things or seek assurance from others
Explore self-help tips for anxiety
'For simple, easy-to-follow advice and information on a range of health topics and conditions, take a look at the Dorset Video Library. www.healthvideos.ourdorset.nhs.uk'
