Worried about anxiety ?

Everybody experiences anxiety in their way. If you start to feel like your anxiety is stopping you from doing things you love and enjoying life, it's a good idea to visit your doctor. They can work out with you what type of anxiety you might be having and talk you through the different treatment options. You can read more about different types of anxiety below.

Social anxiety

Someone with social anxiety worries about what other people think. They fear being judged in a bad way. They might avoid other people, especially big groups of people or events, functions. Even confident people can get nervous before a presentation, but with social anxiety the feelings are much more intense. Even imagining a situation where there might be pressure to talk to lots of people, or new people, can cause panic.

Health anxiety

Someone with health anxiety spends a lot of time worrying about getting ill, even if a doctor has checked that they're fine. Whenever they experience a normal physical feeling such as a headache or a tight chest, they fear the worst. They might say things like: ‘This means I must be seriously ill.’ Feelings of anxiety develop and they start to panic.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Somebody can get a PTSD after experiencing/witnessing something really bad, traumatic, shocking or upsetting. A traumatic event is often an event you keep on thinking about or replaying in your head. For example, sexual abuse, physical abuse, being in an accident, being a victim of crime, someone dying, or domestic violence.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Someone with OCD worries that something bad will happen. They feel they have to carry out a ritual to make things better and stop something bad from happening. This can cause a lot of anxiety.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder is when people experience repeated panic attacks. Panic attacks are short periods of intense fear and unpleasant physical sensations. They come on suddenly but pass quite quickly. Find out more about panic attacks and why they happen.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is long-lasting worry and anxiety about general things. It’s not caused by anything specific.

What can happen in anxiety ?

Your mind becomes alert

Helping you focus but can also mean that you over-analyse things.

Your breathing gets faster

Allowing your bloodstream to carry oxygen to your arms, legs and lungs

You start to sweat more

Controlling your body temperature.

Your heart rate increases

Pumping blood into your muscles so they are prepared for action. This is called a 'fight or flight response' – your body prepares to face danger (fight), run away (flight) or freeze.

Your muscles tense up

Creating power but it can also cause shaking, this is normal.

You can feel light headed

Meaning you can feel light-headed. Your blood is carrying more oxygen to your arms, legs and lungs, so there is less oxygen being sent to the brain.

Your liver releases sugar

Providing quick energy but it can also make you feel fidgety.

Less important things slow down

Making it harder for you body to digest food or produce saliva. This is what causes you to have a dry mouth, have a feeling like butterflies in your stomach or feel sick when you’re nervous.

Worried about anxiety ?

Social anxiety

Health anxiety

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Panic disorder

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

What can happen in anxiety ?

Your mind becomes alert

Helping you focus but can also mean that you over-analyse things.

​

Your breathing gets faster

Allowing your bloodstream to carry oxygen to your arms, legs and lungs

​

You start to sweat more

Controlling your body temperature.

​

Your heart rate increases

Pumping blood into your muscles so they are prepared for action. This is called a 'fight or flight response' – your body prepares to face danger (fight), run away (flight) or freeze.

Your muscles tense up

Creating power but it can also cause shaking, this is normal.

You can feel light headed

Meaning you can feel light-headed. Your blood is carrying more oxygen to your arms, legs and lungs, so there is less oxygen being sent to the brain.

Your liver releases sugar

Providing quick energy but it can also make you feel fidgety.

Less important things slow down

Making it harder for you body to digest food or produce saliva. This is what causes you to have a dry mouth, have a feeling like butterflies in your stomach or feel sick when you’re nervous.