Anxiety & Worries

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Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of unease or fear. It’s a natural reaction to situations that are stressful or dangerous and is designed to keep us safe from harm.

Everyone feels anxious from time to time, especially when facing a challenging or unfamiliar situation, or an important event. Anxiety can become a problem, however, when it happens too often, feels overwhelming or goes on for too long. Some people can find it hard to control their anxious thoughts and this can start to affect their day-to-day life.

What are anxiety disorders?

We all have feelings of anxiety, worry and fear sometimes. These can be normal responses to certain situations. For example, you might worry about a job interview, or about paying a bill on time. These feelings can give you an awareness of risks and what you need to do in a difficult or dangerous situation. This reaction is known as ‘fight or flight’.

Your brain responds to a threat or danger by releasing stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Even if the danger is not real, these hormones cause the physical symptoms of anxiety. Once the threatening situation has stopped, your body will usually return to normal.

But if you have an anxiety disorder these feelings of fear and danger can be ongoing and interrupt your daily routine long after the threat has gone. They can make you feel as though things are worse than they actually are.

Everyone’s experience of anxiety disorders is different. Not everyone who has an anxiety disorder will experience the same symptoms.

What are the mental symptoms of anxiety?

The mental symptoms of anxiety can include; 

  • racing thoughts,
  • uncontrollable over-thinking,
  • difficulties concentrating,
  • feelings of dread, panic or ‘impending doom’,
  • feeling irritable,
  • heightened alertness,
  • problems with sleep,
  • changes in appetite,
  • wanting to escape from the situation you are in, and
  • dissociation.

If you dissociate you might feel like you are not connected to your own body. Or like you are watching things happen around you, without feeling it.

What are the physical symptoms of anxiety?

The physical symptoms of anxiety can include; 

  • sweating,
  • heavy and fast breathing,
  • hot flushes or blushing,
  • dry mouth,
  • shaking,
  • hair loss,
  • fast heartbeat,
  • extreme tiredness or lack of energy
  • dizziness and fainting, and
  • stomach aches and sickness.

How to deal with anxiety and worries

By focusing on your well being and being mindful you can lessen the effects of anxiety and learn to overcome it, find information on how in our self care section

You can also register on courses through the Bradford District Care Trust.

Anxiety can lead to depression if left untreated, if you feel as though you may be suffering from depression find out more in our low mood and depression section

Video Tips for Anxiety & Worries

Use the following link for some Audio Tips for Anxiety & Worries available on the NHS website.

 

Taking care of your day to day mental health and wellbeing can also help reduce worries and anxieties and help with resilience.

You will also find more support available in the Directory