How to tell if you’re suffering from anxiety- and how to treat it

Anxiety is a a health condition suffered by millions of Brits every year. Almost everyone will suffer from symptoms of anxiety at some point in their lifetime.

We are each designed to face threatening situations with our inbuilt ‘fight or flight’ mode.

Anxiety occurs when our body goes into ‘fight or flight’ mode without any apparent trigger. Many sufferers can feel symptoms of anxiety- or even a full blown panic attack- come on when they’re simply doing the weekly shop or taking the train to work.

Here are the physical symptoms to look out for if you’re suffering from anxiety

Sweating

Pounding heart/fast heart rate

Stomach upset

Dizziness

Tremors and/or twitches

Headaches

Insomnia

Tiredness/fatigue

Panic attacks (feelings of overwhelming anxiety accompanied by dizziness, nausea, racing pulse and sometimes fainting)

You may also suffer from emotional symptoms such as:

Trouble concentrating

Feeling tense/jumpy

Feelings of dread/apprehension

Irritability

Restlessness

Feeling like your mind’s gone blank

If you feel you are suffering from mild symptoms of anxiety, there ARE things you can do to try and help yourself.

Self help steps include:

Writing down your worries

Giving yourself an ‘anxiety worry period’ for 10 minutes each day

Relaxation techniques

Eating healthily

Reduce alcohol intake

Quit smoking

Get regular exercise

Try and get enough sleep

For many people, seeking professional treatment can help them combat their feelings of anxiety and take back control of their lives, even if only for brief intervals.

Cognitive-behaviour therapy

CBT helps combat unhelpful thoughts and give you a forum to speak about anything that’s relevant to your anxiety. You will be taught how to cope with negative thoughts that fuel your symptoms and how to deal with feelings of anxiety.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy works by- as stated- ‘exposing’ the patient to their fear but in a safe and controlled environment.

Anxiety can come about as a result of stress in your life, as a result of depression or other associated mental illnesses or, quite simply, for no apparent reason at all. Everyone is different and there’s no shame in speaking to someone about how you’re feeling.

If you are worried about your mental health in any way, do no hesitate to book an appointment with your GP.