Feeling anxious is a normal response to keep us safe from danger - it’s fight or flight in action. But persistent worry or distress can be difficult to control. Anxiety can interfere with how we go about our everyday lives, and make it hard to cope with ‘normal ‘challenges. When we frequently feel anxious, it can be considered a disorder.

If you are having intense feelings of worry or distress for longer than two weeks, and it is interfering with your everyday life, it’s important to seek help.

Anxiety

Take this free online anxiety self test to give you an understanding of the likelihood that you might have symptoms consistent with anxiety disorder.

  • Anxiety is a feeling of unease that persists and is out of proportion to the situation you are in. It may relate to professional circumstances, personal circumstances, or may not have a specific cause.

    Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. Mild levels of anxiety can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to dangers and help us prepare and pay attention.

    Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness and involve excessive fear or anxiety.

    Generalized anxiety disorder involves persistent and excessive worry that interferes with daily activities.

  • Feeling very worried or afraid most of the time; tense and on edge; nervous or scared; panicky; irritable, agitated; worried you’re going crazy; detached from your body; feeling like you may vomit.

    You may be thinking ‘everything’s going to go wrong’ , ‘I might die’, ‘I can’t handle the way I feel’, ‘I can’t focus on anything but my worries’, ‘I don’t want to go out today’ or ‘I can’t calm myself down’.

    You may also be experiencing sleep problems (can’t get to sleep, wake often); pounding heart; sweating; ‘pins and needles’; tummy aches, churning stomach; lightheadedness, dizziness; twitches, trembling; problems concentrating; or excessive thirst.

  • Up to one-third of women and one-fifth of men will experience anxiety at some point in their lives.

    Recent research has found that 1 in 10 dental practitioners have reported a current diagnosis of anxiety disorder, and around 20% reported ever having a diagnosis of anxiety disorder. It was common to take some time off work because of their anxiety disorder.

  • Find out more about anxiety disorder here.

Self-care for anxiety

  • Understand your anxiety

    Try keeping a diary of what you are doing and how you feel at different times to help identify what’s affecting you and what you need to take action on.

  • Challenge your anxious thoughts

    Tackling unhelpful thoughts is one of the best ways to feel less anxious. It’s not always easy, but try to reframe those unhelpful thoughts.

  • Face your demons

    It’s easy to avoid difficult situations and rely on habits that make us feel safe, but sometimes that can keep anxiety going. Sometimes it can be useful to slowly build up time in worrying situations. This will allow anxious feelings to slowly reduce and let you see these situations as OK.

  • Make time for worries

    If your worry feels overwhelming and takes over your day, set aside some dedicated ‘worry time’ to go through your concerns. This can then help you to focus on other things better.

  • Shift your focus

    Some people find mediation, relaxation, mindfulness or even breathing exercises helpful in anxious situations. They can help to reduce tension and focus awareness on the present moment.

  • Coming to grips with the problem

    When you are stressed and anxious, using a problem solving technique can help to identify solutions to the problems you are facing. This can help to make those challenges feel more manageable.