Anxiety

What does anxiety feel like?

  • Feeling worried all the time

  • Feeling tired

  • Unable to concentrate

  • Feeling irritable

  • Sleeping badly

  • Feeling depressed

  • Fast or irregular heartbeats (palpitations)

  • Sweating

  • Face goes pale

  • Dry mouth

  • Muscle tension and pains


  • Trembling

  • Numbness or tingling in fingers, toes or lips

  • Breathing fast

  • Dizziness

  • Faintness

  • Indigestion

  • Passing water frequently

  • Nausea, stomach cramps

  • Diarrhoea

How can I get help for anxiety?

Anxiety is very common and many of us overcome it or cope with it without professional help. However, if it is severe or goes on for a long time, anxiety can affect your physical and stop you doing the things you want to do.

Helping Yourself


  • Talk about it. This can help when the anxiety comes from recent knocks, like a partner leaving, a child becoming ill or losing a job. Who should you talk to? Try a friend or relative who you trust and respect, and who is a good listener. They may have had the same problem themselves, or know someone else who has.

  • Self-help groups. These are a good way of getting in touch with people who have similar problems. They can understand what you are going through. As well as having the chance to talk, you may be able to find out how other people have coped. Some of these groups are specifically about anxieties and phobias. Others may be for people who have been through similar experiences - women's groups, bereaved parents' groups, survivors of abuse.

  • Learning to relax. It sounds too obvious - surely everyone can relax? But if your anxiety just won't go away, it can be really helpful to learn some special ways of relaxing, to be a bit more in control of your anxiety and tension. You can learn these through groups, with professionals, but there are several books and self-help materials you can use to teach yourself. It's a good idea to practice relaxation regularly, not just at times of crisis.