Anxiety is a normal response to stress or danger and is often called the ‘flight or fight’ response. This process involves adrenalin being quickly pumped through the body enabling it to cope with whatever catastrophe may come its way. The problems arise when this response is out of proportion to the actual danger of the situation, or indeed is generated when there is no danger present.3
The physical symptoms of anxiety are: racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dry mouth, butterflies in stomach, nausea, urge to pass urine/empty bowels, tremor, sweating and pins & needles.
The psychological symptoms of anxiety are: inner tension, agitation, fear of losing control, dread that something catastrophic is going to happen (such as blackout, seizure, heart attack or death), irritability and feelings of detachment.
If you are suffering from anxiety, you’re not alone! Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. In England, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week.4