Anxiety & Panic

What is it?

Anxiety is the feeling we get when we are frightened or threatened. It can vary in strength from slight agitation to total panic. Anxiety is a common emotion which everyone experiences from time to time. It’s a normal response to stressful situations and can help motivate us to do things, e.g. when sitting an exam or going for an interview.

Anxiety only becomes a problem when it is experienced so intensely and frequently that it interferes with your ability to get on with daily life. For example – you fear things that are not really threatening e.g. a lift, or you start avoiding situations because they might make you anxious.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety affects people in different ways. It changes the way your body reacts (physical sensations), the way you think, the feelings you have (psychological symptoms) and what you do (behaviours).

Physical Symptoms:
Anxiety affects the body in different ways. Some people experience chest pain, a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, hyperventilation, nausea, butterflies, upset stomach. Other physical symptoms are dizziness, sweating, tingling, restlessness and trembling. All of these physical symptoms are part of the body’s normal response to anxiety, although they can feel very frightening.

Psychological Symptoms:
When people feel anxious they often worry about the worst thing happening e.g.’ I’ll make a complete fool of myself, I’ll lose control, I’ll go mad, etc.’, This kind of negative thinking contributes to and serves to maintain anxious feelings. Anxiety can also make your mind go blank or make your mind race from one thought to another.

Behaviour:
Anxiety can influence how people behave. Most commonly it makes people want to avoid situations that make them anxious. It can also make people snappy, irritable, drink and smoke more, talk rapidly and sleep badly.

Symptoms of Panic

Panic is an extreme form of anxiety. When people panic they feel overwhelmed by intense feelings of fear or terror. These can build up gradually or happen suddenly, sometimes even out of the blue. If you’ve had a panic attack you are likely to avoid situations to prevent it from happening again.

Fight or Flight Response:
Anxiety and panic are linked to the ‘fight or flight’ response. This is your body’s reaction to danger which prepares you for action – either to fight danger or to run away. The purpose of the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic are to prepare your body to cope with threat or danger. Imagine you’re about to be hit by a bus and need to get out of the way fast:

1. You breathe faster to get more oxygen which is needed for energy.
2. Your heart beats faster to pump the oxygen in your blood to your muscles and brain.
3. You sweat to stop overheating.
4. Your eyes dilate so you can see more of your surroundings.

Anxiety – What you can do about it?

For techniques on controlling your anxiety check out this booklet: Click here for PDF Booklet
For general advice on managing stress see the Get Help menu on the right of every page.

Anxiety – What you can do about it?