Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal human feeling that we all experience it when faced with situations we find threatening or difficult

Physical symptoms

• Irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
• Sweating
• Muscle tension and pains
• Breathing heavily
• Dizziness
• Faintness
• Indigestion
• Diarrhoea

Behavioural symptoms

• Feeling worried all the time
• Feeling tired
• Unable to concentrate
• Feeling irritable
• Sleeping badly

Anxiety is sometimes confused with stress but the word 'stress' can be used to mean two different things - the things that make us anxious, and our reaction to them. Some anxiety can be helpful by making us alert and giving us the motivation to deal with problems and dangerous situations. However, if the feelings become too strong or go on for too long, they can stop us from doing the things we want to and can make our lives miserable