Anxiety
“Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.”
Feelings of anxiety are natural in some situations and everyone has these feelings at some point in their lives. Anxiety is when people find it hard to control their worries and it affects their daily life.
Some of the symptoms of anxiety are similar to stress symptoms.
Recognising anxiety
People can find it difficult to recognise when their anxiety is becoming a problem. Sometimes it’s the people around them that notice first.
Any of the following can be signs that anxiety is becoming a problem and may need help:
- Your feelings are constant, very strong or last for a long time
- Your anxiety is affecting your enjoyment of life
- Your worries seem out of proportion to the situation
- Your feelings are distressing or feel out of control
- You have panic attacks
- You’re finding daily life hard or you’re avoiding doing things
You might be experiencing some or all of the above, if so you are not alone.
Things you can do to help reduce anxiety
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1Work on changing your negative or unhelpful thoughts
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2Quit smoking and limit drinking alcohol
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3Try exercise to improve your mood
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4Avoid caffeine as it can trigger symptoms of anxiety
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5Try relaxation exercises
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6Talk about your anxiety to family, friends or people at a support group
Stories by you
Rachel talks about her experience of epilepsy and anxiety
Do something
Do you recognise any of the symptoms of anxiety? Would any of the tips help you reduce your feelings of anxiety?
Support and help for anxiety
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