What is Anxiety?
We all get worried from time to time, but sometimes this starts to affect our day to day lives.
Anxiety is a feeling of unease that can affect you a little or a lot. You may or may not know why you're feeling that way. Anxiety can give you different feelings in your mind and body that can lead you to react in different ways.
Why do we feel anxious?
Anxiety is our bodies way of dealing with situations that feel dangerous. If you were being chased by an elephant your body would release certain hormones to help you deal with the danger (e.g. adrenaline and cortisol.) These make your responses quicker and make your blood pump faster. These hormones might lead you to run away, charge back at the elephant or freeze on the spot. This is called fight, flight or freeze.
It can be hard to know why you feel anxious sometimes...
Click the boxes for any of the things that make you feel anxious.
Anxiety can sometimes be related to feelings of stress. If you want to know more about managing stress click here.
Do I have something wrong with me?
Find out how others manage their anxieties and how you can help yourself.
Do I have something wrong with me?
It is very natural to feel anxious in response to difficult or stressful situations. Anxiety can become a problem if it starts to get in the way of you living a happy life. You may notice that this is happening if:
- You have started to avoid people or places because of feeling anxious
- Your anxiety feels very strong or difficult to get rid of
- Your worries feel much bigger than the problems or situations you are facing
- You feel your anxiety is out of control and it is impacting your day to day life
- You are experiencing symptoms of anxiety like panic attacks regularly
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You are not alone...
"I started off just feeling a bit worried about school. I fell out with a few close friends and started to feel really lonely. I skipped a few days and the more I missed the more scary it felt to go back. Soon I was worrying about leaving the house and was in my bedroom most of the time. If I tried to go on buses i would feel dizzy and sick and would have to get off. I felt like everyone was talking about me and I couldn't relax. I tried hiding how anxious I was because I was embarrassed. I decided to tell my mum and we started going out together, at first just to the end of the road and back and then a bit further. Telling someone I trust was the best thing I ever did."
- Esme, 15
1. There are lots of different things you can try to help feel less worried or anxious, which we will show you in the next section. If these don't seem to help, it is always best to seek advice from your GP.
2. If you are worried about speaking to a doctor, the Doc Ready site can help you prepare for your appointment.
3. Treatment can be offered for anxiety if it is having a significant impact on your life. This is likely to be Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Find out more about CBT by clicking here. Its not always CBT that will help, you will be offered different kind of support depending on your needs.
4. Before getting treatment, why not try our 'self prescription' below, which includes loads of ways that you can help yourself with anxiety!
How can I manage my anxieties?
We have put together a few useful resources to help with how you're feeling.
Step 1: Keep a diary
Keeping a record of difficult situations can help you to understand more about what makes you worried and why. You might be able to spot patterns and triggers which can help you to prepare and ask for help when you need it.
Questions you can ask:
1. How can I describe the situation?
2. How did you feel?
3. What thoughts did you have?
4. What sensations did you notice in your body?
5. How are you feeling now?
Swipe left to find Step 2!
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Step 2. Challenge your thoughts
Sometimes when you feel anxious you can have really bad thoughts about yourself. Sometimes it can be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do you have any evidence that your thought is true?
2. What would someone close to you say about this?
3. What are the positives and negatives of thinking in this way?
4. Is there another way of looking at the situation?
Swipe left to find Step 3!
Step 3. Reach out to someone
Talking to someone you trust can often really help with how you are feeling. Starting the conversation can sometimes be difficult and it's important to make sure that you are comfortable with what you are sharing.
If you struggle with reaching out, try chatting while you are doing an activity or reaching out through text or direct message.
Get Help
If you feel that your anxiety is getting in the way of your day to day life, it may be a good idea to get some help. Click here to find mental health support services in your area.
