Anxiety

Anxiety is...

Common

In fact, more than 1 in 10 people are expected to suffer from a disabling anxiety disorder at one point in their lives or another.

Affected by a number of risk factors

Anxiety is not caused by a certain thing, however; genetics, brain chemistry, environment, drug use, personality and life events can all make you more likely to develop anxiety issues

Easy to spot (if you know the signs)

There are two different types of symptoms when it comes to anxiety: physical and psychological. 

The physical symptoms of anxiety are:

• A racing heartbeat
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Headaches 
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Tightness in chest
• Tremors (body shaking) 
• Pins and needles

The psychological symptoms of anxiety are:

• Concentration problems
• Feeling of impending doom
• Constantly on the lookout for danger
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Fear of losing control
• Feelings of detachment

Anxiety is not...

Simple

Anxiety is usually treated as one thing, but in reality, there are seven different types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) - This is the main type of anxiety disorder, and it is the one that most people are referring to when they say anxiety. If you feel as though you are constantly on edge without a specific reason (or without the ability to take a break from these feelings), then it is likely that you are suffering from GAD.
• Social anxiety - It is normal to experience some sort of anxiety when in public, or interacting with people you don't know very well, but when this anxiety becomes overwhelming, then you might be suffering from social anxiety. Those with social anxiety may view social interactions as being painful and distressing, or live with the constant fear of being judged, remarked upon, or avoided.
• Panic disorder - Possibly one of the most severe types of anxiety disorders. Panic disorder causes sufferers to feel a sense of doom or fear so intense, that they can end up hospitalised. Those who suffer from panic disorder have what are known as panic attacks. Panic attacks are what happens when your body receives a rush of intense mental and physical symptoms, usually occurring at anxious times, or in response to stressful situations.
• Agoraphobia - Agoraphobia is the fear of certain environments, such as public spaces. Some agoraphobes are afraid of public transport and try to avoid that, whereas others try to avoid leaving their house at all. 
• Phobias - A fear develops into a phobia when someone begins to alter their life in an attempt to avoid coming into contact with whatever they are afraid of. 
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - People who experience a traumatic experience (e.g. serving in war) are likely to suffer from this particular type of anxiety disorder. Sufferers often relive the event that caused their PTSD, which causes them a lot of distress. They also experience symptoms such as insomnia, or difficulty concentrating, as well as feelings of guilt, isolation or irritability.
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - OCD is the term used to describe unwanted thoughts that compel you to carry out certain repetitive and ritualised behaviours that can affect your day to day life. You are probably aware that these behaviours are irrational, but feel the need to do them anyway. Things such as repetitive hand washing or checking that you locked the front door multiple times are classic examples of obsessive compulsive behaviour. Thoughts can either be obsessive (thoughts, images or impulses that recur time after time in your mind, regardless of whether or not you want them to) or compulsive (rituals that you find yourself carrying out again and again).

Easy to overcome

Despite what some people think, anxiety is not as simple as "getting over it". It can become debilitating, which is something that people tend not to realise.

Curable 

Like other mental disorders, anxiety has no cure. That isn't to say that sufferers are helpless however. There are a number of ways that those suffering from anxiety can combat it:

• Relaxation techniques
• Self-help groups
• Psychotherapy
• Medication 

It might take a while to find out what works best for you, and may take a bit of trial and error before you can get it right.