Understanding Anxiety

 Anxiety is a normal and necessary part of life and the way we have evolved to recognise and avoid danger. 

It is part of a 'fight or flight' response which readies our body for action, increasing our breathing and heart rate. In turn we might feel faint, sweaty or breathless.

Sometimes anxiety can be difficult to cope with. Often this can be when we start worrying that these manifestations of anxiety mean something dangerous in themselves, for example that we are going to collapse, have a heart attack or lose control.

This can lead to a 'panic attack' where these worrying thoughts lead to an increase in the bodily sensations of anxiety, leading to more worrying thoughts. We might start avoiding specific places or things that have become associated with anxiety (phobias), or find it difficult to go out at all (agoraphobia). Sometimes we can feel compelled to check things repeatedly, or 

to repeat certain thoughts or actions to stave off anxiety or worrying thoughts.

Experiences of anxiety may also be linked to past traumatic experiences

In terms of what can help, there are many good self-help resources (e.g. Overcoming Anxiety, 2nd Edition: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques). 

Therapy or counselling can help us understand what might have led to our feelings of anxiety, and what might be keeping it going, and can help us find ways to support ourselves and to regulate our physical and emotional states.