Excessive fear and worry
All about anxiety
Everyone feels anxious from time to time. But for someone with anxiety, these feelings stick around and make life really challenging.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried.
Anxiety is when unpleasant feelings of uneasiness, fear or worry don’t go away.
Anxiety is a problem when it starts to impact on:
- Doing everyday activities
- Relationships
- Study or work
- Doing things you enjoy
How do I know if what I’m feeling is anxiety?
Some things people with anxiety feel are:
Nervous or on-edge all the time
Panic or feeling ‘out of control’
Avoidance of going places or doing things
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What are the physical symptoms?
Your body also tells you when it’s feeling anxious. You may have:
Shortness of breath
Pounding heart
Dizziness, headaches
Sweating
Trouble sleeping
Trouble concentrating
Tense or sore muscles
Fatigue or bursts of energy
What can I do to manage anxiety?
Different things work for different people. Here’s some stuff you can try to help you control your anxiety:
Educate yourself on anxiety and treatment options
Find out what triggers your anxiety so you know when it’s likely to pop up
Challenge and replace anxious thoughts with positive ones
Learn some relaxation strategies
Focus on improving your diet and exercising regularly
Limit alcohol and other drugs
What else can I do?
Anxiety can be tough to deal with on your own. Gather a support team around you. With some help you can get better!
Here’s who can help:
- A trusted friend or family member who can encourage you
- Kids Helpline counsellor
- Psychologist or social worker
- Doctor/GP
"You don’t have to let anxiety control your life.
With help you can learn how to overcome it".
Talking with someone can really help.
You're not alone. Support is available.
If you want to learn more about anxiety and how to deal with it, call us on 1800 55 1800, start a WebChat or send us an email today.
You can also check out Head to Health for other digital services and resources.
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This content was last reviewed 15/02/2018
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