Understanding anxiety

About one person in ten consults a doctor at some time in their lives because they’re feeling anxious. Anxiety only becomes a problem when it's out of proportion or if it goes on for too long. Then it can be very upsetting and can stop us from doing the things we would otherwise enjoy.

Even though it can make us feel very uncomfortable and is extremely unpleasant, even severe anxiety doesn’t cause us physical harm. We can’t die of anxiety. It can’t cause us any serious physical or mental harm.

Of course it can make our lives very difficult when it gets out of control, but that's all. It can't kill us or even cause us any serious harm.

One of the major problems with anxiety is that feeling anxious often makes us more worried and more preoccupied, which only makes matters worse - a 'vicious circle.'

We can very easily ‘become anxious about becoming anxious.’