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Anxiety
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Anxiety is a very common condition. Any one of us, irrespective of age, gender or background can be affected. It is possible to minimise the impact of anxiety by accessing information and support, and finding ways to manage the condition.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety involves a frequent unpleasant feeling typically associated with uneasiness, apprehension and worry. It has physical, emotional and behavioural effects.
How does it affect me?
Physical effects of anxiety can include:
- Racing heart
- Sweating
- Rapid breathing
- Disturbed sleep
- Tense muscles
Other effects can include:
- Excessive and undue worrying
- Morbid thoughts
- Feelings of panic/panic attacks
What can I do?
If you are concerned that you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder, Aware recommends that you speak to your GP or a mental health professional. This will help you to get a correct diagnosis and decide which approach to treatment is appropriate for you.
Learning to cope with anxiety
- Try to identify the factors in your life which lead to your anxiety. Sometimes people cannot identify a cause for their anxiety, but the helpful actions remain the same.
- Consider the stress factors in your life, as anxiety is likely to worsen at times of high stress.
- Consider accessing support services such as talk therapies. This can help to tackle stress factors in your life which may be aggravating the anxiety.
- Think about which relaxation techniques might be useful for you – breathing exercises, mindfulness, yoga.
- Light physical exercise and spending time outdoors can be very beneficial in alleviating some of the symptoms of anxiety.
Support Line – 1800 80 48 48 [Freephone]
Support Mail – supportmail@aware.ie
Support & Self Care Groups – nationwide - Click to find out more
Visit the Aware website - www.aware.ie
